The ovation he received as he walked to the green was as if it was Sunday at the Open and he was protecting a lead. But he has no competition when it comes to being the most popular golfer around. Woods finished his abbreviated practice round with a series of sand shots from the bunker around the ninth green. For Woods, the toughest part of being a golfer is that he now has to live up to the expectation that he will become the greatest ever to play the game. Anything less will be considered a failure.
History is the toughest measuring stick to grow up against.
Clearly something, whether it was the hectic schedule or just pure exhaustion, was getting to him. His coach, Butch Harmon, went back to work with Woods last week. Woods won the Masters at Augusta National by overpowering the course. To win here, he will have to outthink the course and the others in the field. He has proven he can overwhelm.