Tiger Woods silenced his critics with a vintage victory at the Memorial Tournament, sparking debate about his chances at the upcoming US Open. The win, his second of the year following success at Bay Hill, has revived questions about whether he can convert warm-up form into a major triumph, something that eluded him three years ago.
Phil Mickelson's withdrawal after a first-round 79, citing fatigue, drew criticism. While his previous good behaviour earned him a pass, the decision to leave a prestigious event like the Memorial was seen as disrespectful to fans who bought tickets expecting to see him. The contrast with the likely reaction had Woods done the same was stark.
The article also criticised the lenient treatment of player misconduct, citing recent incidents at Wentworth involving Rory McIlroy, Thomas Bjorn and Ernie Els. It called for transparent fines and stronger penalties, such as Ross Fisher's one-stroke penalty for slow play, which cost him a share of second place and could affect his Ryder Cup chances.
Further grievances included players failing to shout 'fore' when shots head towards galleries, and smoking on course, which was described as a poor advertisement for the sport. The piece concluded that such issues have no place in a game capable of delivering captivating entertainment.
