NYT Review Of The New Tiger Biography By Benedict And Keteyian

/
Screen Shot 2018-03-20 at 4.04.25 PM.png

Thanks to reader John for Dwight Garner's review of the new Jeff Benedict, Armen Keteyian book titled "Tiger Woods."

Garner calls the book "tawdry" but also "moving" and seems put off by the authors' confidence in exposing sides of Woods we don't know. 

It’s a confident and substantial book that’s nearly as sleek as a Christopher Nolan movie. It makes a sweet sound, like a well-struck golf ball.

I found it exhilarating, depressing, tawdry and moving in almost equal measure. It’s a big American story that rolls across barbered lawns and then leaves you stranded in some all-night Sam’s Club of the soul. It reminded me of a line from Martin Amis’s new book of essays: “How drunk was Scott Fitzgerald when he said there were no second acts in American lives?”

And this...

If this book has a flaw it may be that it’s too confident. Reading it can be like watching one of those crime shows in which the bumper music ends with slamming car doors. The authors move about like a supersleuth Starsky and Hutch, or Tango and Cash, or Crockett and Tubbs. To be fair, a bit of wit and play are allowed to sneak in.

3.6: 2018 API Sunday Ratings up 136%, Highest In Six Years

/

Steiny to Tiger today: "do you need a Late Night With Jimmy Fallon mug? Or some Colbert merch? Maybe some Pyeonchang logoed ski caps? I've got gift packages pilling up here from Lazarus and McManus..."

The latest ratings bump courtesy of Tiger Woods:

NBC SPORTS’ FINAL-ROUND COVERAGE OF ARNOLD PALMER INVITATIONAL PRESENTED BY MASTERCARD SCORES HIGHEST-RATED OVERNIGHT AT EVENT IN SIX YEARS

Arnold Palmer Invitational and Valspar Championship Post Two Highest-Rated Final Round PGA TOUR Telecasts (Non-Majors) on Any Broadcast Network since the 2015 Wyndham Championship

ORLANDO, Fla., March 19, 2018 – Record viewership of the PGA TOUR continued this weekend for NBC Sports Group at the Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard. Sunday’s final-round coverage on NBC (2-6:45 p.m. ET) delivered a 3.6 overnight rating, +136% vs. 2017 and the highest-rated final round at this event in six years. Combined with last week’s final round viewership at the Valspar Championship (5.1 overnight rating) these rank as the two highest-rated final-round PGA TOUR telecasts (non-majors) on any broadcast network since the 2015 Wyndham Championship. Golf Channel’s Sunday final-round lead-in coverage earned a .97 overnight rating, the highest at this event in five years. Across NBC and Golf Channel’s coverage, more than 12 million minutes were streamed, +683% vs. 2017.

ADDITIONAL SUNDAY NOTES

·         Sunday’s final-round coverage on NBC peaked to a 4.89 from 5:15-5:30 p.m. ET.

·         Golf Channel’s lead-in coverage peaked to a 1.24 from 1:30-2 p.m. ET.

SATURDAY

Saturday’s third-round coverage earned a 2.29 overnight rating on NBC (2:30-6 p.m. ET), +92% vs. 2017 and the highest-rated at this event in five years. Golf Channel’s lead-in coverage (12:30-2:30 p.m. ET) earned a .95 overnight rating, +126% vs. 2017. Nearly 5.3 million minutes were streamed, +511% vs. 2017.

Tiger's Ratings Influence Continues During First Two 2018 API Rounds

/

He even makes people watch the days he's not in the television window!

Roundup: Tiger's Bay Hill Round One 68 Makes It Seem Like He Never Left

/

Golfweek’s Kevin Casey with the nuts and bolts of Tiger’s opening round 68 on the course where he has won eight times.

TigerBayHill.png

ESPN.com’s Jason Sobel focuses on the 71-footer Woods made at the 7th, his 16th hole, and Tiger’s description is pretty fun.

Karen Crouse focuses on different reactions from players to having Tiger and his crowds back in the mix, including some fun comments by Paul Goydos.

