Before you decide to flame me or call me names, just hear me out. I think the fact that some believe the winner of the British Open should have an asterisk is absolutely absurd. Seriously. I’m totally open for suggestions here. Give me one good reason that someone’s hard-earned win should have a footnote that Mr. Tiger Woods was not playing?
These golfers have spent their lives preparing for professional golf. They train hard and practice. If they play their game right and work the course, they come out on top. It is truly a shame that when they are interviewed they are consistently asked about Tiger Woods. They deserve their own press without mentioning another player.
Incidentally, I’m definitely a Tiger Woods fan. I’ve watched his entire career and truly admire him as an athlete, a golfer, and a human being. He is one of the elite and has elevated the sport. Even so, there should not be a special note next to those who win tournaments he is not in. In addition, there should be no special accommodations for those who beat him. In 2007, Tiger finished 12th in the British Open. Does the winner of that event, Padraig Harrington, have an asterisk next to his win? If this year’s winner must have a footnote that Tiger wasn’t playing then Harrington should have one saying he finished in first in spite of Tiger’s presence.
If there is a sidebar to this year’s British Open winner then there are several more that need to be added. For example, there needs to be an asterisk next to the New York Giants Super Bowl winning season. They deserve a bit extra since they beat the previously undefeated New England Patriots. In addition, any team that beat the Chicago Bulls after Michael Jordan left should have an asterisk next to their win.
It all sounds very silly, doesn’t it? The British Open winner this year deserves to be called just that, the winner.
Amen brother!
Comment by Chris
— July 21, 2008 @ 10:21 am
Who won The Open Championship last year when Woods was in the field?
Paddy, that’s who! He’s already proven he can beat the toughest competitors in the toughest conditions.
Comment by Don
— July 22, 2008 @ 12:18 am
Here, here…you’ve hit the nail on the head…good call
Comment by bobsuruncle
— July 22, 2008 @ 12:40 pm
I agree everything but one point: Tiger Woods WAS playing.
Well, he actually wasn’t in the championship but let me use an example to explain my point:
In a F1 race when someone brakes hi car and needs to go to the boxes to repair, it use to be because he’s been too aggressive and has taken his machine to the limit to win the race. But it’s still in the race.
Tiger is now in his boxes fixing his machine and getting ready to go back to the race and become the greatest golfer in history.
Congratulations to the Champion Golfer of the year (no asterisk)
Comment by juliogolf
— July 22, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
I meant “breaks” not “breaks”
Comment by juliogolf
— July 22, 2008 @ 6:19 pm
The asterisk would be a nasty little reminder that for purposes of comparison ‘conditions were significantly changed’ by Tiger’s absence and would unfairly single out the few winners lucky enough to play while Tiger was recourerating. There’s a better approach — all golf records should be recategorized into Before Tiger (BT) During Tiger (DT) and After the reign of Tiger (AT). The Gregorian calendar enjoyed wide acceptance casting Christ as their central figure (BC, AD) and golf should do the same. This format has the benefit of lumping together all those lucky golfers who won without having to compete against Tiger - Old Tom Morris, Bobby Jones, etc. - and might even sell some calendars.
Comment by 8thehardway
— July 23, 2008 @ 11:24 am
Agreed the asterisk is silly. All you can do in a tournament is play whoever shows up. Should there be additional asterisks because Nicklaus, Hogan and Bobby Jones weren’t there?
Comment by interossiter
— July 23, 2008 @ 12:08 pm
“The British Open winner this year deserves to be called just that, the winner*.”
Comment by bullard
— July 26, 2008 @ 2:09 am
Agreed.
There’s no asterisk next to major winners the year after Hogan was mauled and crushed in that car wreck. While on that subject, had Tiger Woods been in a similar auto accident and subsequently performed like Hogan did afterwards, today’s media would talk about Woods in the same breath as God himself.
Oh, and there’s no asterisk next to all the major winners after Jack turned 50, either. You must show up at the first tee and hit it. It’s that simple.
Comment by rio
— July 26, 2008 @ 1:49 pm
well said. i cant believe somebody even suggested an asterisk??? thats like saying EVERY tourney that someone wins that Tiger wasnt playing in should have an asterisk next to their name. thats just absurd and ridiculous.
Comment by Joe
— August 10, 2008 @ 8:07 pm