Par4QC
Even if 'that guy' were to resurface - there are a lot of players on tour who have just as much talent today as he did back then. What they don't have today that Woods had back then however is being dissatisfied with 2nd place and a nice check when they're in contention on Sunday.
Rickie Fowler, roughly 10 events into his PGA Tour career, 2010 Phoenix Open, near the lead that Sunday in the final round for his first tour win, the par5 15th, had 235 yards into the green for his second shot.
Laid up.
Ended up finishing T5.
And I like Rickie, seems like a genuinely nice kid who has everything together.
But that day has become a common theme for him the 8 years since in the majors. Just seems unprepared to take the next step. Perhaps top-5ing it and getting great paydays, for some of these guys, involves a lot less risk and a lot more comfort than suffering from the humiliation of falling on their swords on Sunday and having to address the media.
Can't say that I blame them. Playing it safe, knowing you're gonna pocket at least a quarter of a million for 4 days work, not having to live up to everyone else's expectations? Damn. I'd have probably laid up too, Rickie.
But the difference is Tiger sure as heck wouldn't have. And that was a huge part of what made him so great. He was never, ever afraid to lose.