Tiger Woods: is this the turning point ?

7.2.2015.

At 39, Tiger's performance these last two weeks seems indicative of a turning point in a remarkable sporting career - a downhill ride.

Let's take stock.

In 18 years as a professional golfer, he'd earned from his sport, on and off the course, USD 1.363 billions. That's RM 4.77 billions in total, or RM 265 millions per year.  Tiger could have paid for the two submarines Malaysia bought and still have almost a billion change! 

Before turning professional toward the end of 1996, he'd won the US Junior Championship for three consecutive years from 1991 to 1993 when he was 15 years old. Then he promptly won the US Amateur Championship for three consecutive years from 1994 to 1996, a feat even Jack Nicklaus couldn't do. 

When he turned professional at the end of 1996, he was PGA Rookie of the Year.

He was voted PGA Player of the Year in 1997,1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2005,2006,2007,2009, and 2013, eleven of the eighteen years as a pro. That's about 61 % of the time.

He won the Vardon Trophy in 1999,2000,2001,2002,2003,2005,2007,2009, and 2013,  nine of the eighteen years, or 50 % of the time.

He won the Byron Nelson Award in 1999, 2000,2001,2002,2003,2005,2006,2007, and 2009, eight out of eighteen, or almost 45 % of the time.

He won the 10-million-dollar FedEx Cup twice, in 2007 and 2009, in the last 8 years that the Cup has been contested. That's 25 % of the time.

He was ESPY Best Male Athlete in 1997,1999,2000,2001.

He was AP Male Athlete of the Year in 1997,1999,2000, and 2006.

He has won 139 tournaments worldwide.

He has won 79 times on the PGA Tour alone, the second best record in its history, just 3 short of the record. The statistics up to August 2012 is 74 wins in 277 starts, or a success rate of almost 27%  or more than one win for every four competitions entered !

Until May 2014, Tiger has held the no: 1 Golf World Ranking for a total of 682 weeks. That's more than 69 % of the time. The next best record belongs to Greg Norman who held it for a total of 331 weeks, which is slightly more than 48 % of Tiger's duration.

Finally, Tiger has won 14 Majors, second to Jack Nicklaus' 18, the last one won by Jack at age 46, seven more years than Tiger.

Perhaps the most impressive record of all is the fact that Tiger made 142 consecutive cuts from 1998 to 2005. Unfortunately, only a true golfer would  appreciate this achievement, no offense to the others.

39 isn't old in golf. Vijay Singh won most of his tournaments after 40. And after 50 there's the Senior Tour, where people like Langer and other less luminous players have won more than once. So for Tiger fans, clearly there is still hope. But the signs are right now not good. Unless the desire remains, and the body is willing.

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Calit's getting a S.I.L.

25.1.2015.

Come 21st. February, everybody's going to S2 for Amal's betrothal. Already Idah and I have made several trips to the house to lend moral support, give ideas for the occasion. They want to have an all-brothers & sisters affair only, but that easily means about 150 people and counting.

Calit and Ina have already started. They want a simple but classy affair. They seem to have the right ideas, including choosing me as the spokesman. Idah, as usual, has a lot of suggestions, so much so last night Calit suggested they start the bridal business, operating from the home. Why not do something they love and make some money at the same time ?  You could easily undercut some of the more expensive services around. 

Since the house is on a cul-de-sac, Calit should be able to get the affected neighbours to cooperate and erect his tents nicely on the road. If it's buffet-style eating, parking shouldn't  be too much bother - there's ample space right down the road junction.

It's three weeks to go. I'll start rummaging for the old notes - must make some old pantuns and what-not, and make the future"besans" squirm a bit.

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Final Retirement Car ?

4.1.2015.

Now that I've reached the 15th. year of my retirement, I reflect on the old plan of mine to have a nice car to drive around throughout my old age. It was to be a Mercedes. When I first retired on my 55th birthday I had with me already a 230 E I bought new on 17th. June 1997. So that score was settled.

I kept the car for 7 years and 7 months, and sold it on  17th.January 2005.  There was nothing wrong with it, but L.A.K. offered me his 1989 300SE for cheap, and I said what the hell, let's try this big one for a change, and bought it. We went to Taiping to collect it. As expected, I had to do some work on it to restore a semblence of its original capabilities.

The last one year I've had to dig deep into my shallow pockets to keep the 300SE  running, and the wife and kids were making snide remarks, and AAM was becoming familiar with the jalopy. Something had to be done.

I remember my first Mercedes - a 5- year-old imported 230 E I bought in JB. I also remember driving all the way from PJ with C.S.P. in his car with RM 85,000 cash in my pocket to collect the car. I think it was 1990, but am not sure now. I kept it for two-and-a-half years and sold it for the same price.

