Inside Tiger's Mind

By Johnny Miller

One of the most heated barroom arguments among sports fans is over the greatest performance by an athlete in a single game or match. Some argue for Michael Jordan's final game in 1998, where in the closing seconds he stole the ball and sunk the basket that gave his team the NBA title. Others would pick the "perfect game" that Don Larsen pitched for the Yankees in the 1956 World Series. Or Secretariat's amazing 31-length victory in the 1973 Belmont Stakes. What each of these performances has in common is domination--a superb athlete taking on the best of his peers and crushing them. But for my money, no other athlete has dominated his sport in a single outing the way Tiger Woods did in winning the recent U.S. Open at Pebble Beach by an unprecedented 15 strokes. And unlike many an athlete who turned in a stellar performance at the peak of his career, Tiger should only get better. Don't be surprised if he wins the British Open in July at St. Andrews in record fashion. That victory would complete his sweep of all four majors at an amazing age of 24.

I have a personal perspective on Tiger's runaway victory at Pebble. It made me think back to my own U.S. Open victory at Oakmont in 1973. My final round there, an eight-under-par 63, remains the lowest ever shot in a major championship. But I wasn't able to maintain that level of focus for all four days of the tournament. My 63 was preceded by a 76. Tiger, by contrast, shot 65-69-71-67 and led virtually from wire to wire. Sure, you can say the same of Secretariat, but his big victory was accomplished in less than three minutes; Larsen's and Jordan's in just a few hours. That's one thing that is tougher about championship golf than other sports--you must maintain your concentration for four long days, with no support from teammates.

At Pebble, nobody made a real run at Tiger, in part because he gave them little encouragement. He had no three-putts. And errant shots don't bother him as they once did. Yes, after a bad drive on 18 he hit the grandslam of swear words Saturday morning during children's hours, but later in the day, when he triple-bogeyed, he just chuckled. He then erased that mistake with three birdies. And he did it all on a course well known by every golf fan--one that sets a standard for championship play. The fairways were narrow. The rough was deep. The wind blew. The greens were hard and fast. We know what the world's best golfers have shot at Pebble over the decades, and Tiger shot a score nobody is supposed to shoot.

What makes Tiger so good? He possesses a rare combination of strength, talent, brains, will. John Daly hits the ball as far as Tiger. Corey Pavin has shown as much shotmaking skill. Vijay Singh works as hard on his game. Ernie Els has as much poise under pressure. But no one combines these traits like Tiger. His long, high tee shots allow him to sail over the trees, bunkers, ponds and other obstacles that trap or deter lesser golfers. He routinely hits unreachable par-five holes in just two strokes. He can hit a soft, high nine-iron shot into par-fours where others face more difficult shots with middle and long irons.

Unlike many big hitters, Tiger has a delicate touch for the short shots around the green. He is an excellent clutch putter. He has practiced diligently since he was a child. But what I've found most impressive about Tiger is his mental game. He has studied the swings of other great players, how they think about golf. He can remember the exact yardage he faced on each approach shot days after a round. He is driven to be the best golfer who ever played, and if he has a worry, it's that if he marries and has children, that might distract him from his quest. Ben Hogan had no kids.

For a time, Tiger's intensity came across as grim and joyless. It was wearing him out. He didn't like to deal with autographs. But he has visibly loosened up, with help from his exceptional parents, girlfriend and coach. And he has developed a restraint remarkable for one so young. Unlike a Greg Norman, who believes birdies are good and pars are boring, Tiger knows that pars can be beautiful in a major championship. He calmly, clinically took Pebble apart, knowing when to play safe, when to go for the pin.

A danger Tiger faces is one I've experienced: the letdown that can come after a big win. But I think he'll be ready to rumble again when the British Open starts July 20. St. Andrews is tailor-made for Tiger. Like John Daly, who won there in 1995, he can drive past most of the hazards. That's another measure of Tiger's greatness: he's not just mastering his sport; he's changing the way it's played.

Miller, winner of 24 PGA Tour events, including a U.S. Open, also won the 1976 British Open. He is an NBC-TV analyst