[msqueri]

I don’t think it is inherently harder to be kind to others, and there are plenty of elite athletes who are kind, genuine people.

I think one can respect everything that Tiger has accomplished on the golf course, and still lament that he was a bit of a jerk.  I’m glad that age has mellowed him out.

BC

While I mostly agree with what you say here, I have one caveat that I think merits consideration. While life experiences and reflection may genuinely change a person's approach to his peers, my observation (of people I actually know well enough to evaluate with some confidence) is that often what actually changes is their political skills. The "inner jerk" is still very much there, but they have learned to hide it better in casual situations. When it comes to what they actually do, not how they appear, they haven't changed. Hard to know about Tiger unless you are in his circle, which I am certainly not :-).

I live in South Florida and have two kids the exact same age as Tiger's.  We used to live near him up in Jupiter but are now down in Boca.

He is widely considered an ass by parents.  Comes to his kid's soccer games and stands in the corner talking to no one.  Seems to lack the ability to be a real human being with normal people.

FWIW, Elin is considered to be very nice....

I understand why very famous people are “aloof” at things like their kids games. It’s the kids time not theirs.

FWIW, the Jupiter area is home to about half of the PGA tour.  Tons of famous golfers.  All of them I have met are pretty normal and would stand on the sideline and cheer on their kid like the other parents.....

Being a professional golfer is not the same as being Tiger Woods. I don't think I'll ever understand people expecting Tiger Woods, Barry Bonds, Steve Jobs, etc. to be normal people. Would it be nice? Sure, but to be that great is inherently to be abnormally driven, lonely, and just generally unusual. That's not to even mention that a jovial Tiger Woods at the kid sporting event takes attraction away from the kids much more than the other "famous" parents, becomes a magnet for the unhinged/violent/attention-seeking parents, and so forth.

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And Wu shot a 71, currently 32nd. Making the cut would be a of immense proportions accomplishment for either. Alas, Tiger is doing much worse. It also must be frustrating to McNealy to continue to be just not quite over the hump on qualifying for many of the biggest tournaments.

That is frustrating, but Maverick has also been really close to picking up that 1st PGA Tour win, and with it, guaranteed status on Tour for two full years after the current season. All the way back at the season opener in Napa, Maverick had the lead very late in the final round, but Max Homa passed him during the final stretch (Bears beating the Trees :( , though Max seems like a really nice guy and talented player).

Maverick currently T6 at the alternate event to Open in Lake Tahoe (Stableford format tourney).

Fastest way to qualify for majors and secure longer term exemption on tour is to win (though some of the smaller PGA events won't give auto status into field, but on OGWR points, any win on PGA Tour is big toward qualifying.

For sure. His form was strong enough at the end of 2021 (four top 25 finishes in his last six tournaments of the year, including the 2nd place in Napa, that I thought he was a good breakthrough bet for 2022. No breakthrough yet, as his OWGR has never gotten in high in 2022 as it was after Napa. I hope he can have a great next three rounds and keep the momentum going the rest of the season. The Truckee tournament is, of course, an extremely weak field. He is the second highest ranked player in the field and one of only three top 100 players, so he should do well. By my back of the envelope math if he doesn't finish top five this weekend doesn't do anything for him or hurts him in the OWGR. The FedEx standings will be slightly more forgiving. Still, target is definitely a top four finish I would think.

[msqueri]

I don’t think it is inherently harder to be kind to others, and there are plenty of elite athletes who are kind, genuine people.

I think one can respect everything that Tiger has accomplished on the golf course, and still lament that he was a bit of a jerk.  I’m glad that age has mellowed him out.

BC

While I mostly agree with what you say here, I have one caveat that I think merits consideration. While life experiences and reflection may genuinely change a person's approach to his peers, my observation (of people I actually know well enough to evaluate with some confidence) is that often what actually changes is their political skills. The "inner jerk" is still very much there, but they have learned to hide it better in casual situations. When it comes to what they actually do, not how they appear, they haven't changed. Hard to know about Tiger unless you are in his circle, which I am certainly not :-).

I live in South Florida and have two kids the exact same age as Tiger's.  We used to live near him up in Jupiter but are now down in Boca.

He is widely considered an ass by parents.  Comes to his kid's soccer games and stands in the corner talking to no one.  Seems to lack the ability to be a real human being with normal people.

FWIW, Elin is considered to be very nice....

I understand why very famous people are “aloof” at things like their kids games. It’s the kids time not theirs.

FWIW, the Jupiter area is home to about half of the PGA tour.  Tons of famous golfers.  All of them I have met are pretty normal and would stand on the sideline and cheer on their kid like the other parents.....

Being a professional golfer is not the same as being Tiger Woods. I don't think I'll ever understand people expecting Tiger Woods, Barry Bonds, Steve Jobs, etc. to be normal people. Would it be nice? Sure, but to be that great is inherently to be abnormally driven, lonely, and just generally unusual. That's not to even mention that a jovial Tiger Woods at the kid sporting event takes attraction away from the kids much more than the other "famous" parents, becomes a magnet for the unhinged/violent/attention-seeking parents, and so forth.

---

And Wu shot a 71, currently 32nd. Making the cut would be a of immense proportions accomplishment for either. Alas, Tiger is doing much worse. It also must be frustrating to McNealy to continue to be just not quite over the hump on qualifying for many of the biggest tournaments.

That is frustrating, but Maverick has also been really close to picking up that 1st PGA Tour win, and with it, guaranteed status on Tour for two full years after the current season. All the way back at the season opener in Napa, Maverick had the lead very late in the final round, but Max Homa passed him during the final stretch (Bears beating the Trees :( , though Max seems like a really nice guy and talented player).

Maverick currently T6 at the alternate event to Open in Lake Tahoe (Stableford format tourney).

Fastest way to qualify for majors and secure longer term exemption on tour is to win (though some of the smaller PGA events won't give auto status into field, but on OGWR points, any win on PGA Tour is big toward qualifying.

For sure. His form was strong enough at the end of 2021 (four top 25 finishes in his last six tournaments of the year, including the 2nd place in Napa, that I thought he was a good breakthrough bet for 2022. No breakthrough yet, as his OWGR has never gotten in high in 2022 as it was after Napa. I hope he can have a great next three rounds and keep the momentum going the rest of the season. The Truckee tournament is, of course, an extremely weak field. He is the second highest ranked player in the field and one of only three top 100 players, so he should do well. By my back of the envelope math if he doesn't finish top five this weekend doesn't do anything for him or hurts him in the OWGR. The FedEx standings will be slightly more forgiving. Still, target is definitely a top four finish I would think.