Who Can Fill Tiger's Spikes for the PGA Tour

Will the real tour players please stand up?

You don't have to hide from the challenge anymore; Tiger is out for the season.

It gives me brain hemorrhoids to listen to the non-golf sports media talk about Rocco Mediate as a Cinderella story. Like he just showed up to his first Jr. high dance with high water slacks and his dad's tie, only to make-out in the bathroom with the most popular girl in school.

Mediate has been a staple on tour for 15-years also, not a major winner, but consistently making paychecks. He is healthy for the first time in a couple of seasons, and is not interested in your assessment of his intestinal fortitude.

The reason it was compelling TV, and why Rocco gained so many fans, is because he doesn’t care that the sensationalist hype machine of sports radio and ESPN finds him unworthy of being in the same pairing as Tiger Woods.

For two days, Rocco became the person every golf fan wishes Phil Mickleson, David Toms, Vijay Singh, Monty, Love, Ernie, Furyk, Scott, Weir, Duval and every other competent player on tour would be— that guy who ignores the "mystique" isn't intimidated by the record, that guy who wears a red shirt in the final round too and makes big putts when he needs them to catch Eldrick Woods from behind in a major.

Every fan of competition wants to see the underdog give the cocky favorite a taste of humble pie. It is why John Daly became so popular. It is even why Tiger Woods has the popularity he does.

If a fat, rich, white guy had his record on tour, winning checks might still be 100k.

A black kid sticking it to the traditional golf establishment is why we fell in love with Woods in the first place.

The unlikely hero has now flipped the script.

If the PGA tour wants to improve ratings, they will do a better job of showcasing the other good players who might give Woods some competition and therefore encourage these players to be more competitive.

People usually live up to their expectations.

This has all happened before, exactly the same way, where a lesser-known player doesn't back down to Tiger, but still loses in the end.

Remember Bob May or Chris DiMarco?

After the Sunday finish some idiot actually asked Rocco if he "can" beat Tiger Woods. Rocco is not a beginner; of course he "can" beat Tiger. Obviously, Tiger didn't have his A-game most of the week, injury and all, which makes him beatable by most other players on tour.

The question, after Woods had to make a heroic effort to force a playoff with Rocco, should have been directed at Woods— "can" you walk another 18 holes with that knee?

Doesn't this course favor a draw?

"Can" you continue making 30 foot putts and slam dunking bunker shots to keep up with this guy?

You don't need the money, do you?

Now that you are a family man, has some of your motivation to play golf all day every day faded?

Why wasn't this the line of questioning?

Instead it's as if they wonder why everyone keeps trying, let's just suspending the PGA tour and issuing Woods all major championship trophies until his retirement.

Tiger, Hank and his doctors kept the severity of his injury quiet until after the tournament precisely for the following reason. Tiger's main area of dominance is between the ears of the rest of the field.

If any one of those players thought they could win against Tiger, like if he was playing on one leg or something, they might have.