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Mighty Woods should be healed for Open at the Black

Shaun Powell

June 17, 2008

Tiger Woods kisses the U.S. Open trophy after beating Rocco Mediate, left, in a sudden-death hole that followed a dramatic playoff round on Monday. (AP Photo / June 16, 2008)

All the tourists and their 20-handicaps have just 11 more months to chop up Long Island's favorite public course before yielding to the only human who doesn't need to sneak past the famous sign by the first tee.

You know, the warning sign that tells players the Black Course is "extremely difficult" and should be reserved "only for highly skilled golfers."

Tiger Woods is coming back to the Black next June, and right now, he looks more determined than the guy who won the 2002 U.S. Open on the course. Well, OK, admittedly Woods wasn't on his "A" game Monday at the Open during his double-overtime playoff.

Woods lurched along the Torrey Pines South Course and played just well enough to win. He blew a three-shot lead with eight holes to play and trailed by one with one hole to go. But don't be concerned by what you saw in San Diego. Remember, he'll play his next Open on two legs instead of one.

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Tiger did Monday what Tiger does, meaning he whipped up a performance that can only be matched in your dreams. First, a few words about his 'scoped knee, the one he dragged around for 91 holes the last five days. The awe-struck announcers and media types all but nominated Tiger for the Purple Heart. The drama and gushing got a little thick at times, especially when Tiger winced and made folks get all choked up and essentially compare him to a wounded veteran, instead of a guy who plays golf.

That's more a commentary on the analysts than Woods, however, and to some degree, you can't blame them for being impressed. Who wasn't? Who among you can take anything away from the world's greatest sportsman, who once again flashed his steely desire to win, and who, despite his limp, showed more strength between the ears than inside the kneecap?

With all due respect to Mike Milbury, the former Islanders general manager who before the tournament said Tiger was no match for hockey players for toughness, Tiger toughed out his 14th major championship. His medium-length putt on the 72nd hole two days ago, the one that forced another day, was 25 percent stroke and 75 percent mental muscle. You don't get to where he is without the envious ability to want something more than anyone else.

And so, with another major title in the bag, Tiger is teeing himself up for the biggest moment of his professional career, and there's a chance we could witness it here. Mathematically, at least, Woods can tie Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 majors with a win next summer at Bethpage Black (if he won the British Open and PGA Championship this year and the Masters next year). Wasn't it just yesterday when Woods clobbered everyone at the Masters for his first major title? Have the years gone by us that fast? Has he really been that good?

As you might imagine, the good folks who run the Black course are all giddy. Dave Catalano, the Bethpage Park director, even got greedy when he revealed he wanted Woods to win the Masters, so he would have a mathematical shot at breaking Nicklaus' record at Bethpage.

"I don't know if anything Tiger does next summer could beat 2002 for me," Catalano said, "because being the first public course to host the Open was unbelievable. But seeing Tiger tie Nicklaus would be pretty special."

Obviously, we're all guilty of being caught up in the fumes of Tiger's latest win. He'd have to win the next three majors to make Bethpage Black the site of a potentially historic moment. That doesn't take anything away from what may transpire on the Black, where Woods was the only player to finish under par in 2002. The combination of Woods and the Black was irresistible six years ago. Record crowds flowed into the park and TV ratings soared. It was the most successful U.S. Open ever. Plus, the fans were the true stars. They serenaded Phil Mickelson, the birthday boy, and constantly gave tips to professional golfers on how to play a public course. The best sight: Hundreds of fans crowding near the portable toilet where Woods was forced to, uh, make a slight detour.

"We've been counting down the days," Catalano said. "The course is in fabulous shape. But is it ready for Tiger?

"I don't think so."

When it comes to Tiger, is anyone ready? Once again, he's playing a different game. Or, let's put it this way: At the next U.S. Open, it could seem like all the other golfers are playing the unforgiving Black course while Tiger is next door playing the Red.

On two legs.