Jay Coffin of GolfChannel.com on the drive hit out of bounds that annoyed Tiger because of the shot quality and not having hit a provisional while at the tee.  A side note: the second shot after his provisional tee shot was particularly stout and one of the more impressive I’ve seen in his comeback bid. He had to cut it around a tree from the rough, with water left and already lying three. A slight double-cross and he makes seven or eight.

Eamon Lynch at Golfweek puts some of the hype and excitement into perspective with help from Graeme McDowell.

The reality is that this week is just another staging post on Woods’ climb back to the top, not the destination. And nor is it an omen for what might follow three weeks from now in Georgia. Woods has won the Arnold Palmer Invitational four times since he last slipped on the green jacket in 2005.

Form here does not beget form there.

None of which detracts from the excitement Woods’ strong play has brought to the sport. “It doesn’t say much for the world of golf. We were all saying how healthy things were when he was gone, and now he’s back beating us all up again. Maybe we’re not as good as we thought we were,” McDowell says, laughing. “It’s pretty impressive. And it’s good for us all.”

ESPN.com's Bob Harig profiles Joe LaCava, patient looper who waited until Tiger's return.

And the shot of the day captured during the PGA Tour Live broadcast:

Surreal: Tiger Moves To Masters Betting Favorite Stage (In Vegas Anyway)

/
Screen Shot 2018-03-15 at 7.21.51 PM.png

The various UK punters aren't quite unanimous yet in making Tiger the 2018 Masters favorite. Can't wait to see what my ShackHouse bud House has to say about this Sunday night...

However, Jeff Sherman at Westgate Las Vegas has installed Tiger at 8-1 following his continued strong opening round play at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, reports Golfweek's Kevin Casey.

Typically, Tiger's Masters odds have been wildly inflated by curiosity bettors and while most futures numbers are fairly silly, I can't come up with a strong reason to argue against his placement is out of line.

After all, his health seems great, his mental state is fantastic, the putting sensational and the power is back. Other than having not won at Augusta National since 2005 or a tournament since 2013, it seems a matter of time. 

The 8/1 is silly given how many players are on their game as they approach a place where track records matter, but favorite status seems perfect legitimate. And so surreal.

To put the difference this time around in perspective, never forget the T17 in 2015 where he came into Augusta with no rounds, no body and none of the positive energy he has now. (This Michael Bamberger SI piece is a good reminder how different that Masters lead-up was.)

 

Tiger, Bay Hill Could Not Be Better Set For A Fun Week

/

Perfect weather, amazing course conditioning by Chris Flynn's team and Tiger continuing to round into form after another business-like pro-am round, suggest a fantastic Arnold Palmer Invitational awaits.

The Bay Hill greens are firm and fast after several dry, cool days, a characteristic Tiger and other tough-course types love. A birdie shootout will not happen.

Crowds are expected to be huge and Woods round 1/2 playing partner Jason Day believes, contrary to the view of other young players, that Tiger feeds off the energy to his benefit. Kevin Casey reports for Golfweek.com.

As much as Tiger would love to win his 9th API, as Bob Harig writes for ESPN.com, the target remains the Masters.

Rex Hoggard at GolfChannel.com considers the many instructors Tiger has worked with and swing philosophies as he settles back into a more artistic, feel player phase.

Tiger: "I finally have gotten to the point where my back is good enough where I can let my hands tell me what to do."

/

Fun stuff from Tiger about recapturing some of his old youthful magic, as Dan Kilbridge notes for Golfweek.

The full transcript answer for Tiger students:

Q. It looked like at Innisbrook a lot of shots you were really enjoying kind of the rehearsal and kind of preparing to play the shape of the shot. Is that something that has come back about at the pace you thought you would, the creativity and then also do you, are you looking forward to Augusta in part because it allows you to kind of be more creative?

