Putting Jack's Comments Into A Different Context

Some of you defended Jack Nicklaus's remarks regarding Tiger's ability to speak "intelligently" about design at this point in his life. Others found the remarks as condescending as I did, while still others pointed out that the rest of Jack's remarks were quite positive. (Jack: Tiger raises my design fee! Well, pre-2009.)

What we think does not matter. But if Tiger interprets the remarks as I did, there is a way he could quietly get his revenge.

I say this because I now have two reliable sources reporting that Tiger is strongly considering a return to the 2010 AT&T National at Pebble Beach if Poppy Hills is removed from the three-course rotation. Contrary to Commissioner Tim Finchem's remarks after Thomas Bonk revealed the PGA Tour was checking out Fort Ord ("We just want to be up to speed with what the options are," Finchem said. "You never know."), efforts are being made to accomodate Woods.

This is noteworthy in the case of Nicklaus because Tiger did not care for the new home of the WGC Accenture Match Play, The Ritz Carlton Golf Club, a Jack Nicklaus design that received little positive feedback from contestants. So should Tiger want to make a statement, he could suggest he will not return to the Accenture until a new venue is found. Obviously this would be hugely problematic considering that Nicklaus was handpicked to design a match play layout and the PGA Tour was active in its development. 

But in case you forgot, Tiger is sponsored by both AT&T and Accenture. And I just think Tiger gets what Tiger wants these days, especially when he would have the backing of his peers, something that seems likely with Poppy Hills and The Ritz Carlton GC.