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Lesson On Golf: 'I Like Tiger Woods, Really!'

I really do not care that Tiger Woods chokes at nearly every weekend of a major championship since 2008- or that he is zero for his last seventeen majors.

Nor do I care that he won 14 of his first 46 majors as a pro , but since then has gone zero for 17.

Tiger Woods is still the best golfer of our time- even if he is done winning majors.

He also is a nice guy.  That's right I said it.  I, Jeff Lesson, likes Tiger Woods!  Really, I do.

As a golf journalist/ broadcaster/reporter over the years I have been fortunate to have several opportunities to interview him and meet him.  I even was invited by Nike a few years ago to spend an afternoon with Tiger in Las Vegas along with several other members of the golf media.

Tiger Woods has always been nothing short of a courteous gentleman to me and others during all of those times. As the most highly scrutinized athlete in the world he has to deal with things no other athlete has ever known- besides Michael Jordan.  But even Jordan did not have to deal with the onslaught of social media we have today.

This has nothing to do with his extra marital affairs. No one condones that, but are we really going to judge every pro athlete just by that?  If we did, I assure you Tiger would have a lot more company.

Despite many reports to the contrary, Woods is a lot more likable than the new Open Champion- Phil Mickelson.  In front of the cameras Phil is always portrayed as this super human by the networks that cover golf.  But I will take Tiger over Phil for an interview any day.  More interesting- and a much smarter guy.

And to those who now want to compare Mickelson's five majors with Tiger's 15?  Please - give me a break.

FOR UP TO HALF OFF GOLF AT THE BEST COURSES VISIT LESSONONGOLF.COM.
FOLLOW ON TWITTER @ JeffLesson  FOR A CHANCE TO WIN A DOEN PRO V 1s
HEAR LESSON ON GOLF WEEKENDS 7AM ON 97.1 THE TICKET.

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