“It’s been a long time coming. Five or six years of hard work, coming over to change my residency, to be living in America, to finally win over here … it means everything. And it’s just so pleasing to be able to finally say now I’m a winner on the PGA Tour.” The words of Ian Poulter after smacking Paul Casey around the yard in the 36 hole World Match Play Championship final. Finally playing as well as he dresses, Mr. Poulter capped off his week in style, winning the all England final 4 and 2 in a match that really wasn't that close. For Mr. Casey this is the second thumping in as many years he's endured in the finals of this event.
Despite the fact he's won 8 times in Europe and owns a 5-2 Ryder Cup record Mr. Poulter is more famously know for his mouth and his fashion sense. Remember when he intimated he was on a level with one Tiger Woods when he was playing well? Hmmm. At least as brash as some of the clothes he designs and wears. “For me it’s a business, and one that I’m very passionate about,”Mr. Poulter said. “And I take pride and care on how I present myself on the golf course. And a lot of people haven’t really seen it that way over the last few years.” Indeed they haven't, the Union Jack pants created a minor ruckus as I recall, but then I haven't heard him refered to as the "Peacock of the Fairways" as Doug Sanders was known in his prime. Style is good on the golf course, as is having a great short game.
I always find it difficult to get terribly excited about this event most years, given that this is an Olympic year made it even harder. Despite the fact more TV time is taken up with commercials or Bob Costas there is still something oddly fascinating about curling during prime time. While match play has been the mainstay of amateur golf for as long as golf has been played, it's not television friendly. In an age where we all have an attention span lasting as long as it takes to hurtle down a ramp on really long skis, fly into the air down a mountain, and land upright, match play takes forever and three days to be played. Most of that time is consumed with walking from shot to shot. No Virginia it's not a hockey game, its a prescription for insomnia.
The excitement for the week, at least in the golf world, was Tiger Woods' public statement on Friday. For those not familiar with 12 step recovery programs, making amends is a big part of the recovery process. What Mr. Woods accomplished Friday was making his public amends to those people who only know him from his very public life. Nervous and unsettled only made the delivery that much more believable. That was the real TW ,not the corporate logo but the person himself for perhaps the first time in years in front of the cameras without the armor that golf provides him. It took a lot of courage to stand up and make a public apology. He didn't have to, after all the guy can isolate himself as well as anyone in the world because he has the cash to hire several regiments of protection, but he did and I applaud him for taking a step on the way to recovery.
Ernie Els made the news with his comments that Mr. Woods was selfish for holding his public apology session during the World Match Play Championship. Shut up Ernie! The guy made you richer than you ever imagined and you feel the need to bash him as selfish? Why, because he draws more attention than you? Get over yourself. We've all witnessed the most spectacular crash and burn ever, from king of the world to sleazy tabloid idol and you need to smack him again? Maybe I'm a tad sensitive because I am all too familiar with failings that have been called those of a moral degenerate among others things. I know the illness and disease of addiction and the devastation brought into the life of the individual and their family. It's pain, discomfort, a lot of soul searching, but treatable over time. Cut the man some slack, and be grateful it's not you in his position.
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