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Navarro: Times are good in golf world

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By Craig DeVrieze | Monday, July 14, 2008 |

Tony Navarro has a front-row seat to history and said of the Tiger Woods era: “There has never been a greater time to be involved in golf than right now, and I am absolutely positive of that.’’

The Moline caddie had an up-close look at one of Woods’ most impressive victories.

He carried Adam Scott’s bag alongside Woods in the first two rounds of a U.S. Open Woods won last week despite playing on a severely injured left leg.

After walking and playing 91 holes over five days to defeat Rocco Mediate in a playoff, Woods announced he will sit out the rest of the year while treating two stress fractures and a torn ACL in his left knee.

“You could definitely see he was in pain,’’ Navarro said. “He was not letting on he was as hurt as we have subsequently come to find out, but you could certainly see he was in pain.’’

In light of his injuries, Woods called his 14th major victory his best, but Navarro might argue.

Having spent 30 years on the circuit, he remains most impressed by Woods’ two blowout major wins, the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, where he won by 15 shots, and the 1997 Masters, which was Woods’ first major win and by a record 12 shots.

Of one thing Navarro is certain: Despite all the superlatives spent

describing Woods’ 65-victory, 12-year career, Navarro said fans and media still don’t understand how hard it is to dominate the game of golf like Woods has dominated.

“And we actually have to sit back and think about it ourselves,’’ Navarro said of he and fellow PGA Tour insiders. “It looks like it comes so easy to him.’’

Navarro has known Woods since his amateur days, when Woods’ teacher,

ex-Bettendorfer Butch

Harmon, brought the

phenom out to play alongside fellow Harmon pupil Greg Norman, the then

top-ranked golfer whose bag Navarro carried.

Roughly a decade ago, in fact, Navarro declined an offer of employment from Woods in order to remain with Norman. Navarro will be a groomsman in

Norman’s upcoming

wedding to Chris Evert.

Woods subsequently hired Steve Williams, who remains at Woods’ side.

“That’s then, and I don’t worry about that,’’ said Navarro, who works for the world’s third-ranked golfer in Scott. “I am friends with (Woods). I can call him a friend and I’m happy about that.’’