IT may be that the expansive predictions will prove to be correct after all. Either way, Tiger Woods set brilliant, new standards for the professional game in the US when he won the Mercedes Championship at La Costa, Carlsbad, on Sunday.
In little more than four months, his stunning impact on tournament golf was captured rather well by his coach, Butch Harmon, who is eminently qualified to judge golfing talent, having looked after Greg Norman's interests for five years until they split up last autumn.
So far, we're seen only the tip of the iceberg as far as this young man's talent is concerned," said Harmon yesterday. "Where learning is concerned, Tiger is like a sponge, the way he soaks everything in. He has the potential to get so much better, it's frightening."
Harmon, who has been three years with Woods, went on to suggest that his charge could hit the ball considerably further, if he so desired. "His 340 yard drives may lead people to think that it's possible to keep the ball straight while hitting flat out," he said.
"In fact, Tiger hits it that far swinging at 75 per cent capacity. His grip, posture, alignment and ball position are text book. The swing itself is superb mechanically and is performed with excellent balance and rhythm. Believe me, he has another 40 yards on call if he really needs it."
Ironically, Tom Lehman, whom he beat in an unorthodox but sensational play off at La Costa, was one of the first tournament players to publicly acknowledge the youngster's talent. "I expected that once he (Woods) got on here full time and was totally focused on the tour, he was going to be the Tiger Woods he was on the amateur circuit," said Lehman. "In other words, a dominant player."
In hitting a six iron 188 yards to within a foot of the pin at the short seventh, the first play off hole, Woods gained his third US Tour victory since turning professional last August. Like a dutiful son, he handed the trophy to his delighted mother, Kultida.
Known to her friends as Tida, she is a small, Thai woman with a sweet demeanour. She it was who decided on Eldrick as his first name, which he had officially changed to Tiger last month. And she impressed upon him such unBuddha like philosophies as: "When you are ahead, don't take it easy. Kill them."
His competitive steel would suggest that he has taken that particular piece of advice to heart. But Tiger remains his own man. After parting with the Mercedes trophy, he stuffed the cheque for $216,000 into his pocket!
The prize money meant he had reached $1 million in tournament earnings in record quick time. Only the legendary Gene Sarazen and contemporary Horton Smith won three events at a younger age than the 21 year old Woods.
Now seventh in the US Ryder Cup table, he is virtually certain to be in Tom Kite's team against Europe at Valderrama next September. "I want to improve on that position if possible," he said. "Either way, I know that people will streak past me if I don't play well."
Even in he failed to get among the 10 automatic qualifiers, however, it seems unthinkable that Kite would overlook him as a wild card choice.
The manner of his victory at La Costa tended to overshadow his dramatic climb up the leaderboard in the third round on Saturday. He finished a round of 65 with four successive birdies, the most remarkable being a two putt four at the long, 562 yard 17th.
Tour colleagues reacted in amazement to the news that despite the sodden conditions, Woods had reached the green in two. A drive of 305 yards was followed by a three wood second shot which cleared a greenside bunker guarding the approach to the pin - a carry of 257 yards.
His power astonishes the older generation who couldn't conceive of matching that sort of hitting, even with the small ball. But veteran Cary Middlecoff believes there is a price to be paid. "He can play, but he's going to hurt himself," warned the twice former US Open champion.
Middlecoff went on: "A bad back put me out of business, and, the way Tiger swings, he's going to tear his back up before he reaches his full potential. The body just can't stand the way he jerks his hip and everything at impact. They talked about how long Freddie Couples was, but he's hurting now.
At his age, however, Woods thinks of himself as being injury proof. "I was a bit rusty coming to La Costa but I began to catch fire as the week progressed," he said.
He will not be in action in the five round Bob Hope Classic which starts tomorrow, but is committed to the Phoenix Open next week, followed by the AT & T Pebble Beach National Pro Am starting on January 30th.
His partner on the Monterey Peninsula? "I believe I'm playing with some guy named Kevin Costner," he replied, feigning indifference but clearly delighted with his star status.
