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Thursday, February 7, 2008

Let the Games Begin

By Charlie Schroeder

Unlike other professional sports seasons, which have clearly marked beginnings and ends, the PGA Tour's schedule is, well, a mess. Sure, official tournaments begin just after the New Year and end in November, but most people tune out after the Fed-Ex Cup (if they tune in at all). Then, there's a smattering of secondary tournaments that fail to attract any big names (personally I think there's some interesting action here as players on the bubble try to retain their Tour cards). Once that wraps up, the so-called "Silly Season" kicks in, hanging around like an unwanted house guest into most of December, ensuring that folks who like their golf with a side order of eggnog won't be disappointed.

Some argue that the season really begins (and ends) with the majors, and that everything else is just a lead up (and for that matter a let down) to the "Big Ones."

I disagree.

For me, the golf season revolves around when Tiger Woods plays.

Consider the excitement he's already brought to 2008. After his runaway victory a couple weeks back at the Buick, Tiger flew to Dubai, and, jet lagged out of his gourd, shot 65. After struggling on Friday and Saturday, he finished with a 31 on the back nine on Sunday to edge out Ernie Els and win his 72nd worldwide victory (he has 62 on the PGA Tour).

72 wins. The guy's 32 years old!

I'm a sucker for Charles Osgood and his CBS Sunday Morning Show (I love their nature montages.), but last Sunday when Tiger roared back to win in Dubai I happily eschewed my weekly dose of bird calls to watch the world's greatest golfer ever. How could any golf fan not?

Since we here at GT focus our energies on instruction, equipment and travel, we rarely find ourselves locked inside a press tent over the weekends, so when it comes to the Tour I'm a fan, just like you. And as a fan I couldn't have cared less about the Mercedes (a victor's-only tourney that Tiger didn't play), Sony or the Hope. Not that I'm not thrilled for the winners (can you tell me who they were?) but it's just not the same as watching Tiger make history every time he tees it up.

Speaking of which, one more win until Tiger ties Hogan. Let the games begin.