Woods in top form playing the field
When it comes to Tiger Woods, there are few dull moments. But these days, none of the moments are about Woods celebrating championships on the golf course.
His game is out of sorts, and his turbulent personal life is tabloid material. On the personal side, he seems to be rebounding from an ugly divorce with ex-wife Elin Nordegren.
Woods, 35, has a new lady in his life. She is 22-year-old blond beauty Alyse Lahti Johnston, an aspiring golf pro and reported party girl. Maybe she can help Tiger get his swagger back.
Woods, who did not win a tournament last year, is not the favorite to win the Masters, which begins Thursday. Phil Mickelson is the favorite at about 6-1 odds. Woods opened as a 10-1 shot at the Las Vegas Hilton, which adjusted his odds Tuesday to 9-1.
"Before all this stuff happened, he was the normal Tiger. I don't see anything right now that looks promising," Hilton golf oddsmaker Jeff Sherman said. "The one thing I've observed is he hasn't put four good rounds together in one week. He's just middle of the pack compared to some of these other guys. He's a long way from the dominant Tiger we knew a few years ago."
Mickelson is a minus-150 favorite over Woods in a Masters matchup posted by the Hilton. A few years ago, a line like that was unimaginable.
The odds are against Woods winning at Augusta National this week. But apparently he has returned to hunting for women and playing the field, and in that role Tiger remains a dominant favorite.
■ SOONER OR LATER -- Lon Kruger ditched the Rebels for a big payday to become Oklahoma's coach. Not surprisingly, he's considered boring by some Sooners fans.
"He's a throwback, that's what Kruger is. A throwback to the old days of college basketball," wrote Berry Tramel of The Oklahoman. "But the idea that Kruger is a home run with the fans, it's just not true. Some fans love the hiring; some do not. Kruger will have to win over some fans."
Kruger will win a respectable number of games and keep NCAA investigators away from Norman, Okla.
Oklahoma hired a standup guy, not a standup comedian.
■ BULL SITTERS -- It's almost time to fill out ballots for NBA awards. Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose is being promoted for Most Valuable Player, and his coach is sitting pretty, too.
"If Tom Thibodeau doesn't win the Coach of the Year award, there should be an inquest. With the job he has done with the Bulls, he probably should get Rookie of the Year, too," wrote Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Sun-Times. "What he has accomplished in his first year as a head coach has been stunning."
Thibodeau, a longtime NBA assistant, has the Bulls at 57-20 and sitting atop the Eastern Conference.
Maybe head coaching experience is sometimes overrated. Dave Rice, a longtime college assistant, could prove the same point if he lands UNLV's top job, as expected.
COMPILED BY MATT YOUMANS
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL
