Rory Sabbatini and Tiger…

This isn’t the post I wanted to write. But sadly it is the post I feared I would have to write.

I like Sabbatini. He isn’t a yes man and he clearly has a lot of talent. What I really wanted to see was him beat Tiger in a straight fight. I’ve expounded many times that to beat Tiger (or any opponent) you have to believe you can first. Too many golfers, even at the very highest level (Ernie?) allow themselves to play for second when Tiger is out there. But not Sabbatini. Earlier this year he came out with the immortal lines that Tiger looked as “beatable as ever”.

Amongst the slightly tragic internet community this produced immense ridicule. He was blasted for even doubting Tiger’s position at the top of the tree and for even suggesting that he could beat him. It was a tricky tactic and it certainly took guts. Tiger, in his inimitable fashion, smirked and casually remarked that he had wone three tournaments already that year. Exactly the same as Sabbatini had in his whole career. In short, he didn’t seem worried.

This weekend at Firestone I reall thought Sabbatini might do it. I really thought that he would be able to put his money where his mouth was. Leader or joint leader for pretty much all of the first three days and on Sunday morning he was paired with Tiger who was one shot behind. It was “make or break” time.

He broke.

Tiger finished the day eight full strokes ahead of the field. Sabbatini carded pretty woeful 74 and tied for joing secodn with Justin Rose. It was a classic Tiger whitewash and shows why he really still is the class of the field despite a few recent hiccups in the Majors.

It also shows just how delicate “belief” is and how careful we need to be when proclaiming our goals or targets. During my golf challenge I was consistently attacked on various internet forums for being an idiot and trying to do the impossible in just the same way that Sabbatini was. On many occasions I regretted the decision to make my challenge so public and wished I had never started my monthly progress column for Golf Digest.

As ever it reminds me of the Jerry Lewis quote I heard during my challenge:

“When you climb up a flag pole, people are going to see your ass. And they’ll want to knock you down, not because THEY want to be up there themselves – but because they don’t want YOU to be there.”

Sabbatini clearly has the belief to beat Tiger but I think he needs a new tack. He needs to focus it in on himself and not push his “ass” quite so far up there. This was clearly a humiliating day for him. He struggled so much that when one childish spectator on the tenth tee said…

“Hey Rory, still think Tiger is beatable?”

… he lost it and asked the police to remove the man.

Belief is a fragile concept and one that we all need to nurture in our own ways. For me it ultimately worked to make my challenge public but I don’t think I’d ever do it again in that way. Most people simply don’t want you to succeed. People knocked Tiger when he started and the crowds didn’t take to Jack for many years when he started beating their beloved Arnie. If you’re going to set a challenge (whether golf related or not) think very carefully before you open your mouth and proclaim just what it is that you’re going to achieve. Sometimes the pressure can be too much.

I hope Sabbatini bounces back and feel certain he will. It’s a shame he didn’t win because it could have ignited his belief to a totally new level and helped so many of his colleagues. But sadly you mess with Tiger at your peril.