TIGER WOODS: You know, I finally have gotten to the point where my back is good enough where I can let my hands tell me what to do. My hands tell me how to shape a golf shot. And I've built this golf swing that you see me out there swinging the golf club around, with my hands. My dad always used to say that that's the only thing we have direct contact with the club, so trust your hands. Playing baseball as a kid, you have to trust your hands, you trust your eyes, you trust your hands. So that's what I've done, I've trusted my hands again. My right arm and neck aren't shaking because my back's out, my nerve's out, and it's inflamed, I don't have those issues anymore. So I can trust my hands again. So, yeah, you see me creating shots and doing different things and, yeah, I'm trying to see what trajectory, what shape I want to do it and I'm letting these guys tell me what to do.

Q. Is that more fun way to play the game for you too?

TIGER WOODS: It is. I've gone back to a lot of stuff I used to do with my dad and how he first taught me how to play golf and when I sit -- after the round I told Rex after the round he asked, what were you thinking on the putt on 17 and I said, just putt to the picture. How do you teach a kid when he's so small and he doesn't understand an inch and a mile, well you take a look and you putt to that picture and that's what I did. I kept telling myself just putt to the picture, putt to the picture and I holed it.

Five Key Reasons We Have To Know About The 2019 Presidents Cup Captains This Week

/

Nothing says remembering The King like...a Presidents Cup press conference.

As the Arnold Palmer Invitational kicks off, news of a Tiger Woods-Ernie Els Presidents Cup announcement Tuesday prompts questions, and I, have answers for why this news is getting released this week instead of a time when the resurgence of legends and a return to Arnold Palmer's event is a national focus.

Turns out there are five reasons for this ill-timed announcement:

Screen Shot 2018-03-12 at 8.49.51 PM.png

5. Remind those who, eh-em, paid their way to the 2017 Presidents Cup and acted all patriotic for Team USA and Team International, that you've got Melbourne plans to make for next year. Travel agents are standing by. Remember your discount code: FANATICS.

4. Force golf media members to answer questions from friends suddenly interested in golf again who are asking, "what is the Presidents Cup and is it a big deal that Tiger is going to serve as Captain?"

3. The Arnold Palmer Invitational just doesn't have enough storylines, and the legacy of Arnold Palmer is not enough to celebrate without co-opting the return here by sharing news of an exhibition over 18 months away.

2. Force serious golf fans to answer questions from friends suddenly interested in golf again who are asking, "what is the Presidents Cup and is it a big deal that Tiger is going to serve as Captain?"

1. Establish supreme PGA Tour tone-deafness when it comes to having a finger on the pulse of the sporting public as Tiger's resurgence heading into The Masters gets sidetracked by a Presidents Cup press conference.

Roundup: Casey Pulls Off Valspar Win, Tiger Finishes Second

/

Steve DiMeglio leads with Tiger in his USA Today game story, but quickly turns to Paul Casey's rewrite of the fairytale script. 

Screen Shot 2018-03-11 at 8.19.20 PM.png

Doug Ferguson in his AP gamer says a long victory drought was broken...Paul Casey's. But you have to love Casey, one of golf's best interviews, openly acknowledging the joy brought by merely sharing leaderboard space with Woods.

Bob Harig recounts the final day at Innisbrook Tiger's quotes about not playing the par-5s better stands out and the likely difference between second and a win. 

Jason Sobel has no doubt Tiger will win again. 

Golfweek's Dan Kilbridge focuses on Casey's remarks about the joys of winning as an old guy in a young man's game.

Alex Kirshner of SB Nation has the roundup on Patrick Reed's last hole, uh, what's the word I'm going for here...uh...miscalculation. Sadly his first shot is not posted anywhere officially but you can see it in the Twitter replies. For now. 

As Rex Hoggard reports for GolfChannel.com, even Casey was rooting for Tiger.

“I actually thought he was going to win today before the round started. I thought it was just teed up beautifully for him,” said Casey, who birdied three consecutive holes starting at the 11th and scrambled for pars at the three closing holes on his way to a 6-under 65 and a 10-under total.

Karen Crouse of the New York Times on caddie Joe LaCava finally getting to see signs of the old Tiger, and his bosses praise for his work.

Casey explained what all of the 17th tee discussion was about and Hoggard reported on a mistaken yardage rectified in time. 

