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22

Aug
Wed

Comparisons between Woods and McIlroy inevitable at Bethpage

By Bill Fields FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- Comparisons may be odious, but as for Rory McIlroy and Tiger Woods they are also obvious. When golf's current prince and its long-reigning king play together in the first two rounds of the Barclays on the Black course at Bethpage State Park's this week, they will be inevitable. We should enjoy the moment, because they appear to be, the 23-year-old on the competitive ascent, the 36-year-old treading waters only he seemed able to swim. Photo by Alan Roche; contributed by the City Parks FoundationA moment: McIlroy in a Wednesday news conference noticing Woods had arrived in the back of the tent and a question about whether he wanted to face in singles at the Ryder Cup next month. "Yeah, I'd love to go out there," McIlroy said. "I'd love Tiger to go out first and kick his ass." The best humor is always underpinned by the truth. A Thursday morning in the first tournament of the 2012 FedEx Cup playoffs isn't Sunday at the Ryder Cup or certainly at a major championship, but it is what's available. The best against the best at their best, a la Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus 35 years ago, is what we can hope for while knowing golf is historically stingy with such marquee showdowns. When they happen, they're extra special. Related: Our special major championship awards There is mutual respect between McIlroy and Woods, just as there was between Watson and Nicklaus when the younger man began to show what he could do. Throughout his career most of Woods' challengers -- Vijay Singh, Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els -- have been older, but in this curly-haired hurdle to continued domination,  Woods has a different kind of foe. When he was young, Woods made a very hard game look easy. McIlroy, as evidenced by his recent runaway victory in the PGA Championship at Kiawah Island (and a similar rout at the 2011 U.S. Open at Congressional), can do the same. "There are a few guys that I've actually grown up playing against that once they get rolling, they get rolling," Woods said. "Calc is one of them, Johnny Ray was another one. These guys could just go ungodly low. And I think that Rory has that ability, once he gets rolling, he just makes birdie after birdie after birdie -- not afraid to keep trying to push it, to try to shoot lower scores. Some guys have a little governor on them and they'll back off, but there are a few players that just don't have that." Mark Calcavecchia and John Huston were solid players, the former a major champion, but McIlroy's skills have made him something more. McIlroy may not have been born to rewrite the record books, may not project the steel will that has been Woods' calling card, may not yet be an iconic figure around globe. But he can play brilliant golf and often has a joyful time doing so, his capacity to enjoy his work as full as his flowing golf swing. Related: The best moments in FedEx Cup history "He's a great kid, and it's great to be around him," Woods said. "What an amazing talent he really is. I just hope that everyone lets him grow up and develop as a layer because it's going to be fun to see over the next 20 years how this kid's career is going to pan out." Woods knows about the long haul, the way Nicklaus did. McIlroy hasn't really rounded the first curve yet, but he has shown the kind of traction that a young Watson did in the 1970s. McIlroy didn't enter the sport with the type of grand plan Woods had -- to try and scale golf's tallest mountain -- but that hasn't kept him from a Woodsian type impact early on. Although McIlroy deflects the notion of a rivalry with Tiger ("I just want to play good golf"), he also is relishing being able to share the stage with him this week on Long Island. "It really focuses you from the get-go, a pairing like that," McIlroy said. "I feel every time I've played with Tiger he's sort of brought the best out of me. I really feel focused and obviously want to play well." Making par after par after par will probably be a good enough at bruising Bethpage Black. This isn't a major, but it will be a formidable test. If McIlroy drives and putts the way he did en route to doing the Charleston two weeks ago, it should put him in good stead. A lot has changed for Woods in the decade since he won the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage, but his 2012 record of winning where he had won before could be a harbinger of success. One man might play better than the other this week, but neither will blink. "Sure I feel like I'm the best and Tiger feels like he's the best," McIlroy said. "Tiger has been the best player in the world for the last 15 years. Just that people are mentioning my name with the likes of him is a huge compliment." And in a curious way, if, for the next 15 years Woods finds his name mentioned with McIlroy's, that will be a compliment for him too. "I always wanted to be part of that conversation," Woods said of being competitive as he ages. "That's the neat thing about what Jack [Nicklaus] had done. Jack competed against Arnold and Gary and Casper and then moved on to Watson and Trevino and Weiskopf and Miller. He crossed generations, and when you're a part of that conversation for the better part of 25 years, that's saying something. I was kind of hoping when I started off my career I'd be part of that conversation for that length of time. I think this is my 17th year on tour, so I've been doing it a while." Whatever happens this week and thereafter, for both men pride, as well as technique and nerve, will have a lot to do with it. 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22

