Woody just called Tiger the luckiest guy on Tour. He was asked what he thinks of Tiger's toughness.

He said, " It's easy to be tough when everything goes your way. Grinding it out isn't hard when you get all the bounces and breaks."

Did anyone else see it? What do you guys think? Sour grapes?

I don't mind Woody at all, but it seems like he never likes to admit that Tiger is that much better. And I know Tour guys don't want to admit that because they like to keep their edge and all.

But it just goes to show that the better you are and the more you practice the luckier you get right?

ok thanks guys and sorry to make this such a long point. I just thought it was another great Woody moment...

I saw that. His act has jumped the shark. It's so obvious that he tries to say things to get a reaction.

Yeah thats what it is. All luck. Whatever. Sounds like Woody is a baby.

I am not an Eldrick Fan............


but he is the best grinder on tour, he grinds 24/7 even when he is not in contention he's grinding 95% of the time. What Woody says has no bearing or effect on Eldrick, he is above that, wont even blink at it.

It amazes me what people can think up when THEY are playing poorly.

I don't think +2 at the end of the second round of the US Open is playing "poorly".

where did you guys here or see this, on the telecast?

Woody definitely came across as a little less than gracious.

That said, no one has one anthying yet. The reporter was clearly looking for a controversial response by asking Woody to blow smoke up Tiger's a$ with a "how great do you think he is, Woody?" kind of question on live TV.

Not commenting on the veracity of Austin's comments, but it doesn't surprise me coming from austin. When asked about Woods' streak earlier this year, he said "What streak? The guy plays once a month. That's a streak?" or something to that effect.

No doubt Tiger is THE MAN, everyone else is playing for second when he's on. Most are playing for second if he plays at all. He grinds it out until his mojo kicks in(please see 2nd rd. US open). That all being said he does seem to get more than his fair share of good kicks and bounces. He is super talented, super focused and super lucky. That all together makes him really tough to beat.

... the more he practices the luckier he gets ...

I thought it was a stupid question.

"Man, Tiger is really grinding out there, isn't he great Woody??"

yeah, even brandel chamblee and frank nobilo were saying that it probably wasn't the right question to ask seeing as how woody austin is in the field and somewhat still in contention. instead of asking that, rich lerner should have been asking woody about his own round rather than someone that he's trying to beat, that's why he's interviewing him i would think, if he just wanted to get answers regarding how great tiger is, then he probably should've interviewed a fan or fellow commentary.

that being said tiger played like a god today on the front nine. i'm going for the final round and today just made me that much more anxious to be there. and i think it's a safe assumption that tiger's knee will be just fine going into the weekend.

Rich Lerner knew what he'd get from Woody and lucky for Lerner he came through with it on the air. Remeber how he spoke about Tiger "hating bogeys" last year at the PGA in the press tent?

plain and simple....it IS a stupid question (but consider the interviewer) and anyone else should get pissed off too if they were competing and contending, and asked to blow sunshine up another competitors arse the way these guys are always asked about Eldrick

Agreed. Yeah, Tiger's great but there's other guys in this thing and you're talking with one of them, ask him about how he dealt with his round. How hard is that?

I get tired of hearing about Eldrick. Who gives a crap about his knee, what Buick he drives to protect Sam, etc. I am glad to see DL III in contention

Rich Lerner's a moron, I'd like to see him being interviewed about his job and start asking him questions about how good Brandel Chamblee is at doing interviews.

DL III walks like he's wearing high heels, walking down a catwalk on Project Runway. The way he purses his lips, squints his eyes, and the pride he exuberates when wearing his polo gear...

DL III is a silver spoon.

But he is in contention. So good luck to him.

I think, of all people, Woody and Sergio are two that are a) tired of fielding questions about Tiger b) are looking to keep thier faces and names in the spotlight with "colorful" commentary. and c) Maybe trying to get in tigers head a little and get him upset so he will try to force things and make mistakes.

Every reporter knows that they gonig to get something interesting if they ask woody about Tiger... it's thier job to get the one liners out of the players so they have something to talk about. Talk to Woody about TIGER grinding... right after HE grinded out par on the last after going into the water... thats just asking for it!!!

Tiger didn't really get any lucky bounces that i saw today, besides the tee shot that ended up next to the cart path... and that was close to either hurting him or being big trouble. I think most guys just see the highlights on TV and think every shot of every round is like that. When you see a tournament in real life it's not guys making 20 footers on a routine basis like on TV, there's tape delay and swiching over to the player who might be making a move. All you'll see tonight is tigers 3's and not too much of the 5's he got on the back (His Front).

I'm no Tiger fan either, but I do admire him and his work ethic. I remember a saying that was quite popular while in the service pertaining to battlefield survival. "luck favors the well-prepared." I'm sure Woody thinks he outplayed Tiger from tee to green today yet again. Woody's funny, keeps me watching waiting for a Jerry Springer-like moment, or perhaps for him to don a 10 gal. hat and sell me a used car.

Woody's in the hunt after 2 rounds of a major and all Rich can ask him is what he thinks of Tigers greatness. I think Woody's response was very gracious. I would have kicked Lerner in the nuts and had security drag me off the premises.

Woody outplayed Tiger again today in every way.... but the scores don't lie....

i'm not totally against woody on this one...kinda sucks to be interviewed only to make comments regarding another player. they didn't really talk about his round but instead it was all focused on tiger.

I don't think it was a stupid question at all. Obviously, this is a professional journalist move. Woody is known as a hot head so who else can they look towards to get a response out of? Do you think that if they asked CHIII or Davis Love that they'd expect to get the same response? No, they'd get "Yeah, Tiger sure is number one. Etc., etc., etc." But when you ask someone like Woody, who looked pretty ridiculous today after missing a 10 footer, you can probably expect a less than standard reaction.

Stupid question

Stupid answer

Maybe they should have shown Woody an MRI of Tiger's knee and asked me for his opinion on that

I didn't realize it was Rich Lerner who asked the question. From the Golf Channel's perspective the fact we are talking about it means it worked.

From the perspective of adding to the reasons that the mment I see Lerner on the screen I'm changing the channel, no....

Not to beat a dead horse, but you walk up to Woody who is 4 back of the lead at the open, made an all world 5 on 18, and ask him 5 questions about Tiger's round and his knee? And then at the end say, "nice playing today". I am tired of everyone having to be so P.C. when it comes to Tiger, why in the "F: would you walk up to a grown a** man and ask him questions about another players round....WHO DIDN'T EVEN PLAY WITH HIM. Is Rich the new Jim Grey? He's lucky Woody didn't tell him to go F off.

Funny, no one caught that, classic.

At least ask Woody a question about his round first...even if you don't care it's the right thing to do. That was just a dumb way to handle the interview. Unless as others have mentioned he just wanted to get a rise out of Woody.

I think a better reply would have been 'Tiger's hit more good shots than you've asked daft questions Rich..'

What a tool Lerner is.

He is to sports journalism what Craig Stadler is to figure skating.

I'm not a Woody fan...for some reason he always strikes me a jerk. I'm also inclined to think he's a cheater, with the missed putt last year that he refused to count.

Lerner is a fool, but he knew what sort of response he was likely to get from Woody under the circumstances. Classic Jim Grey type setup. Personally I don't respect that sort of journalism, but I suppose it has it's place. Woody had just made what would be a phenomenal par in any tournament, but especially under US Open conditions and pressure, that should have been the only thing he was asked about imo. Just further increases my dislike of Lerner.

Lerner and Woody...both tools.

"Hey Rich, pull your head out of your a** and don't ask stupid questions!"

"Hey Woody, pull your head out of your a** and don't make such stupid statements! Worship Tiger for his skill and the money HE has made for you! He's the best ever, and you are a journeyman who wears stupid clothes, behaves like a jackass, and are known more for your psycho behavior than your golf game!"

Very true.

But at least Austin has a modicum of talent for the career he's chosen.

Woody's such a sucker though..he walked right into that one..again..
I doubt very much Lerner just started the interview with "how about that Tiger'..that is what they excerpted for the panel discussion. I know he's bad...but not that bad..
I think Lerner just needs to ask other players abour Phil's strategy so far at the Open..they may have some interesting takes on that..

Based on this latest Lerner clanger, I've just e-Mailed the local university for a research grant.

I'm after funding for a study to determine if there is a link between inept interview questions and artificially coloured hair.

The bottom line is, Rich Lerner has Woody Austin (who is very much in contention for the US Open) and he asks him 3 or 4 straight questions about TIGER!! And NOTHING about his round or tournament...

No wonder Woody was mad. He doesn't hate Tiger and he's not mad at Tiger, he was probably just frustrated with the continuous questions about the guy who is in second place!

'Luck is the residue of design'

-Branch Rickey

A bit corny, but my old coach used to say 'Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.'

1. Tiger Woods is better at golf than Woody Austin.
2. My grandmother is better at interviews than Rich Lerner.

WW

A more proper question would be to ask of Jimenez comeback round of 66 shots, 9 shots better than in round one.

But ofcourse, its an international game so in the US they should root for americans, but still.. Tiger gets headlines, and whatever can be done to get headlines, viewers, cash is what the bottom line is all about.

Woody's a little delusional. Like the time he suggested he outplayed woods when woods shot 63 at Southern Hills.

Nonetheless, the reporters need to stop asking every single player about Tiger. I mean, do we really need to be told how good tiger is? it's obvious, isn't it?

I saw the interview and side with Austin...I don't even understand what he said because I was only thinking about the question(s) Lerner asked...Tiger, Tiger, Tiger,...You would think that the Golf Channel would hire some good announcers, especially since they landed a 10 year deal...Lerner should be fined for being so ignorant and unaware...I don't think his questions were tactical or intentional just to get a rise out of Woody (no pun intended)...I just think he is clueless at times...It's painful to watch Lerner and some of the others...I hope the other players boycott Rich, excuse me Dick, Lerner...

You get alot of bounces and breaks when you have a giant gallery every where you go. Mishit balls take nice bounces back towards the hole, never a lost ball, people moving boulders for you. People trying to get hit by Tigers ball yet matadoring for his playing partners.

I think the same was said about Arnies army back in his heyday. I'm sure there is quite a bit of truth in both instances.

I hope Woody Austin realizes that when his career is over, he will be known for 3 things. Falling in the water at the Presidents Cup, busting his putter over his head like Mikhail Youzhny with his racket, and making dumb comments about Tiger. He is the type of guy that will cry at night because he doesn't understand why people come on these boards and rip him. Yet he knows that the only to get noticed is by acting dumb. The guy is a disgrace to HD Television, I had no idea how bad his teeth were.

I think you better stop watching the PGA tour for the next, oh, 28 years or so.

Woody Austin= Idiot

He should have known the Tiger questions were coming. Hell, Tiger shot a 30 on his back nine. They weren't exactly tap-ins either.

Stupid interview. He could have just as easily, and with similar response, interviewed one of the wives and asked all the questions about how pretty the other wives are.