Tiger Ready To Roar

In just a few short hours, the World's Most Dominant Athlete, will make his return at the Accenture Match Play Championship against unheralded Brendan Jones.
What should we expect? Well, Tiger has already said he feels healthier than ever, his legs don't have pain for the first time in years, and his short game is "better" than ever before because all he could do for a while was pitch and chip. This from a guy who already had the best short game in golf, and probably in the history of the game.

We should expect Tiger to do exactly what he did the last two times he came off surgery, and that is win. He will win the Accenture because he's Tiger Woods. And that is what Tiger Woods does. And the fact is the rest of the tour knows that, too. Therefore, the intimidation factor of "I am Tiger Woods" will only get stronger with his victory this week.

Quick thoughts- Ryder Cup, Yankee Stadium Farewell and more

Just some quick thoughts until I have to time to give the following it's proper due:

1. Yankee Stadium Farewell- No one, AND THE ROCK MEANS NO ONE, does that type of celebration (whether it's the farewell, retiring someone's number, ring ceremony, etc) better than the New York Yankees. yes, it's a lot easier when you have that type of tradition to go to. Still, it's nice to see it done properly.
2. ESPN did a very good job on it's pre game show. Good thing FOX and Joe Buck weren't involved.
3. The Yankee faithful gave Bernie Williams the biggest applaue of the night on Bernie's first return to the Stadium since his "retirement". One of the classiests and greatest Yankees of all time.
4. Paul O'Neil is just plain out Cool.
5. I think the most telling moment of the night was the complete and utter ommission of Roger Clemens from the evening. Not one mention of him. Not one video moment of him. Nothing. And good for the Yankees for doing it that way. F him. The lying bastard deserves it.
6. Great job by the Tiger less U.S. team that defeated the Euro's in the Ryder Cup and finally bringing it home, for the first time since '79. Mahan, Kim, and Boo really shined bright for the U.S.
7. Great job by Azinger for his picks and his leadership.
8. Harrington, Westwood and Sergio all failed to show up for the Euro's.
9. After watching Mahan and Kim, it says here, they will win many majors in the future. Both have incredible talent and the game to win majors. I wouldnt be surprised to see a combined 5 between them.
10. What the hell happened in Flushing? Can this happen again? I thought with the great job of Manuel and having Sanatan and Pelfrey on the mound two of the 5 days they would prevent a collapse. As great a job as they are doing, their bullpen is miserable and Reyes is showing two years in a row he doesnt have the stomach for September baseball. Not many Jeter comparisons nowadays.
11. It was great watching Jim Furyk clinch it for the U.S. He's a great guy, a good role model and the only Major Championship winner that ever had the honor of playing a round with The Peoples Champ.

U.S. vs. Europe- The Ryder Cup begins

A very interesting Ryder Cup this year as Tiger Woods is home resting his knee and Europe now boasts the current PLAYING #1 player in Padraig Harrington. Paddy has shown incredible "testicular fortitude" in winning 3 of the last 6 majors (and a little help from reverse testicular fortitude by Sergio Garcia). Interestingly he has only a career record of 7-8-2 in Ryder Cup play (his "bitch" Sergio, by contrast, has a 14-4-2 record).

10:24AM EST
Todays early matches pit the U.S. top player, Phil Mickelson with Anthony Kim against Paddy and Robert Karlsson. Thru 9 holes the matches is all squared.
Other matches Have U.S. Justin Leonard and Hunter Mahan leading Henrik Stenson and Paul Casey 2 up thru 8.
Europe's Justin Rose and Ian "Mr. Pink" Poulter have a 3 up lead thru 7 on Stewart Cink and controversial Captains pick Chad Campbell.
U.S. Kenny Perry and The People's Champ favorite, Jim Furyk are all square with Lee Westwood and Sergio just underway.

10:47 EST
Paddy and Karlsson now up 2 thru 11 on Philly Mick and Kim. Looks like their #1 is better than our #1 right now.
Leonard/Mahan now 1 up thru 11 on Stenson/Casey
Rose/Pinky 2 up thru 9 over Cink and Campbell (I hate that pairing)
Furyk/Perry 1 up thru 8 on Sergio/Westwood.

11:24 AM EST

Phil and Kim are trying to stage a comeback, winning the last 2 holes, 1 down after 14. This could be a major boost to TEAM USA if they can squeek out tie or better yet a victory.
Rose and Pinky's lead has also shrunk to 1 up, now thru 11. The other scores are holding as is.

11:34 EST

BIG TURN OF EVENTS. Phil just birdied 15 to square the match and Poulter just put a wedge shot in the water that will square up that match after Campbell putts (putt was conceded but Campbell makes it anyway). Amazing! US still leads the other two matches.

11:38 EST

Hometown favorite Kenny Perry birdied 12 to give the US a 2 up lead thru 12 in that match.

11:46 EST

Be back in a few hours. Europe hasn't won a hole in an hour!

2:20 EST

U.S. up 3-1
Mickelson-Kim and Furyk -Perry earned halves.
Leonard-Mahan won 3 and 2, Cink and Campbell won 1 up.
Big early pleasant surprise for the U.S. squad.
Afternoon matches:
Paddy and McDowell lead Phil and Kim 2 up thru 5
Leonard-Mahan up 1 thru 1 over Garcia and Jimenez
Stricker-Curtis all square with Poulter Rose thru 3.
Holmes Weekly up 1 thru 1 over Westwood-Hansen

Leonard just missed a hole in 1 on the 3rd by an inch!
Interesting both Perry and Furyk are sitting out the afternoon matches for the U.S.