Sunday at The Masters and Tiger called unrootable brat

Originally Published: Apr 10, 2011 11:41 AM CDT

Some classic perspective on Tiger on Sunday's Sports Reporters, a few hours before his final round in The Masters.

Bob Ryan didn't cover golf much until Tiger's run began. Said he rooted for him. Wanted him to break the Nicklaus record. Tiger moaning.always an irritating dog ate my homework kinda guy. I bet at Pebble Beach in 2000 when he won by fifteen he still was moaning about some slight he'd had out on the golf course. Yesterday, he acted like he was the first person in the history of this sport, going back to the tiger acted like he was the first guy going back to Scotland in the the 14th century, that ever missed a putt; that ever had a ball fall in a bad lie; that the worry was all about me, me, me, me, me. And he was supposed to have changed his temperament wasn't he? He now it totally unrootable and unlikeable. How can you root for this guy?

Even book-a-minute Mitch Albom tossed in some rare golf insight of worth: "He was supposed to have changed in respect to the game and its fans and the cursing and all the yelling at himself. And you saw it all play out in the vernerable pantheon of golf. But you do wonder if he's bottomed out." He went on to say he expects him to come back to be another great golf and that he will win some Mastersalthough not win all the Masters.

All this about a guy who is in ninth place and seven back. All this about a guy who has never rallied from behind to win even one major. And all this written by a guy who's be smitten by Tiger so much that I've not missed many shots of Tiger in any tournamentmuch less any major.

I guess the bottom line for me with Tiger is that being a golf purist I was mesmerized by his fascinating ability hit the white pellet and get it in the hole more quickly than any before him. But in life, he's someone I do not respect. I was told by a trusted friend over the weekend about what his nephew saw from Tiger last weekend in the Bahamas. I won't go into detail other than to say that the Tiger we read about when his life headed south at an unprecedented pace has not changed. He loves to do what he loves to do and I expect that will never change. The only thing changed from his behavior is that at least he's now not married with children.

I'll still watch and DVR his ever swing. But I think my wife had it figured out this morning after listening to Ryan's rant. She said, "He's a little brat. Elin is so lucky."