re: Will Tiger get a pass for withdrawing because he’s playing bad?

I was there today. Southern Hills is no Augusta, from an elevation perspective, but it's not an easy walk as well. That climb down 1, the climb up 9, the climb up and down on 10, the climb up 18...all of these were brutal on a man with two great legs. I walked over 7 miles today around that course. It wasn't easy. I get the argument that if Tiger was in contention, he would have played. I agree with that. But, he wasn't. He was the 1st group out, at 7:15 mind you. When would he have to wake up and get prepares for that early of a tee time, 3:15? Was it unprofessional to WD? IMO, yes it was. But who am I to know his physical condition after three days out there? Tiger doesn't quit on a tournament, so for him to WD says it was a much more than being out of contention. I say he skips the US Open in Brookline and prepares for St Andrews, takes the rest of the year off to continue to rebuild his strength and comes back ready to go next year. He grew up with Nicklaus' records poster on his wall and I don't think he's ready to give up that pursuit just yet.