Tame Tiger?

Tiger Woods once made golf look so easy. His booming drives, pin-point shots from 200 plus yards to the green and long putts that looked almost impossible to sink never failed to delight the crowd that even the non-golfers started to follow Tiger.

Obviously the success also brought in the sponsorship deals that came to several millions of dollars, which he took home on top of the few millions that he would also rake in from tournament winnings.

In the first round of the Bridgestone Invitational played at the Firestone Country Club in Ohio, Tiger played what is his worst round in the tournament, a four-over-par 74 strokes.

This is one tournament that Tiger has literally ruled the past ten years by winning the title seven times.

Ten shots off the pace set by opening round leader Bubba Watson, Tiger still has the chance to turn things around, but with the way he has been playing the past several months since returning from a hiatus that came after the "nine-iron controversy," it seems a very deep hole to climb out of.

His hold of the top world ranking is also at stake in the tournament. If Phil Mickelson, who is two strokes behind the leader after the first round, will win the title or finish among the top four and Tiger finishes 38th or worse, Lefty will take No. 1.

England's Lee Westwood can also claim the world's top ranking if he finishes first and Tiger will finish 3rd or worse.

Westwood, however, wasn't really off to a very good start as he is seven strokes off the pace and just three shots better than Woods.

There are more problems that lie ahead for Tiger if he can't get at least a shade of his old form back. I hope it won't take too long to see Tiger win again and I know many people, who are looking forward to see him raise a trophy in victory once again.

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The long wait is over for Alex Rodriguez of the New York Yankees as he hit his 600th homerun the other day against the Toronto Blue Jays.

This ends the long wait for the star, who is also well-known for his multi-million dollar contract and being a ladies man like teammate Derek Jeter.

Rodriguez, at 35 year old, is the youngest player to have reached the milestone.

Others who have achieved the feat are Barry Bonds with 762, Hank Aaron 755, Babe Ruth 714, Willie Mays 660, Ken Griffey, Jr. 630 and Sammy Sosa 609.

It took A-Rod three years to hit 600 after passing the 500 HR milestone. With still seven years to go in his ten-year $275 million dollar contract with the Yankees and barring any major injury, he can make it.

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MILESTONES: Happy birthday greetings go to my mistah Cdr. Jun Pulido of the Navy, GMA's Randy Gorion, Runette Raboy-Rico and Ramil Paican, who are all celebrating today.

Advance greetings go to my nephew Horace 'Ace' Acas, Annie Santos-Tengco, Maele Aznar Barcenilla, my classmate Virgilio 'Biyo' Verde and Jennifer Agdamag-Silan, and one of my favorite teachers in high school, Prof. Fe N. Reyes, who are celebrating tomorrow.

Bon voyage also to Dr. Ernest and Joy Baniel-Cabrera, who are heading back to the US today. 

More power to all of you!