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SPORTS Wednesday 15 February 2023
Bringing together the best should include the rest

By DOUG FERGUSON to play boldly, and he did.
AP Golf Writer In one of the more famous
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Tiger shots of a career filled with
Woods is back among the them, Woods hit 6-iron from
modern stars in the game, 218 yards out of a fairway
this time with his golf clubs, bunker, over the water and
still wearing more than one right at the flag to set up a
hat. two-putt birdie and anoth-
He is a player at the Gen- er win.
esis Invitational. It already Rocco Mediate.
has the strongest field of He had to go through 36-
the year, but Woods brings hole qualifying just to get
a buzz that only he can to Torrey Pines for the 2008
generate. Never mind that U.S. Open. A five-time win-
he has never won at Riviera ner, Mediate was 45 and
even when Woods was at ranked No. 157 in the
the zenith of his game. world. And then he pushed
When he plays, everyone Woods to the limits, rallying
watches. from two behind in the final
Woods also is the tourna- round to force a playoff.
ment host who hands out Mediate dressed in black
the trophy. For so many pants and a red shirt no
players who grew up idoliz- one else is that audacious
ing him which is practically and Woods had to go 19
all of them it can make Bob May, of Las Vegas, Nev., left, along with with Tiger Woods, watches a tee shot fall on the holes to beat him.
seventh fairway during the National Car Rental Golf Classic at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena
winning feel even greater Vista, Fla., on Oct. 26, 2000. There were plenty of other
than the $3.6 million payoff. Associated Press occasions where Woods
“Tiger Woods is handing battled the best Ernie Els at
us a trophy that’s a pretty at an “actual PGA Tour ence and no one can like three-hole playoff. Woods Kapalua and Disney (yes,
crazy thought,” Max Homa event” his words when he Woods he would do well to said then it was “probably Disney), Phil Mickelson at
said when he won two announced on Twitter he mention a few names that one of the greatest duels Doral and Bay Hill, Vijay
years ago. was playing at Riviera last illustrate what makes golf I’ve ever had in my life.” Singh at The Players Cham-
Equally important is the August in Delaware. He the ultimate meritocracy. Grant Waite. pionship, David Duval at
voice Woods brings to the flew up to lead the first such Bob May. The Kiwi with one PGA Tour the Masters.
private meetings, like the meeting when the main He was the journeyman victory and a world ranking Those were the best.
one scheduled for Tuesday objective was to bring from California who chal- of No. 242 matched Woods But it was the rest who pro-
afternoon at Riviera, as the golf’s best together more lenged Woods like no one shot for shot on the back vided theater just as great,
leading players try to map often. The next step is de- else could in the summer of nine in the 2000 Canadian all because they had a
out the best way forward ciding how elite these tour- 2000. May was leading the Open. Waite trailed by one tee time. That’s all anyone
for the PGA Tour amid the naments should be, not just PGA Championship by one when he hit 5-iron to 40 feet needs. And even as the
Saudi-funded threat of LIV prize money but how many shot with two to play until for an eagle attempt on PGA Tour works toward an
Golf. players get to compete. Woods birdied the last two Glen Abbey’s par-5 closing elite league, it would do
Woods last showed up If he speaks from experi- holes and beat him in a hole. That forced Woods well to remember that.q

Former Cardinals lineman Conrad

Dobler dies at 72

TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — Conrad Call Me Dirty” after 10 years mate and hate to line up
Dobler, one of the NFL’s of eye gouging, leg whip- against as an opponent.
top offensive linemen and ping and finger biting in the On the field, Conrad was a
fiercest players in the 1970s, trenches of the 1970s NFL. big reason for the success
has died. He was 72. Dobler also embraced his of the Cardiac Cards of
The Arizona Cardinals an- troublemaking persona in a the 1970s. Away from it, he
nounced Dobler died Mon- 1987 Miller Lite commercial brought authentic joy and
day in Pueblo, Colorado. by riling up by getting them caring to everyone who
No cause of death was to argue the beer’s “Tastes had the privilege of being
given. great/Less filling” tag line. his friend and that is what I
Dobler played left guard “Our hearts go out to the will remember most.” St. Louis Cardinals’ Conrad Dobler (66) leads the march off the
field at the end of practice at the Cardinals’ training camp at St.
on an offensive line that in- family, friends and former Dobler earned three con- Charles, Mo., Aug. 5, 1977.
cluded Hall of Famer Dan teammates of Conrad secutive Pro Bowl appear- Associated Press
Dierdorf for a St. Louis team Dobler,” Cardinals owner ances from 1975-77 while
that became known as the Michael Bidwill said in a playing under Hall of Fame played for the Cardinals Dobler was a fifth-round
“Cardiac Cardinals.” statement. “He was the coach Don Coryell. The from 1972-77 before mov- pick out of Wyoming in the
Dobler also was known for kind of tough, physical and 1975 offensive set what ing on to play two seasons 1972 NFL draft. He is sur-
his dirty play and even titled fierce player that you love was then an NFL record by each with New Orleans vived by six children and 12
his autobiography “They to line up with as a team- allowing eight sacks. He and Buffalo. grandchildren.q