Aug
Wed

Tiger and Sergio straddle opposite sides of mental toughness

By Derek Evers FARMINGDALE, N.Y. -- One is coming off a win that secured him a spot on the European Ryder Cup team, the other a weekend in which he shot 2-over and failed to contend at a major he was leading heading into Saturday. Yet, you wouldn't be able to tell who was who based on their Wednesday press conferences as the FedEx Cup kicks off at this week's Barclays at Bethpage Black. Despite what some might call a breakthrough victory at the Wyndham Championship last week for Sergio Garcia, his demeanor belied that of a recent champion. Sure, this was his first win in over four years on the PGA Tour, but as he's been quick to point out, he's coming off a 2011 season in which he won two European Tour events. Still, those victories came on the heels of a two-year winless streak on both Tours, leaving many -- including Sergio -- to question his mental capacity to close a tournament. "I think you go through spots and through times in your career where obviously you have up and downs," Garcia said in response to a comment about his quip a couple years prior that he wasn't enjoying the game. "And when you go on those downs, obviously it's not much fun. But you kind of try to get through them. I guess that's why we love the game so much." Love is not a word one would use to describe Sergio's affair with golf. Tumultuous would be a more accurate description, which is something Tiger Woods knows a thing or two about. Though their career paths may have taken dramatically different planes since they both arrived as promising young talents in the late 90s, Woods himself ended his career-long win drought in 2012, and can relate to the pressure Sergio puts on himself. "I played with him this year at the British Open, and obviously he played differently at the British Open than he did last week. As players, we all know that once we get the rolling, we're rolling. Things build, momentum builds in a positive way, and when you're struggling, things can go the other way, and sometimes it's hard to get out of it." When Tiger Woods fell out of contention at the PGA Championship two weekends ago, he blamed a weak mental attitude. He was "too relaxed." So how did he spend his time preparing for the upcoming grind that could potentially see him play in five high-profile events in the next six weeks? "I was with my kids this week. We were having a blast just having a great time," he said with a smile, before admitting, "I just got back to practicing a few days ago." Then he dropped a line that was rather commonplace in a Tiger Woods press conference, but something Sergio Garcia could take heed to. "The PGA is the PGA. It's passed." Always looking forward, never back. It's part of the reason we can't get enough of Tiger -- he rarely indulges our desires to rehash the past, and almost never if the topic is negative. Even if he's feeling the pressure of chasing Jack's 18 majors, he never strays from what has proven to be his biggest asset, his mental toughness. Related: The best moments in FedEx Cup history Tiger's press conference came after a day of practice at the end of a pro-am round. Sergio didn't play in the pro-am, nor had he stepped foot on Bethpage Black. His parking spot remained empty until a few moments before his press conference, and he admitted as much when asked about course conditions. He's also still looking for a caddie. After splitting ways with Gary Matthews following a missed-cut at the PGA, Garcia walked onto the Sedgefield Country Club without someone to man his bag. In stepped local club caddie David Faircloth, who was so green, he needed longtime PGA caddie Tony Navarro to hand him the flag on the 18th hole. "That flag is kind of our trophy," Navarro told The New York Post. "I figured he didn't know, so I just did the right thing and gave it to him. He was a nice kid, and I could tell he was a bit emotional and excited." Yet Garcia, who wouldn't reveal what Faircloth was compensated, will not be sticking with the North Carolinian, but instead has decided to play it week-to-week through the end of the season. Walking alongside him at the Barclays is good friend Wayne Richardson -- another guy with no experience caddying for a tour professional. "I don't feel like I need that at the moment," admitted Garcia, who has come to his own conclusion that the extra advice has come at the cost of his performance. Of course, Tiger is not above blaming his course companion, having gone through two high-profile breakups of his own. In fact, Tiger's current caddie Joe LaCava, who is rarely seen or heard from at tournaments -- at least when compared to a Steve Williams personality -- came after his longtime friend Bryon Bell caddied for him at last year's Bridgestone. So maybe Sergio's taking a page out of Tiger's playbook. Still, his comments showed little confidence in his current situation. "I'm probably just going to do my own thing until the end of the year, and at the end of the year I'll decide what's best for me." What about the Ryder Cup? "Same thing. Doesn't change anything." Would you use a local caddie at Medinah? "I'll see who I use." It should be noted that Garcia didn't flinch when answering, nor did he smile. This was a decision he had made and was bent on sticking to it. Tiger, meanwhile, smiled often, even coming into his press conference early -- albeit maybe to take a little shine away from Rory McIlory who was wrapping up when he entered the room. Related: Our special major championship awards There is some symmetry to Tiger and Sergio playing at this week's Barclays. When asked about comparing his second major to McIlroy's, Tiger reminded everyone it was Garcia he edged out by a stroke for his second at the 1999 PGA, incidentally at Medinah Country Club where this year's Ryder Cup will be held. And it was that season-ending major which seemed to determine the course of each player's career throughout most of the 2000's. Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia are two of golf's most popular and polarizing figures. Both command attention wherever and whenever they play, yet their public personas seem bent on opposite strategies. Tiger's on-course demeanor and off-course transgressions have led him to a "Dark Knight" existence on the PGA Tour -- wildly popular among fans who seem divided whether they're rooting for him to win or pulling for him to lose. Sergio, meanwhile, is the sport's lovable loser. The player most fans would like to see hanging around on the weekend with a chance at victory, but have become accustomed to seeing him in commercials more than winner's circles. So on the few occasions he does get to hoist a trophy, we expect that lovable personality to transcend the often cruel nature of game. Much the way we assume Tiger should always be gracious for all of the attention he receives. The reality is, both of these men have earned their own reputation. And while neither of them owe us the fans anything more than the best golf they can play, Woods is living proof that you can make lemonade out of life's lemons, albeit three years later. Yet even on the heels of victory, Sergio still seems to be sucking on the bitter taste of not living up to his own expectations. Follow @derekevers(Photo by Getty Images) !function(d,s,id){var js,fjs=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0];if(!d.getElementById(id)){js=d.createElement(s);js.id=id;js.src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js";fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js,fjs);}}(document,"script","twitter-wjs");

