Tiger slam? Not this year, as my up and down affair with golf continues...

“I’ve learned my lesson with the press. Now I’m not going to say anything”
-Tiger Woods, after finishing second in the Masters.

I have to admit, I have a love-hate relationship with golf, (aside from the fact that it’s not really an athletic sport-more like a game of skill, comparable to darts or billiards)especially at Augusta and the Masters. The howls of racism and elitism that plague golf are never louder than in Georgia during the 2nd week in April. After all, the first African American to play at Augusta was Lee Elder, in 1975. The exclusive Augusta club (by invitation only -$250-$300 K to join) didn’t have a black member till 1990.

This week, South African Gary Player was feted by the Lords of Golf. 30 years ago, Player won this third and final green jacket. However, Player was at least for part of his life was pro apartheid-even supporting it in his 1966 book, Grand Slam Golf.

Click here to see Player’s comments

WATCH TREVOR IMMELMAN CAPTURE HIS GREEN JACKET AT THE MASTERS, AFTER THE JUMP...

Player has for years claimed that he was misquoted by the writer of the book. Usually when a celebrity writes a book, they’ll do a series of lengthy interviews with the writer -who then writes the book and tries to make it sound as if the celeb is speaking. But if Player’s name is on the book, he has to KNOW what’s in there. It’s like Barry Bonds saying he didn’t know he was taking steroids. Last year, Nelson Mandela withdrew an invitation to his Golf Tournament because of Player’s business dealings in Burma -even though Player owns part of the event.

I hope Player is sincere in his apologies for these incidents, though only God knows any of the true intentions of the heart.

On the love side -guys like Tiger and Phil, though not great athletes, have a lot of skill. Yesterday though, the day belonged to Trevor Immelman. The South African (Player is his golfing hero) lead from start to finish-hanging on by three strokes over Woods. Tiger will have to watch what he says-last week he told the press he believed he could win Golf’s Grand Slam this year.

The feel good story was Immelman, who four months ago had surgery for a cancer scare-a tumor in his back was benign. Trevor told reporters his experience taught him to appreciate life more.

It was nice to see-especially because Tiger was an even money favorite-no one would have thought of Immelman as a contender after all he’d been through. Woods did praise Immelman afterwards, and of course all the golf “experts” on CBS chirped about how the kid was a prodigy and that “golf insiders” knew how good Immelman is and was. Sure. I’ll just tack that onto my love-hate relationship with golf.

Watch Trevor Immelman receive his green jacket at the Masters: