Tiger Woods. Sean O'Hair. Final round pairing at the Arnold Palmer Invitational.Sure does. Woods and O'Hair played in last season's final group, beginning as a part of a five-way tie for the top spot at Bay Hill. Woods won that battle in dramatic fashion, draining a lengthy putt and famously burying his Nike lid in the turf. (Video below)
Today? O'Hair starts with a five-shot lead, one that appears almost insurmountable for a field that has just a handful of players above the even-par line. There should be plenty of drama for fans locally, as Cedar Rapids native Zach Johnson is -1 for the tournament and will get plenty of face time on Sunday afternoon.
Whether he, or Woods, for that matter, have an actual chance to win is a different story.
I love today's action for three reasons:
1. I met Sean O'Hair in Hawaii earlier this year and he is a great guy. Could not have been more pleasant in the few minutes we chatted the week of the Mercedes Championship.
2. The final round is a clear example of professional golf's marketing wars. Sean O'Hair is wearing adidas, playing TaylorMade's new r9 driver and will be plastered with the TMaG logos. Tiger, playing Nike's newest and best equipment and touting its apparel, will have to split face time all afternoon. If O'Hair wins — yes, even with a five-shot cushion — Woods loses and for another day on Tour, TaylorMade and adidas beat Nike in a four-hour time slot of continuous advertising on national television. There will be enough slow-motion replays of O'Hair smashing the shiny, new r9 driver and Tiger blasting his Nike blades to make CEOs drool.
3. I love golf. I love watching golf on TV. I love when Tiger is the "underdog" in a Sunday situation but the announcers talk like he is winning for 18 holes. Most of all, I hope to see a moment like this:
The PGA Tour — where "Tigering out" happens.
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