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© St. Petersburg Times, published June 20, 2002
TIGER POWER: A record 55-million viewers tuned in to NBC's weekend coverage of Tiger Woods' U.S. Open victory and the final round was the most-watched golf telecast of the year, according to Nielsen Media Research.
On Sunday, the telecast produced an 8.9 national rating and a 22 share, which tied the 1981 final-round broadcast as the highest for the U.S. Open since 1973. It was the fourth-best since 1968. With 38-million viewers tuning in Sunday, it was the highest-rated golf telecast of the year.
NOT SO NICE: The Associated Press says he didn't mention Phil Mickelson by name, but it was quite obvious Gary Player is none too impressed by Lefty's nice-guy act after failing to win major championships. Playing at a charity fund-raiser with Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson, Player, who won nine major championships -- one more than Woods -- couldn't believe Mickelson would be so gracious in defeat. Players in general, he said, are too content to finish second or third. "I get so p----- off at that," Player said. "The only person who remembers if you finish second is your wife and your dog -- and that's if you have a good wife and a good dog."
TIGER BOBBLE: Only 5,000 Tiger Woods bobblehead sets priced at $69.95 are being packaged to honor him for his success in the majors. The set also contains four Upper Deck "Playmaker" trading cards, each corresponding to a different "major" that Woods won during 2000-01. Nikco Sports will donate $7 from each set sold to the Make-A-Wish Foundation of America. They are available by calling toll-free 1-800-345-2868 or at www.nikcosports.com.
WHAT'S THE FUSS?: Several players in the U.S. Open at Bethpage Black suggested the 10th and 12th holes were unfair. The 10th measured 492 yards and the 12th was 499, the longest par 4 in U.S. Open history. Especially Friday, when weather conditions were poor, many players had trouble just reaching the fairway at the 10th. Then there's Niclas Fasth. For the tournament, he played those holes (eight total) in 3 under with no bogeys.