22

Aug
Wed

Swing thoughts: Look to your golf club to remind you

By John Strege It is an article of faith in golf that a single swing thought is better than two or more swing thoughts, given the inability of the mind to process more than...

22

Aug
Wed

Tips From Bogeypro Golf: Better Lies, Better Shots

After sending out a search party for a ball that's missing in action, you find it nestled against a huge oak. Not to worry... pull out your trusty Footwedge, check for spies, then kick away for an unobstructed view of the pin. For even greater distance try the Handwedge.

21

Aug
Tue

Mid-week Lesson: How to play against a tough competitor

Editor's Note: Ever play in a group in which one of the golfers is a really strong player? Maybe it's the club championship and you drew the defending champion. Or you're playing against someone...

21

Aug
Tue

PGA Tour: Fantasy Fix: The Barclays

We discuss Sergio's bad timing, give some good advice for playing Bethpage Black, and make our picks for this week's PGA Tour stop.

21

Aug
Tue

Wedge It Like Tiger Woods

Four keys you can see in this short approach from Tiger Woods at the U.S. Open.

21

Aug
Tue

Swing, Then Set

This simple drill will improve your backswing.

21

Aug
Tue

Steal My Feel: Get low to clear a high lip.

Aaron Baddeley ranks sixth on the PGA Tour in sand saves (62.5 percent) this year. Here's his advice clearing a high lip.

21

Aug
Tue

Scott Stallings: My Checklist

Scott Stallings won his first PGA Tour event in a playoff at the 2011 Greenbrier Classic, during a week when the average high was 98 degrees.He shares his secrets to beating the heat.