The Tiger Factor at the 100th PGA Championship at Bellerive Country Club, St. Louis

Photo by Warren Nichols of Warren360 Media and Global Golf Ventures

By James Beatty

August 14, 2018

CAN TIGER MAKE IT 15 THIS WEEK?
Well, that was my question along with millions of other fans attending the 100^th PGA Championship at the Bellerive Country Club in St. Louis (August 9-12, 2018) as he began his quest for another win–or at least a good finish.

Tiger started his first round on Thursday with a bogey, and a double bogey for 3 over par in the first 2 holes, thus setting the tone for the remaining 16 holes.

GET THOSE STROKES BACK!!!!

Photo by Warren Nichols of Warren360 Media and Global Golf Ventures

Indeed, I was at his first hole on Thursday, watching him at number 10, due to split tees and 155 other competitors. Mind you, I was about seven people deep in a crowd of 30 deep that stretched from the tee box to the 150-yard marker.

Photo by Warren Nichols of Warren360 Media and Global Golf Ventures

People were constantly jockeying for the best position to watch Tiger while hoisting their iPhones, Androids and other camera devices up in the air to get a picture of the most watched golfer in the history of the game.  Many have said that he moves the needle as it relates to fan viewership, crowds etc. I would maintain that HE is the needle.

Photo by Warren Nichols of Warren360 Media and Global Golf Ventures

Well, he indeed fights and fights and gets those 3 strokes back and finishes round 1 at even par 70. Well, I can now breath.  But I am also keenly aware that he needs to have a good round 2 on Friday, to make sure he makes the cut in this 156 player field. The cut is the top 70 scores and ties, and I am thinking that even par or 1 under will be the cut number.

Play was suspended on Friday after the weather delay. (photo: James Beatty)

So we get thru the first 7 holes on Friday and then the skies open up and there is a weather delay.  Tiger has to mark his location, as he is on his third shot at the par 5 8^thhole. Well, play is eventually suspended and the PGA makes the decision that second round play will have to be completed on Saturday, making for a long day with Tiger having to play  11 holes to finish the second round.   Hopefully, he makes the cut plus play 18 more for his Round 3 and play well enough to ensure that he is close to the leader.  He played a total of 29 holes on Saturday.

RELATED ARTICLE: Where Do African Americans Stand on the Various Pro Tours?

So now, its Saturday and Tiger is in contention, just 4 shots off the leader.

So, going from 3 over (in the first 2 holes) to 8 under (after 54 holes), Tiger is playing his shirt off!  In fact, he has changed shirts five times during his rounds because of his profuse sweating in this St. Louis heat and humidity. Well, I think he is also causing others to sweat, and get hot and bothered, as well.

Photo by Warren Nichols of Warren360 Media and Global Golf Ventures

Well, Tiger was not the only golf story in St Louis.  There is another one much to my surprise and delight. I found out that “Wash U”, as the locals call Washington University has an African American on the women’s golf team – YEAH!!!!!   Her name is Angelica Harris, a sophomore on the golf team at Washington University who is doing well on the course and in school. She is just one of less than 60 black women playing NCAA golf. I will write about her journey and accomplishments later this month…Stay tuned!

Photo by Warren Nichols of Warren360 Media and Global Golf Ventures

Well, we all witnessed Tiger’s greatness on Sunday, as he had the course and the crowd under his control and spell.  EVERYONE at the course, and those watching him on TV, was glued to his every action, shot, facial expression, frustration, and on and on. Mr. Woods put on a show and for a moment his legions of fans thought that he just might pull it off and win number 15. Well, he didn’t but with posting a great round of 64, he did finish solo 2nd. Not too bad, but like all Tiger fans, I want more from the man.

Photo by Warren Nichols of Warren360 Media and Global Golf Ventures

Am I unfair in my expectations?  Could be, but it is his own fault for setting the standard so high and doing it consistently, for so many years.  I remain a Tiger fan and wish him and his family the best. I am so grateful to have watched him from the start of his career until now. I was even at Augusta when he won his first green jacket.

Thanks for the great show this past week Tiger.

I believe there is more to come.

Here are some stats for those of us who want to analyze his game during the PGA Championship:

TIGER’S  SCORING BY ROUND

Tiger’s Stats

MONEY EARNED

Tiger earned $1,188,000 for his solo 2^nd place finish and moves to 19^th on the PGA Tour Official Money list with $3,407,462.
The leader is Justin Thomas with $7,893,693

Note: Harold Varner III is 98^th with $1,176,774. He did not play in the PGA Championship, as he was the fourth alternate.

FEDEX CUP POINTS

Moves from 47^thto 20^thwith  1,162 points.
The leader is Dustin Johnson with 2,717 points

RYDER CUP POINTS

Moves from 20^th to 11^th.The top 8 are automatic qualifiers

TIGER’S PERFORMANCE AT THE MAJORS IN 2018

DATE	MAJOR	FINISH	MONEY EARNED
4/8		T – 32	$63,663
6/17		MISSED  THE CUT	$0
7/22		T – 6	$327,000
8/12		2ND	$1,188,000

PGA Media Center (photo: James Beatty)

The PGA MEDIA CENTER is where I live and work during the tournament, Usually from 5:30 AM to 8:00 PM. This is the nerve center of the PGA Tournament.

WRITER’S COMMENTARY

I want to acknowledge that while I, and millions of other fans, were watching a black man play championship golf (Thursday thru Sunday) the Saint Louis Post Dispatch reported that the Wednesday before tournament play (Aug. 9, 2018) marked the 4th anniversary of the police shooting death of Michael Brown Jr. in Ferguson, Missouri –just 20 minutes away from the Bellerive Country Club.  I thought, as law enforcement from state and local agencies watched incredible shots and then escortedTiger Woods (the tournament’s only Black golfer) to ensure his safety, this is a most interesting, paradoxical, juxtapositioning of police force.  Society and golf both have a long way to go, and I am praying for both.

James Beatty, Executive Editor, African American Golfer’s Digest James R. Beatty is Founder of NCS International, an Omaha, Nebraska-based company that providers of an array of economic development services. He also serves on the Golf 20/20 Diversity Task Force and recently launched Jim Beatty Golf Ventures, a golf promotion and management company.