On my 70th birthday I was thinking of a suitable present for myself. I thought why not get one good pre-owned Mercedes, my fourth, and call it a day ? 

So I called Sam, and we went around in Kepong, Ampang and Klang looking for a good, cheap 10 - 15 year-old model. We saw a few, but couldn't agree on the price, or were not happy with the condition. So I let Sam look around some more and then call me. We were supposed to go to Cheras on the 24th. December.  Taib died on Christmas Day. But on 26th. Sam called and said excitedly that he'd found an S 280 in very good condition for 10% of the original price of  half-a-million, and I must come and see it right away.

That was how I got my final retirement car. A Mercedes S 280 registered in 2005, in original paint and, as Sam had said, in very good condition. 

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Taib is no more.

25.12.2014.

To use the full name he preferred, even when registering for morning golf - "Hj. Mohd. Taib in Husin". But it's Cikgu Taib to most others, and "Pro kampong" to the rest of us in SIGC.

The last time we played was after  Hari Raya Puasa. The last time I met him was after Hari Raya Haji, at HUKM, Cheras, when he was admitted ,again , for the same complaint that hospitalised him the last time. In fact that same day that Maulud, Jane and I visited him at HUKM, he underwent a seven-hour operation.  It ended with a no-go for the pancreas, and had a bypass in his intestinal tract to allow him to process his food. The gang kept putting off visiting him at home after his discharge. Even this morning Maulud was supposed to come with me and visit him after our nine holes. That never happened.

I was at the club at 7.15 and was waiting for Maulud and Zainal "Pak Itam" when one of the morning golfers came and said "hey, your friend Taib passed away just now".

Apparently three days ago Taib was hospitalised because of a lung infection. He never recovered. At 6.15  today, Christmas Day, he died.

When Zainal Pak Itam last visited him at home, Taib was already weak and emaciated. They had to buy a special bed for him.

I called No.3 Son to tell him the sad news. When my son was  transferred mid-term at Form III from Damansara Utama to KGV, it was Taib, as Principal at KGV, who had the authority to give consent, and he approved on the spot. I reminded my son  about it.

Since I moved to Seremban in 1995, Taib, while still working, and later after he retired, was my regular golfing partner. But it started even before that, though not on a regular basis. I've been a member since 1978.  Taib was "the Kampong Pro".  I think he was playing to handicap 9 at that time, but his unorthodox style gave him this title. We had our usual golf arguments that to this day Ton, his wife, never comprehended. But  I think both of us enjoyed all our fights. He was always complaining about my refusal to give a discount whenever I won.  But he went 100% by the book. One mistake and you're gone, no quarters given.  The most I made in a single payment ( for one year's play ) was rm 2,000. But that was after a 50 % discount ! This last one year, without knowing about his illness, Taib's game had deteriorated. Now we know why.

I waited until Taib's remains in the "keranda" had been put into the funeral van and had moved to the cemetry before I left the mosque. I did not approach Ton. I didn't feel up to it.  I pray that Taib had been a good husband and father.

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1MDB

16.12.2014.

Incumbent PMs in Malaysia enjoy a kind of protective cocoon very few counterparts in other countries have. The slightest slip by the British PM and the media , his political opponents, and even his own Party pummels him. 

Thus the action of the Batu Kawan Deputy Divisional UMNO Head seems like a bolt of lightening that shakes the Party to its foundations. His own Division has distanced itself from him; the Secretary General told him to withdraw his Police report; the Vice President has jumped on the fracas in his usual style.

Today "1MDB" came out with a clear explanation about the whole affair. Except for the unnecessary inclusion of words like "insinuating" and "baseless"and the condescending tone, the explanation seems fair, and somewhat lifts the haze over  the murky issue.

This is why this came to be a  commotion - the shroud of secrecy thrown over it, made worse by the unclear replies from the Finance Ministry in the earlier part of the  episode. Too much money over too big acquisitions under murky circumstances seemed to have been going around for almost five years. 50 billion ringgit isn't chicken feed. If the objectives are noble, surely publicity wouldn't hurt. 

The PM shouldn't equate fair questioning and the need-to-know with evil intent. Above all else, he is sworn to serve the  country. Other people may not agree with his methods , but his operations  must be above board.  

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Ismail Noor.

10.12.2014.

I was supposed to go to Parliament at 12 today, to meet the Speaker of the Senate, but decided to visit the books expo at PWTC instead, and who did I  bump into ? It was my old SUO, Ismail Noor. Or as his calling card says "Datuk Dr. Ismail Noor, Speaker. Author. Trainer."

