Tiger's Back on the Prowl

By Matt Ingram

Fan Fanatic Sports Staff

What a crazy weekend in sports! Spring training is wrapping up, as are the NHL and NBA regular seasons, and how about the last second wins in the NCAA Basketball and Hockey tourneys. Still with all that going on, the most exciting moments this weekend happened in Orlando at the Arnold Palmer Invitational. As you well know by now, Tiger is back, which means the PGA Tour is watchable again.

Although Tiger wasn't at his best on Saturday, he was able to put himself into the last group for Sunday which meant everything. The youthful Sean O'Hair never had a chance once the two were paired together for Sunday, even with a five shot lead. Don't get me wrong, O'Hair had his chances to wrap it up during the round but consistently shot himself in the foot. You can't expect to have four bogies in the final round of a tournament and beat the best golfer of all-time, and yes, Tiger is the best ever.

The backbreaking shot happened on the par-5, 16th when Tiger had to layup from a bad tee shot landing in the deep rough. O'Hair's biggest moment would come when he had a choice; he could lay up short of the water surrounding the green or increase his one shot lead and put it on in two. He and his caddie decided to end it on the 16th; after all it was only 175 yards to the hole. He did "end it" when his ball landed in the water short of the green. After the ball became alligator bait, O'Hair was bent over ready to bring his lunch up. At that point everyone knew that Tiger's pressure got to him and he was all done. If that wasn't bad enough Tiger lined up a 16 footer on the 18th green in the twilight to win it. In Tiger's dramatic fashion he put the ball right in and O'Hair was finished with a fist pump.

Even though Tiger is only three events in since surgery and is a little rusty, he still has the intimidation factor on his side. In a couple of weeks at the Masters, he will need that intimidation as well as a more overall consistent game if he wants to beat a full PGA field. Not to take away the accomplishments of Sean O’Hair, but the skills and mental fortitude of Tiger’s competitors at the Masters will surpass that of what he experienced this past weekend at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.