Inman: Woods' talent a gift to us all

0 Comments | Oakland Tribune, Jun 8, 2009 | by Cam Inman

CONSIDER THIS two weeks notice for an ideal Father's Day schedule:

6:30 a.m.: Kids wake up, break into master bedroom and demand waffles.

6:31 a.m.: Kids are shooed away. Father snoozes comfortably.

8 a.m.: Father laces up Costco-bought sneakers and participates in local 10K fun run (Note: All fun sweats out of him by Mile 2).

10:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.: Father collapses on couch in front of television and watches Tiger Woods successfully defend his U.S. Open championship.

Is there any doubt that Woods won't make an inspiring defense of his championship June 21 at Bethpage Black in Farmingdale, N.Y., where he won the 2002 U.S. Open?

He surprisingly showed up there Monday -- less than 24 hours after winning Jack Nicklaus' Memorial tournament in Ohio -- and got in 17 1/4 holes. (He apparently walked off Bethpage after his final drive found the 18th fairway, and who among us hasn't dreamed of a walk-off tee shot on a par-4 closing hole?)

That practice round Monday, coupled with Sunday's fairway- friendly dominance, showed just how intent he is on a worthy encore to last year's epic U.S. Open at Torrey Pines.

"He looked great (Sunday), but I was even more impressed that he was on the course (Monday) getting ready for the U.S. Open, when other guys who'd won might have had their feet up," said Stanford golf coach Conrad Ray, who played alongside Tiger at Stanford from 1994-96.

We in the Bay Area took Tiger for granted when he spent two seasons at Stanford before launching this spectacular pro career. We should have tailgated on The Farm for all his matches. That's not to say Tiger was ignored in his two years at Stanford (nor does he ignore his time there, as he is a benefactor to the athletic department and recreation programs, Ray said).

Ray recalled how a couple thousand filled the gallery at one tournament in Tiger's sophomore year. A hundred thousand might show today, knowing what we do of him.

"His body of work is so big, (Stanford) is just one piece of it," Ray said. "But it's pretty crazy to think it was about 15 years ago. Time flies. You start looking at how many things he accomplished and how young he is.

"His time at Stanford set him up for a lot of things. It was a great midpoint between being a junior golfer and pro golfer. It challenged him to balance his time and deal with everything Stanford throws at you."

Like that ritual of carrying teammates' luggage as a freshman. Tiger didn't want to do it, and his teammates made him a deal that if he won his first tournament, he wouldn't be their bellhop. Tiger won in Albuquerque, and Ray -- one year ahead of Woods -- soon found himself hauling luggage.

Woods' Stanford swan song was winning the 1996 NCAA individual crown. Fast forward to Sunday's win chimes at The Memorial: It was an alarm clock alerting us he's primed for another dramatic U.S. Open.

Ray exchanged text messages with Woods on Monday. Ray's message: "Great win. I need a five-wood that works as well as the one you hit so high and long Sunday."

"He just said thanks," Ray said of Woods' response. "He's kind of a one-liner guy."

Once a year, the rest of us have a take-your-kids-to-work day. For Tiger -- a 33-year-old father of two -- he takes-the-world-to- work with him every round he plays.

Sunday's scene exemplified that. He turned a middle-America golf course into a full-fledged sports stadium, with more fans surrounding his greens than the A's get at the Coliseum.

We live vicariously through him, more so now than ever before because: (a) we can't afford to golf anymore; (b) we've learned our knees are as mortal as Tiger's; (c) we've often envisioned living like a multimillionaire with a Swedish wife, two kids and two dogs; (d) all of the above.

We are watching the greatest athletic career unfold before our very eyes, what with all his trophies and pioneering spirit for a once-secondary sport.

"He's changing the world, for sure," Ray said.

Tiger's world collides with ours on Father's Day. No need to splurge on a tie this year, kids.

Contact Cam Inman at cinman@bayareanewsgroup.com.