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The Dartmouth
July 15, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

Eye of the Tiger

Turning on the television Sunday afternoon to watch the final round of the Masters and listening to the commentators describe the all-to-familiar conclusion to a major golf championship, I recognized the scene: "18th greenWoods can clinch with this 18 footer for birdienice stroke, ball breaking left to rightYES! Woods has done it!"

For anyone that didn't turn on a television or get any news whatsoever on Sunday, Tiger Woods won the Masters, and in doing so, became the first player in history to hold the crowns of all four majors (The Masters, U.S. Open, British Open, and PGA Championship) at the same time.

It's difficult to argue with the fact that Woods' accomplishment truly is a remarkable feat. It sets the 25 year-old apart from the rest of the golfing pack: not just from modern rivals David Duval, Phil Mickelson, and Ernie Els, among others, but from all-time greats such as Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus as well. Winning majors has become almost second nature to America's favorite golfing sensation.

Yet somehow, I don't think I was the only one who was less than thrilled when Tiger sank his birdie put on the 18th at Augusta National to make history on Sunday. With the rise of Tiger Woods, golf has become a sport with a clear favorite.

No longer are there a number of close competitors vying to win a given championship; when a major rolls around, there is talk of Tiger, and then there is mention of "the rest." The loss of level competition and unpredictability is regrettable, which is why a number of people, myself included, groaned as Tiger pumped his clenched fist, hugged Earl Woods (his father), and fitted himself with the green jacket Sunday afternoon.

Despite the consistently solid play of players like David Duval and Phil Mickelson, who succeeded in providing some drama this weekend before succumbing to the inevitable, Tiger seems to be unbeatable. In his four consecutive major wins, he has a combined score of 65 under-par. The question is, who can beat Tiger when he is playing like he is right now? The PGA tour has yet to produce someone who can, which makes watching golf majors about as suspenseful as watching Strom Thurmond's election returns come in.

But the question remains, does Tiger hurt professional golf? I don't think so. Despite the fact that he wins with annoying consistency, stares down 40-foot putts with irksome confidence, and acts as if winning four consecutive majors is another day at the office, he can hardly be faulted for being good.

After all, it's not like he's ruining golf like the Yankees are ruining baseball: he doesn't buy his championships like George Steinbrenner. On the contrary, he probably peeks the interest of many fans around the country and world.

The bottom line is that Tiger is going to keep winning barring any freakish Happy Gilmore-like injuries, but I don't think I'll be rooting for him.