Yes, I saw Tiger's shot. Quite terrific.
Here is my view:
#1 -- Par means too much; I say "let go!" -- who cares if Tiger shoots 51? Does it really matter? No, all that matters is that the TV coverage is terrific and Tiger gets air time; gosh, professional golf is nothing like they way I play or the conditions I play in or even what people I play with are wearing...it is, by design, a different game
#2 -- Easy to toughen a course, but hard to get it done physically as people don't want to change...hey, what casual golfer would want it so tough that he can't play as well as yesterday? Is say "make the courses EASIER for the average golfer" -- close the gap between Tiger and Joe-bag-of-donuts
#3 -- I put much more faith in golf architects and greenkeepers being able to toughen courses (your rough comment is appropriate here) than manufacturers being able to increase distance -- we have more arsenal than they do -- and FAR LESS RULES TO AHDERE TO!!! -- Consider this: within the rules a greenkeeper can cut a pin within 3-feet of the edge of a green, he can quite mowing roughs, he can rake bunkers with a pitch fork, and he can plant tall grass in front of tees -- all without any trouble except the blasted member or PGA or USGA official -- who, by the way, can only cite "guidelines" -- no rules or hard fact against such practice!
#4 -- The history of golf is far greater than any of us admit to -- we all think in terms of a mere thin span of history (for me it is often 1850 to 2002 -- that's just 50+ years) -- but in reality, golf begins 400% earlier, around 1450; think about this for a moment
#5 -- Yes, I like sand bunkers, grass pits, ponds, snake pits, flame throwers, spectators who are allowed to throw cups and yell, I even like the idea of Alice Cooper being able to play loud music at the 2nd tee so Duval can't concentrate -- hell yes, make the pros work harder!
Maybe I've overdone it. I do uphold good manners. But I think we've bent over for the pros long enough. Golf is for the 4,000,000 rounds played everyday by every day people like you and me -- to think it exists for the fraction of a fraction of a fraction of a percent of the golfers on earth is, well, a bad direction to head.
We need to comparing what happens on TV with what happens more often.