He didn't immediately recognized me, but soon did, and we shook hands warmly. It was a pleasant surprise.

The last time we met was when my cousin, Mahmud, passed away, and we held a tahlil at his then terrace house at Puncak Setiawangsa. It was not far across the road from Ismail's heavily barricaded bungalow. Ismail couldn't recall that meeting. I think he came because he was with the local surau's committee or something. Mahmud's widow, Timah, has since sold the house and moved to Beranang. 

Ismail used to have another "trainer" with him, who used the reverse spelling of his name as his set-up - "Ron Nissay". His name was Yassin Nor ! Cute ! Ismail remembered straight away.

Ismail was attired the way that I remember him when he used to come to MISC Jalan Conlay for one of his training sessions - lounge suit with buttoned-up collarless Iran-style shirt. Quite smart, actually.

We didn't stay long - he was going for his zohor prayers; I wanted to go to the expo. But I managed to condemn Dollah and said enough about Mahathir for Ismail to say "oh, Mahathir's man." I said "I think only two writers wrote about Dollah. You  are one of them."

I got his card, and he took my number, and we embraced, saying we don't know if we'll see each other again. Ismail is two-and-a-half years my senior, and we're both in our seventh series. He looked very good for his age. Even his hair is still black, unlike my silver top. Good to see you, old friend.

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I should be thankful at 70.

8.12.2014.

Friday 5th. December, 2014 (12 Safar 1436), that was three days ago. But the pc had to give me trouble. I only got it back this afternoon.  So, now I put it on record. Last Friday I reached my 7th decade.

I remember Tg. Malim town celebrating the crowning of Queen Elisabeth II, with fireworks at the town padang. It was 1953. I remember the gunshots exchanged between  Government Forces and the Communist terrorists in the rubber estate behind the "Rumah Empat" teacher's quarters we lived in. I remember the big piece of shit left by one of the Home Guards who were supposed to man the light tower outside the barbed wire built around the S.I.T.C. living quarters. He probably had "to go" but was too scared and did it in our house drain. 

I remember the long bicycle rides Kuala Pilah 1960 with the late Husin Ali, from Bkt. Temensu to Bemban, Senaling, and to Kg. Ibol, Terachi.  We stopped and Husin taught me how to eat "lombo" shoots in Bemban, and we got some mangosteens off the tree at Kg. Ibol. I remember the midnight "Beatles" movie at the "Rex" 1962.

I remember RSM Rositer and his booming voice on the laterite air strip in PD 1961. 

I remember Mokhtar Hashim as the UMSU President during the Freshies' Orientation for the entire 600 new undergraduates at the Arts Concourse in 1965. 

I remember the lucheon at the Melaka Governor's Residence in my honour as the new ADO of Alor Gajah in 1968. 

I remember the evening we were coming back in Sayed Mohamad's Mercedes 190 from Felda Bukit Jalor on May, 13th, 1969, and hearing on his car radio about the troubles in Kampong Baru, KL, and on reaching Jalan Peel in Cheras, saw groups of Chinese men on both sides of the road, holding sticks and cangkul handles, and on reaching the Jalan Tun Razak-Jalan Raja Muda to go to my rented place inside Kampong Baru, was stopped by the same portly Police Sargeant who served me the traffic summon at the university in 1965, and I told him I was returning to my rented house, and he let us through, and by then we saw the burning motorcycles and the men running about in panic, and then only realized we were in the middle of the infamous May 13 riots.

I remember the hajj  in 1983, and I prayed at the Multazam for a girl after the first three boys, and in 1984 Dekna was born, exactly 9 months and 10 days after the return from Makkah. 

I remember Idah sending the children to Sekolah Damansara Utama. I remember the trip to Hawaii to see Banjat, attending Adik's graduation in Sydney with Bang Piei and Cik Ani. 

I remember  the three graduations at UiTM Shah Alam for Memi and for Dekna's  double-degrees in Law. And I remember how the grandchildren came. All eight of them. And this coming Ramadan Dekna's  twins would make it ten, God Willing.

Friday night Dekna  and Haniff treated Idah and I to dinner at "the Manhattan Fish Shop" at the Jusco S2. She also gave me a dozen Titleist Pro V golf balls (probably the best there is, I said to her) and a FJ tee shirt made in Vietnam. So at least one of four children gave me something this year. Last year Memi gave me an "Oddysey" China putter, which I haven't used - my "Yess" USA putter is doing great right now, and you don't mess with putters. Dekna , Haniff and Idah also sang an uninspired "Happy Birthday to you" and I blew the lone tiny candle on the piece of carrot cake.

It's not a spectacular life, but I'm thankful for memories and little mercies.  At 70.

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