Golfnorthwest by Richard Williamson Daily Post Sports Editor
YOU could feel the tension in the hot afternoon air. Anticipation at the arrival of Tiger Woods positively crackled like an approaching thunderstorm in the heatwave baking the Wirral. And this was just the practice ground.
But there was no doubt who the crowd packing the small stand or pushed up against the railing were waiting to see.
Others came and went after running through their pre-round routines. Chris DiMarco, producing golf of the highest quality under family circumstances equally as draining as those facing Woods; Graeme McDowell, searching for the form that had seen him even leave the world's number one golfer in his slipstream on day one; and Miguel Angel Jiminez, whose supporters sported their pony-tailed ginger wigs and fake cigars to bring a a smile to the Spaniard's face.
At least Ernie Els was granted a ripple of applause, but as the others practised, word filtered out that Tiger was on his way.
And so it was he swept into the practice area, flanked by two police officers. He looked neither left nor right, his single-mindeness plain for all to see. Including his rivals. The nature of his entrance all adds to the feeling of invincibility that surrounds him.
There can be few sportsmen who dominate their sport so totally as the American golfer.
Among the thousands of people thronging Royal Liverpool were many simply attracted to the event to catch a glimpse of the great man.
He was barely aware of their existence until that final putt dropped, the trophy was his and he emerged from his playing cocoon to acknowledge the cheers amid an outpouring of his own emotion.
So focussed is Tiger, so locked in his own world that it was no surprise that when the moment of release came the tears flowed like a breached dam. All the hours of hard work and preparation - and for so many years with his late father at his side - had paid dividends again. The world's best golfers left trailing by an exhibition of cunning, guile and power that enabled him to negotiate all the obstacles the Hoylake links could place in his way.
The watching thousands hung on his every shot. And they weren't disappointed. The crowds came in their droves and saw their hero conquer the golfing gods again.
