Tiger for President

It's not often that an uproar in the golfing world does not involve Tiger Woods and this story is no exception. In case you didn't know, President's Cup captain Fred Couples, selected Tiger Woods with one of his two captain picks for the biyearly event taking place at the Royal Melbourne Club in Australia in November. The written rules for the selection of players to the team indicate that players are chosen based on point totals accumulated during the season that is gathered from their overall performance. Ten players are selected based on that number and another two players are selected by the Captain. They do not have to meet any standards regarding points but they clearly need to hold a certain regard with the current Captain. Now it's no secret that Fred Couples and Tiger Woods have developed more than a friendly relationship over the years. Fred respects Tiger's game and vice versa. In fact, Couples is one of the few players (former at this point) who Tiger speaks especially highly of. So the clear dispute is that Couples chose Woods simply because of their established bond. Sure, that's a possibility but let's be clear. We are talking about the greatest golfer of our generation. No one in the top 10 or top 12 has even come close to achieving what Tiger has done.

Is the pick unsexy? Sure, Tiger's last 2 years on the course have been anything but lackluster. While he has had some moments of redemption, his career has taken a wrong turn and it could be some time before he gets it back on track. But remember who we're talking about here. This guy has won 71 times including 14 majors. He singlehandedly changed the game of the golf for the coming generation. No one would be making the kind of money they're making now without Tiger Woods and the players definitely recognize that. The President's Cup is selected based on season stats but it also elects players who have had a significant impact on the game. No one has a greater impact on the game than Tiger Woods. If Couples chose not to select Tiger as his captain's pick, there would likely be an uproar over that as well.

It's clear that a consensus is needed regarding this argument. Leave Tiger off the team and people will complain that the greatest player over the last decade is getting a bum wrap. Leave Tiger on the team and people will complain that he hasn't properly earned it. Hasn't earned it? Now it's clear which side I'm on but come on. Tiger hasn't earned the right to play on the President's Cup Team? As the ever popular Chad Ochocinco would say, "Child Please."