Tiger's back

Tiger Woods shook off the controversy of his many flings, the scolding from the chairman of the tournament, and the pressure of playing once again after a very rocky phase in his life with a spectacular start in the Masters.

Although his opening round of four-under-par 68 strokes that featured eagles on two par-5 holes – No. 8 and 15, was not enough to put him atop the leaderboard, it was still a spectacular performance for the world’s top player.

Fred Couples, who I saw up close and personal 15 years ago when he won the Johnnie Walker Classic at The Orchard in Cavite, is the opening round leader with his 66 strokes.

There are many other stars in the top like Tom Watson, whose 67 puts him tied for second with several others including Phil Mickelson making this one of the most exciting starts of the tournament.

Tiger has been known as a very tough opponent to be following you. Like the animal that he has been named after although he got his nickname after a buddy of his dad in the jungles of Vietnam, he can stalk opponents and strike them where it matters most.

If he can keep his focus, which I believe he can easily do, he could easily take home another green jacket, symbol of the Masters champion.

A win in this tournament will not however mend whatever was broken in his marriage, but I’m sure it is a big lift to the sagging TV ratings of golf competitions.

There have been attempts to really set Tiger off including a plane that flew over the course carrying a banner taunting Tiger, but he said that he didn’t see it.

Well, he probably did but he has that ability of blocking off everything else when he focuses on his game. This is an ability that many great athletes have.

It doesn’t change the fact that he was caught red handed, but it will surely help put things back in their proper order. 

* * *

The Philippine Basketball Association (PBA) is celebrating its 35 anniversary.

The PBA, which is Asia’s play for pay league, opened on April 9, 1975. It was only about two years after when we moved back to Minglanilla from Toledo City that I developed an interest in the league and followed the Crispa Redmanizers.

My favorite player then was Fortunato ‘Atoy’ Co, Jr., who was also referred to as the Fortune Cookie.

The rivalry of Crispa and Toyota filled up many sports pages during the early years of the PBA.

I haven’t been following the league as closely as I had many years ago, but even if many don’t like it, basketball is the most popular game in this country.

Congratulations to the PBA and I hope the league continues to stay strong for many more years.

* * *

MILESTONES: I’ll be off to Davao City then Digos today to attend the wedding of our former sportswriter Mary Rose Javier to Yongyut Janto of Thailand.

Rose was my student at St. Theresa’s College where she took up Mass Communications and joined the sports section staff as a reporter for several years before heading off to Thailand to take a teaching job.

Today’s birthday greetings go to Bess Ann Reyes-Dizon and to our former business editor Loreen O. Sarmiento.

Tomorrow’s greetings go to one of my favorite upperclassmen, Lt. Col. Philip Sanchez Lapinid of the Philippine Army and to goal keeper Frederick Alazas.

More power to all of you!