Tiger’s Run Seems Too Good to Be Real

My 11-year-old son wastes a lot of time watching the World Wrestling Federation. So, on Sunday I called him in to see a spectacular sports drama. He said, “I don’t like golf!” I told him this is different. I told him the young champion they call “Tiger” was fighting toward a record third major championship in a row. He was charging down the fairway in his trademark red and black colors with the familiar white swoosh across his chest and cap. Tiger was followed by hundreds of screaming fans and record-breaking TV ratings.

The legend of this champion has grown, I told my son, since he crushed his opponents by a record 12 strokes in the 1997 Masters. Then this year he punished his foes by 15 shots at Pebble Beach and by eight at St. Andrews. And now, Tiger is in a toe-to-toe championship battle with a mysterious challenger! Have a seat, son!

“Nah,” he said, “That stuff is so phony!”

JOHN THOMPSON

Chino

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If you won’t watch golf on TV because it is “boring,” then I’m sorry you missed the final round of the PGA Championship. It was one of the best played and most exciting sporting events I have ever seen--better than any Super Bowl in the last 10 years.

To paraphrase a quote from an old “Rocky” movie, Bob May played great but Tiger is a great player. Gentlemen, thanks for a very enjoyable afternoon.

P.J. GENDELL

Beverly Hills

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You don’t have to be a purist to recognize that the Grand Slam of golf requires winning all four majors in the same year. If you start changing those definitions, it has all kinds of implications.

For instance, Wade Boggs would be a .400 hitter, because he once achieved that hallowed mark over 162 consecutive games. He just did it over two seasons instead of one. All the record books will to be rewritten, and for what? Just for Tiger’s benefit, and so you sportswriters will have something to rant about? I don’t think so.

BOB SCHAUER

Long Beach

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If the Nike golf ball that Tiger Woods uses is not the one advertised, could it be possible that the Wheaties he eats are more fortified than the Wheaties you buy in the store?

STEVE HINDERER

Pasadena