Some of the more important Tweets, starting with Tiger's.

The tour did a roundup of celebrity Tweets and other excitement over Tiger's return to contention.

Highlights, both of the round four variety and Tiger's putt on 17.

Tiger Giving Valspar Championship A Nice Ratings Bump

/

The numbers over the first two days suggest a huge Tiger bump, especially considering day one was a Thursday telecast. 

Friday's telecast did not feature live golf from Woods, but still drew well:

Roundup: Tiger One Back Headed Into Valspar Final Round, Seeks First Win Since 2013

/

ESPN.com's Bob Harig lists some fairly staggering numbers reflecting Tiger's longevity, consistency and reinforcing the intrigue level as he seeks his 80th PGA Tour win Sunday.

Tiger downplayed the win possibilities given the many names in contention, writes GolfChannel.com's Rex Hoggard.

Tiger Tracker rounds up his thoughts from the day, including the 14 of 18 greens performance.

Your tee times and final round TV info from Golfweek.

Joe LaCava says Tiger's 67 in front of massive crowds felt like old times, and other insights from Woods' bagman as reported by Will Gray. 

Tiger's extended highlights include a nice chip-in at No. 9, followed by the overall round 4 highlights from PGA Tour Entertainment.

SUBSCRIBE to PGA TOUR now: http://pgat.us/vBxcZSh In the third round of the 2018 Valspar Championship, Tiger Woods climbed up the leaderboard with a strong performance to tie for second place heading into the final round. These highlights are delivered by PGA TOUR LIVE.

SUBSCRIBE to PGA TOUR now: http://pgat.us/vBxcZSh In the third round of the 2018 Valspar Championship, Corey Conners is the leader heading into the final round over a trio in second, including Tiger Woods. Check out all the scores and highlights from Round 2/3/4 at http://bit.ly/2oWMf7K The Valspar Championship is held at the Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort and Golf Club in Palm Harbor, Florida.

70: Oh Tiger Don't Hurt Yourself Before Augusta, Please!

/

Nice opening 70 at Innisbrook on a cool, swirling-wind day that produced some high scores, as Dan Kilbridge notes at Golfweek.com.

ESPN.com's Bob Harig noted there was some pain from the recovery shot but hopefully nothing more.

But this, this is so unnecessary! 

@tigerwoods makes par. From the woods. 🐅🌳

A post shared by PGA TOUR (@pgatour) on

Instagram Roundup: Tiger's Swing Looks Tight, India's Deep Packed Bunker, Jimmy Walker's USGA Plea And Na Touts A Tour-Only Pro V1

/

As Tiger Woods prepares for his first Valspar, his swing looks just that much more tighter and impressive, but as Dan Kilbridge reports, Wednesday's pro-am round did suggest (6 of 18 greens) that Woods is still adjusting to Innisbrook's tough approach shots. 

The Hero Indian Open at DLF Golf And Country Club features a bunker getting a lot of attention this week. 

🙏🏼 📷 @plarrazabal #HIO2018

A post shared by European Tour (@europeantour) on

Jimmy Walker is making a plea to the USGA on behalf of everyday golfers...

Kevin Na posted his improvement in ball speed with a new Pro V 1x ball not available to the public but on the conforming list. Presumably, if all comments over the last week are to be believed, this will not amount to more distance for him. The post is no longer on Na's account.

Screen Shot 2018-03-07 at 9.47.33 PM.png

Tiger's Return To Innisbrook Offers Reminders Of Puffy Pleats, Mixed-Team Formats

/
Screen Shot 2018-03-02 at 10.47.09 AM.png

With news that Tiger Woods has added the Valspar Championship at Innisbrook, G.R. Team at GolfChannel.com shares a spectacular photo from Tiger's fall, 1996 appearance there. 

You must go to the link to enjoy the outfits in all of their splendor, especially tournament partner Kelli Kuehne's Sunday red shirt and black pants.

It's also a reminder of what we are missing now having a mixed team event annually and/or every four years at the Olympics.