Column: Battle of Bighorn - Woods makes too many excuses for his loss over Garcia

Before the Battle at Bighorn on Monday night was even over, Tiger Woods was already making excuses for his loss to Sergio Garcia.

"I'm so cold, I'm freezing," Woods said on the 17th hole to his caddy, just one hole after Sergio Garcia made birdie from 35-feet while Tiger couldn't to do the same from 10-feet.

But the world's No. 1 player didn't have one excuse. He had several of them. He was too tired from playing in three consecutive PGA tour events. He was sick. And he had to play golf on the same day that he flew from Ohio to Palm Desert, Calif.

Boo-Hoo. Put a sweater on, take some Tylenol, and drink some coffee.

In August, Tiger just went through what most PGA tour golfers do during the season. In other words, they actually attempt to to play most weeks.

This year, as a youthful 24-year-old, Tiger has conviently played in only 16 of 36 events. In 1996, when Jack Nicklaus was 56, he played in 22 Senior and PGA tour events. And 71-year-old Arnold Palmer has already played in 14 tournaments this year. So Tiger saying he's exhausted after playing three events in a row is pathetic.

Nobody can argue that Tiger is the best in the world. But he sends the wrong message by only playing in tournaments when his ego needs to be petted. Or when the over-sized cardboard winner checks have at least five zeros on them. Or win he's given a large tournament appearance fee. So why did then the money-driven Woods lose when he had a chance win his biggest tournament check ever, $1.1 million on Monday night?

"My body just broke down a couple days short," Woods answered. "I just wish I could have felt a bit better."

It's funny but his broken down body still managed to shoot a five-under-par 67, an unbelievable score for a golfer so fatigued. It's also amusing that he was smiling on the front nine, when he was up on Garcia.

Garcia played in the Buick Open three weeks ago, battled dehydration at the PGA two weeks ago, and then played at the Reno-Tahoe Open last weekend before Monday's Battle at Bighorn. With identical schedules over the past three weeks, Garcia, who said he was also tired, outplayed Woods on a level playing field. Only Tiger will argue differently.

On the Reno-Tahoe Open:

The Reno-Tahoe Open will still be second best behind the NEC Invitational for at least the next least two more years. So until the RTO gets its own date, which it seems as though it will, they two tournaments will be played during the same weekend. But the playoff between Scott Verplank and Jean Van De Velde at Montreux Golf and Country Club on Sunday proved that the RTO doesn't need the big names to showcase good golf. But still Peter Jacobsen Productions is searching for a title sponsor after Greens.com dropped out prior to this year's tournament.

"Unfortunately, Greens.com had their troubles and now is Greens.gone," said Jacobsen. "But I feel confident about signing a title sponsor."

Last year, his company lost over $300,000 in the inaugural RTO. These are just things the tournament will have to overcome. Last year's champ, Notah Begay III, has turned into one of golf's brightest young stars. This year's champ Verplank, was a feel good story who beat Van De Velde, a sob story, in the final round playoff. They were more fans at Montreux this year than last year. And some of the pros have already said that Montreux is one of better courses on tour.

"I think Reno is a PGA-caliber town," Jacobsen said.

These are the types of things big-name sponsors want to invest their money in. All the components are there to make the RTO a great tour event. It takes time. Be patient.