The World Without Tiger Woods via Forbes’ latest print campaign.

Tiger Woods dominating some McDonald’s, circa 2000.

This is what 4-time Masters champ Tiger Woods will be wearing at Augusta next week as he looks to win the green jacket for the first time since 2005. via @nikegolf

Tiger, a Porta Potty and a Retweet

Most people would give their left arm to meet or interact with their sports idol. If that sports idol is Tiger Woods you would think that would be close to impossible? Well, what if I was to tell you I’ve had not only one, but two separate run-ins with Mr. Woods.

In 2007, Montreal was host to the 7th Presidents Cup at Royal Montreal Golf Club. I headed to Montreal with the intention of seeing the best golfers in the world face off and follow Tiger, of course. But what I didn’t expect on that sunny late September day was to come face to face with my sports idol in a porta potty. That’s right, a porta potty.

Let me set the scene. Tiger had just hit his tee shot on the par-5 12th hole and with Tiger’s drive measuring well over 300 yards, I thought it would give me enough time to hit up the cluster of porta potty’s that aligned the fairway before he hit his next shot. As I was doing my business (#1, BTW) in one of the random potty’s I heard what seemed to be a large group gathering outside the luxurious chalet-like building of porta potty’s. The crowd noise got even louder as I slid the sticky plastic lock to the right and just as I was ready to open the door, it swung open, and there stood. Elderick. Tiger. Woods. With his driver in hand for some reason?

As we stood looking at each other for what seemed like at least a minute, but in actuality it was probably more like two seconds, Tiger gave me a little nod and a “hey” as he slipped past me into the porta potty. In the time that it took me to go pee a huge crowd had gathered with security blocking off access to the porta potty’s. As I walked out to wash my hands I felt like I was on stage as most of the crowd laughed at the shock on my stunned face. I remember it like it was yesterday. Too cool.

My second run-in with Tiger came just over a week ago, on my birthday. Tiger doesn’t tweet much, but I noticed on my birthday he tweeted something about his endorsement deal with Rolex. So I thought why not try and send him a timely tweet with the idea of getting him to give me a shout out on my birthday.

A couple of hours passed, I had totally forgotten that I had sent the tweet when suddenly my phone started to explode with tweets and texts congratulating me that I had gotten a birthday tweet shout out from Tiger. At this point my data plan was working overtime for the rest of the night and next day, I was completely speechless.

Shout out. RT: @ryanwatt It’s my bday today. Any chance for a bday shout out? BTW nice 62 on Sunday

— Tiger Woods (@TigerWoods) March 7, 2012

For my entire adult life, Tiger has been my sporting idol, ever since he rolled in that final putt as a twenty-one year old to win his first Masters. Although he’s had his share of problems over the last two plus years the two experiences outlined above have solidified my bromance.

Loose Impediments: Belly Putters, The Next Obsolete Golf Club?

It seems like everyone in golf is trying the belly putter these days. What was once associated with older players trying to prolong their golfing career has now become as common as Tiger lipping out a putt.

With the emergence of the young wave of players that grew up watching Woods, it’s a little surprising that belly putters have become so prolific. I mean, can you imagine if Tiger won 14 majors with a belly putter? That would’ve been lame. Plus, how are you supposed to land a Perkins waitress when you have a belly putter in the bag? Just sayin’.

Seriously though, Tiger Woods is often criticized for not giving his opinions on various golf and non golf related issues but surprisingly gave his opinion recently on the belly putter.

“I’ve never been a fan if it. I believe it’s the art of controlling the body and club and swinging the pendulum motion. I believe that’s how it should be played. I’m traditionalist when it comes to that.”

Keegan Bradley’s win at the PGA Championship last August only fueled the fire whether or not belly putters should be permitted in professional golf. His win at the Atlanta Athletic Club was the first major championship won with a belly putter and in April Adam Scott finished runner-up at the Masters using a belly putter.

Most golf pundits would agree with Tiger’s assessment and the perception by most, that when struggling with the traditional putter, the belly putter is a last resort. It’s no secret that the belly putter can help a flawed stroke and the yips. It would seem that it takes the skill out of putting and the nerve that it requires.

For now, belly putters remain part of the game, but it’s only a matter of time before the belly putter joins the collection of obsolete golf clubs.

Okay, I’ve typed belly putter one too many times.

Loose Impediments: Y.E. Yang Shocks the World

The 2009 PGA Championship at Hazeltine National Golf Club will be remembered as one of the greatest upsets in golfing history.

The final round paring of Tiger Woods and Y.E. Yang was an unlikely one. Woods held a two-shot lead entering the final round, a lead that almost seemed insurmountable in the midst of Tiger’s domination of the majors. In addition to his two-shot lead, Tiger also sported an incredible 14-for-14 record when leading after three rounds in a major. In other words, nobody gave Yang a chance.

The two went toe-to-toe in the final round with Yang refusing to become just another spectator to Tiger’s greatness. Yang seemed unfazed by the aura that made other golfers before him crumble in the presence of Woods.

The two reached the 18th hole. With Yang 210 yards away in the left side of the fairway and his view of the green blocked by a cluster of trees, Yang summoned the shot of his life, a towering hybrid shot that rocketed and flew up and over the trees landing six feet away from the hole. Yang went on to birdie the hole capturing the PGA Championship and ending Woods’ perfect record when leading after 54 holes in a major.

“It’s not like you’re in an octagon where you’re fighting against Tiger and he’s going to bite you, or swing at you with his 9-iron. The worst that I could do was just lose to Tiger. So I really had nothing much at stake.”

Yang’s victory made him the first Asian born man to win a major championship.

Damon Hack, senior writer, Sports Illustrated, is spot on in his assessment of Tiger’s win at the Chevron on Sunday.

Tiger looks fit physically, mentally and emotionally. That birdie-birdie finish was vintage, and I don’t think it really matters whether it was at the Chevron or Doral. He hit the shots he had to, made the putts he needed, and beat a stud in Zach Johnson.

Congrats Tiger.

Tiger Woods on Presidents Cup uniforms:

“I haven’t worn white pants since I was 8.” — @PresidentsCup

Tiger Woods makes his return to the PGA Tour on Thursday when he tees it up in his first Fall Series event (ever) at the Frys.com Open. It would probably be a stretch to say Woods’ game was in shape to pull off the ‘W’ this weekend, but hey, stranger things have happened in the post-SUV crash Tiger era.