21 Apr Tiger turns sceptics and cynics into believers

Becoming cynical is part and parcel of reaching a certain stage in life. It involves believing that people are motivated by self interest and distrustful of human sincerity or integrity. Add doubtful as to whether something will happen or whether it will be worthwhile, and you begin to get a picture of a grumpy, argumentative old golf professional. Add sceptical, distrustful, suspicious, disbelieving, unbelieving, scoffing, doubting, incredulous, pessimistic, negative, hard-bitten, hardened, hard, worldweary, disillusioned, disenchanted, jaundiced, sardonic, black, informal hard-boiled and bleak, then it would be best to stay out of his way — especially for those who were the first to say the Tiger Woods ‘was’ a player yet change their minds quickly when he wins again.

Spare a thought for those four players whose hopes of winning the Masters last week were snuffed out by one swing — not necessarily a bad swing — but a swing with the wrong club.

We all saw again Augusta’s 13th last week, described by many as one of the best holes in the world and the final leg of Amen Corner. Yet right now consideration is being given to lengthen this fantastic hole and land has been purchased to go ahead with the stretching, if this proposal should be passed by the powers that be.

Admittedly, the hole does not play now as it was intended to play by Bobby Jones and Alistair MacKenzie, the creators of Augusta. The momentous decision Jones often spoke about, of going for the green in two, is to a large extent no longer relevant.

Meanwhile, I cried a couple of weeks ago due to an interview l heard involving a player who had just won a tournament again. He said that these past years had been tough and difficult for him and his family. However, my tears quickly dried up when I did a check on this particular player’s profile, and the career money he’s accumulated. On the European Tour, he’s won roughly €20 million and over in America around US$17 million. I added the two sums together and began to wonder just how hard it had been for the player and his family.

Out of Bounds: Arch supports l have for my feet. Or l wouldn’t be able to be on the street. Sleep is denied me night after night. But every morning l find I’m all right. My memory is failing, my head in a spin. But I’m awfully well for the shape I’m in.