Tidland's career interweaves with Tiger, Torrey Pines
By Art Spander, Special to PGATOUR.COM
SAN DIEGO -- Oh, what Chris Tidland didn't know. That golf could be such a frustrating game and yet such a rewarding one. That he would reach the final stage of q-school 10 times and gain his card only twice. That the 13-year-old kid he couldn't defeat would turn out to be the best player in the world.
Tidland, with a 7-under 65, was a shot out of the lead after Thursday's first round of the Farmers Insurance Open, a very nice place to be.
Especially when his career has had more downs than ups. Especially when he's playing a course, Torrey Pines, he played as a junior.
Especially when people keep reminding him of the talent against which he competed in southern California, talent such as Chris Riley, Jason Gore and Tiger Woods.
Somehow, the conversations this week, even though starting about the players who are here, a Tidland, a Scott Piercy whose 64 was low opening day, have a convoluted habit of twisting toward a player who isn't here.
Who isn't anywhere. Except rehab. Mr. Woods.
But in a way it's justified with Tidland, who can reflect on the way it used to be, not last year or the year before, but back in the late 1980s.
He was at Valencia High in Orange County, an hour's drive or so from San Diego, and even then in awe of Tiger.
"I was 16,'' said Tidland, who now is 38, "and Tiger was 13. And he was still beating up on us. So I played a lot growing up with him, and that is always fun to play against the best at every level.''
Tiger went his way, on to Stanford, then to the PGA TOUR, then to the top of the game, although he has troubles at the moment that don't have to do with making bogeys. Tidland went his way, to Oklahoma State, similarly to the TOUR but dissimilar to Woods without startling success.
Tidland is a worker, persistent, determined. He was on the Nationwide Tour in 2008 and 2009, winning both years, and regaining his card for 2010.
The contrast between his career and Tiger's career is obvious. A lesser man might be discouraged, even bitter. Tidland is neither. None of this, "Why me?'' Rather, it's "Why not?''
"I feel fortunate to have played with him,'' Tidland said about Woods. "When we went to France -- it was a southern California junior golf thing -- for two weeks, we were partners in alternate shot.
"I never beat him. Well, I beat him in one tournament, to win the national championship for Oklahoma State. That was 15 years ago. I think that's the last time I beat him. I've known him since he was 11. I didn't know he'd be the best player ever, but you knew he was pretty special, and I've always enjoyed being around him.''
What Tidland also enjoyed was 2009, when he earned $354,510, sixth-best on the Nationwide money list.
"Having the best year I had in my career, last year,'' said Tidland, "I was excited to start this year off and play against the best players in the world. Today I was pretty fortunate. I didn't take advantage of the par-5s. I parred them all. But I played the tough holes well and made the key putts. That kind of kept the round going.
That will keep any round going. Tidland had eight birdies and only a single bogey, on 13. He played the easier North Course, but 7 under is 7 under, no matter where it's recorded.
"I feel like I've improved every year,'' said Tidland. He resides in Stillwater, where Oklahoma State is located. But on days like this, when the sun was glistening off the Pacific and the mid-winter temperature was in the mid-60s, as were the best mid-winter scores, he misses California.
"Oh sure,'' he offered, "my wife and kids are snowed in right now.''
Tidland played the Junior World at Torrey, eagled the par-5 18th on the South Course one year -- a 5-iron from 180, a 50-foot putt -- to finish ninth.
"I thought that was the greatest thing ever,'' he said enthusiastically. "So every time I go down 18, my caddie gets sick of it. I tell him this is where I hit it, and this is the putt I made. He's like, 'Yeah, I know.' ''
Tidland has returned with his memories. And wishing as so many others, Tiger, who won this tournament six times, also had returned.
"It's different,'' Tidland said of Woods' absence. "The traffic is not as bad. The crowds, there's not quite as much buzz right now. But with Phil (Mickelson) around you kind of get that feel.
"But you know, we're looking forward to getting (Tiger) back. Just to have the greatest athlete in the world in your sport, we feel pretty fortunate, and it's fun to compete against him.''
Even though Chris Tidland never beat him. Except once.
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