I'm not sure I'd put Tiger Woods at the top as the smartest course manager but maybe so.
I'd sure put Tiger at or near the top all time for imagination and the ability to execute effectively with remarkably imaginative shots. In that category would also be Ballesteros, probably Garcia and Mickelson. From the old days I hear one should probaby add in Walter Hagen.
It sounds to me like Tiger is capable of hitting shots that just completely astound some of his best fellow competitors and that would explain that open-mike story where Tiger was behind some trees and Ernie Els was in the fairway watching him decide what to do. I think Feherty was standing in the fairway next to Ernie and Tiger took out a club and launched it so immediately high and over the trees and onto the green that Ernie said rather loudly: "FUCK ME!" to which Feherty reminded Ernie his mike was open to the rest of the golfing world to which Ernie pooh-faced said: "Oh, sorry about that David."
Tom,
Here's a link to Feherty telling that story...it's a great one!
http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=BZFG3_o27UkAnd the story in print:
David Feherty was recently interviewed and when asked about his position related to Tiger, here was his response…
“People have accused me of being so far up Tiger’s arse that he can barely make a full swing, but I maintain that he is a special person.
There’s no one else on the planet who can do what he does or even think of doing what he does. I’ve often thought, instead of showing Tiger’s reaction to a shot he’s hit, we really should show the reaction of those around him.”
But here is the next best thing. “I’m walking down the 18th fairway at Firestone Country Club with Ernie Els and Tiger, who has popped up a three-wood about 40 yards behind Ernie into some wet, nasty, horrible, six-inch rough,” Feherty says.
“Tiger’s cursing and taking clumps out of Ohio with his three-wood. And, of course, we’re not showing this on TV because we want to be able to interview him later. Ernie and I walk past Tiger’s ball, and it is truly buried.
“Ernie is tied with Tiger and he’s in the middle of the fairway. I’m standing with Ernie and my microphone is open. Ken Venturi [in the CBS booth] sends it to me and I say, ‘Tiger’s got 184 yards with two big red oaks overhanging the green. He’s got absolutely nothing. With a stick of dynamite and a sand wedge I might be able to move this ball 50 yards. Steve Williams [Woods’ caddie] tells me [with a hand signal] that he’s using a pitching wedge.’
“Tiger takes his swing. Every muscle in his body is flung at the ball. It looks like he’s torn his nutsack. The divot went as far as I could hit the ball. I’ve got my microphone at my mouth thinking, what the hell was that! The ball sails over the trees, lands behind the hole and backs up to a bout six feet from the flag. I open my microphone and Ernie turns and says, ‘F*** me!’
“My producer comes on in my earpiece and says, ‘Was that Ernie?’ I say yes. He says, ‘Fair enough.’
“I could have described that shot for 15 minutes and not done as good a job as Ernie did with two words. This is one of the best players in the world talking, and you wanna know how good Tiger is? Ask Ernie Els.”