Tiger Woods: What is There to Criticize?

I find it continuously hard to listen to people who condemn Tiger Woods.

After his phenomenal win at Torrey Pines, recently I had to listen to people around me say "he was exaggerating his pain" or "how come Tiger didn't wince when he'd hit a good shot?"

This was the attitude of fans and even professionals. Retief Goosen, a man who is known to be quite reserved with regards to voicing his opinions, even stated that he felt Tiger was "faking." This is coming from a man who has won a pair of US Open titles, and has proceeded to produce little recurrence of that form since.

To me, this shows a hint of jealousy. Unfortunately, Tiger's withdrawal for the entire year has left both spectators and others doubting the sincerity of his injuries with egg on their face.

These people need to take a step back and realize what this man has done for the game of golf. He has revolutionized the game and changed the stereotype that golf is a "fat, un-fit man's sport." It is now considered "cool" to go to the gym, to become an athlete, and this is all due to Tiger.

When you think of a sport, there are very few people today that identify it with one particular person.

When you think of football, you can name many high-profile players such as Beckham, Ronaldinho, Rooney, and Messi. When you think of tennis, you think of Federer and Nadal. However, if you asked an outsider who they could name in golf, I'd say 99% of people would pick Tiger Woods.

Tiger draws crowds like no other, and my point within this article is that people need to appreciate, rather than condemn this man. Whenever he makes changes, takes time off, struggles with his game, I hear so many people who are quick to jump on the bandwagon and criticize him.

Yet, he always comes back with an answer. Always!

Tiger is remarkable, and will be missed. Only now will people switch on their TV during the Open and USPGA championship, and realize something is missing—Tiger Woods.