>>>http://www.golfsurround.com/usopen/2007/news/woods061707.html
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>>>Usually Tiger doesn't have to catch anyone. They just choke and fall back to him. But this year was different. He had to catch the Argentine, Cabrera. He couldn't do it, he never had to do it. Now he does have something to prove, even though he could stop playing right now and still be considered to be the best ever.
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>>I believe any player in the field of a major can beat Tiger on one their best days, but not if Tiger is having one of his best days. I usually like to root for the underdog, but when Tiger is playing I like to see him win. I would have really like that last putt to go in and have them go into the playoff. One of the best matches I've seen was Tiger and Day a few years back. It ended up under lights and they were head-to-head. Another was the one with Els. Very cool.
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>Tigers B Game is light years ahead of most players A games. If he's on, he's unbeatable.


Exactly. What is just as telling about his greatness is how good he is when he ISN'T on (for him). In both the Masters and U.S. Open this year everyone was saying how his game was a little off, he wasn't putting well, wasn't hitting the fairways well, etc. And in both of them he finished second, a shot back. (Not positive about the Masters but believe that's accurate). His next to top gear is equal to anyone else's top gear.

I generally cheer for Tiger out of respect for his dedication and hard work, plus of course appreciation of the kind of excellence we rarely see in any field. Was cheering for him yesterday, what little of it (an hour or two) I got to see. But I wound up being happy for Cabrera. I liked his composure and a couple of small moments -- bouncing the ball off his putter a few times before tapping it ahead to his caddie, sneaking a smoke between holes, big smiles after good shots. His first major, over a million in prize money, exemptions from all the majors for the next 5-10 years. What a great day for him.