Tiger Calls the 17th at Sawgrass 'Gimmicky'

I'm pretty fond of the 17th at Sawgrass ... it's a fun hole, and it's unquestionably beautiful. I really couldn't imagine anyone not liking it. Except Tiger Woods, who hates fun.

"You'd probably lose the allure of the hole," Woods said. "I've always thought that that hole is too gimmicky for the 17th hole of a championship. As far as the 8th hole, I think that would be a fantastic 8th hole, but not as the 71st hole of a tournament or 17th hole of your round."

Myself, I like gimmicky. Golf could use a little more 'gimmicky'. Make the 17th in island green, put a damn windmill on the 16th, and make the last hole a clown's mouth for all I care. Most weeks on tour are a staid parade of khaki pants, hushed golf claps, and Verne Lundquist. We get enough of that.

Every now and then, I want to see an island green. I want to see Sergio Garcia have to putt with three live alligators on the green. I'd like to see Vijay Singh hit a 7-iron from 200 yards out in the ocean while riding on a whale's back. I'd like to see David Toms putt while American Gladiator Malibu is clocking him with that giant joust thing. Is that too much to ask?

Here's my point: The hole is fun. It's beautiful. It might even be gimmicky. But it's fun. People like fun. You've got 17 other holes to grind it out, Eldrick ... you can deal with one little island green.