No, we’re not saying you have to get huge and ripped like Tiger Woods! Plus, you won’t have the private trainers and other assistance he has at his disposal.

That said, many of us aren’t in the best shape after the holidays as we work through the winter blahs. If you didn’t take advantage of golf holiday packages, many of us plan an escape to a golf resort in warm weather or an iconic location at this time of year. But we often don’t realize how grueling all that golf can be. It’s not the same as weekend golf breaks that you take during the season when you’re at the top of your game.

You can make your trip so much more enjoyable, and also improve your scores, by making sure you get back in shape before you take off for your trip. Think about endurance and feeling strong on the back nine . . . or on your second round if you play 36 holes per day! All of those holiday meals will catch up to you, so you should be hitting the treadmill now. Also, we all know that the best golfers improve the distance of drives and other shots by getting stronger and more flexible. Sure, your technique and form are still critical, but strength is also important. You don’t want to look like an out-of-shape fool on your trip who keeps coming up short – right?

You won’t be battling Tiger on the tour in the Middle East or challenging China golf pros on the Asian tour, but you’ll be able to put in a good showing with your buddies during your golf getaway.

Do some research on some of the best golf exercises and get to work.

I had no idea that caddies were so important.

Steve Williams has been getting ripped for his self-centered reaction.

I know Tiger Woods isn’t very popular these days, but Williams seems so determined to rub it in that he comes across like a fool. Adam Scott won the tournament, not Williams.

Phil Michelson made a spectacular charge on the front nine, but Darren Clarke held him off to win his first major championship at the 140th Open Championship at Royal St Georges Golf club.

If you were one of the many NFL fans that said you were done watching football because of all the greed that has taken place over the last five months between the players and owners, you can officially stop lying to yourself right now. Because once the new Collective Bargaining Agreement has been signed, you know damn well that the first thing you’re going to do is check the rumor mill to see what your favorite team has in store in terms of free agency.

And hey, I’m not judging you. There have been many times over the last couple of months that I wanted to say that I too was done with football. That I wasn’t going to dump a couple of hundred dollars on NFL Sunday Ticket and only further line the pockets of the super-rich. But I would have been lying to myself as well.

According to NFL Network’s Albert Breer, the “economics” of the labor agreement are done and there have been several reports over the last couple of days that state the CBA will be signed anytime between now and Tuesday. Once that happens and the free agent winds start blowing, what happened over these last five months will quickly fade until nobody even remembers how nasty this entire process has been for everyone involved. People may say differently. They may say that they will never forget what has transpired and won’t return. But the truth of the matter is that the NFL is still king. As long as gambling and fantasy football (which might as well be gambling) never ceases to exist, people will continue to watch. It’s the most popular sport in America.

For those few and far between that really won’t come back, I commend you. Instead of spending countless hours this fall watching players and a game that you have zero impact on, you’ll turn a blind eye and do something else. Don’t line anyone’s pockets but your own. I wish I could do the same thing but I’m not as strong as you are. I love the NFL and no matter how much frustration it has caused fans over these last couple of months, I’m going to welcome it back with open arms once the games count in September.

Sure, like a scorned lover I won’t dive back in with two feet. I’ll proceed with caution as if the water is infested with piranha. But over time, I’ll be fully invested again. It’s football after all.

Friday Quick-Hitters:

- Brandon Marshall told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel that his wife did not stab him and that he truly did slip on a vase. This is also the same Brandon Marshall who once said he slipped on a McDonald’s wrapper and wound up putting his forearm through a television set. So this is either the unluckiest, goofiest human being on the face of the planet or my man is doing some lying.

- The new salary cap in the NFL will reportedly be $120 million and will also come with a salary floor. Thus, some teams will be forced to spend money on free agents just to qualify for the salary floor. That means you, Malcolm Glazer…

- James Harrison has released a lengthy statement apologizing for his harsh comments on commissioner Roger Goodell and teammates Ben Roethlisberger and Rashard Mendenhall. Of course, the only thing he apologized for in reference to Goodell was his “careless use of a slang word.” Nothing like apologizing without really apologizing, eh James?

- Tom Watson hit a hole-in-one in the second round of the British Open today to give him his 15th ace of his career. I think I speak for all weekend golfers who have never hit one hole-in-one in their lifetime (not to mention 15) when I say: Congrats, Tom…you douche bag.

There was a time in Tiger Woods’ career when it almost seemed guaranteed that he would not only match Jack Nicklaus’ record for 18 majors victories, but surpass “The Golden Bear’s” historic feat.

Now it almost seems guaranteed that Tiger won’t touch Nicklaus’ landmark.

After playing only nine holes at The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass on Thursday, Woods withdrew from the event citing multiple injuries. He visibly winced after hitting his approach shot onto the fifth green and observers noticed he was limping following the round. Clearly the same knee that was surgically repaired two years ago after his victory at the U.S. Open was giving him trouble yet again.

Whether it’s nagging injuries or a wide range of personal problems, Tiger appears destined to struggle for the rest of his career. That may sound dramatic, but it’s been nearly two years since he last won a PGA Tour event (the BMW Championship in September 2009) and nearly three years (the 2008 U.S. Open) since he last won a major.

It’s not surprising that Woods’ golf game fell apart right around the time when the entire world (not to mention his ex-wife) found out that he was sleeping with anything with two legs and a pulse. But golf observers just assumed that he would eventually get past the embarrassment and be Tiger again. Everyone assumed he would return to the winner he always has been.

Call it karma, fate or anything else you believe in: but he hasn’t. Now people are left to wonder if this is it for Tiger – if he’ll continue to struggle from here on out.

Surely he’ll win more events before he hangs up his cleats for good – maybe even a major. But the four majors he needs to catch Nicklaus? That seems like an insurmountable task for someone playing on a balky knee and who mentally may have checked out the moment his wife took a swing at him with his own 9-iron. (Sorry, allegedly took a swing at him with his own 9-iron.)

It might be time to come to grips with the fact that Nicklaus’ record for majors is safe until the next once-in-a-generation golfer comes along and threatens it again.

It might be time to come to grips with the fact that Tiger will never be Tiger again.

After shooting a dismal 5-over through the front nine at The Players Championship at TPC Sawgrass on Thursday morning, Tiger Woods has decided to withdraw from the tournament tweets the Golf Channel’s Jason Sobel.

Tiger is citing “multiple injuries” for his poor shooting and his decision to withdraw. At this point, it’s unclear what injuries he sustained but Sobel is reporting that the news shouldn’t come as a surprise because Woods “was injured coming into the week and looked injured today.” Ironically, he also withdrew from The Players Championship last year when he was dealing with a bulging disc.

According to ESPN.com, Woods “played bogey golf and visibly winced after hitting his approach shot onto the fifth green.” Nobody was sure whether the reaction was from pain that he was experiencing or frustration over his play, but it’s clear now that he hurt himself on that hole (or at least aggravated a previous injury).

TPC Sawgrass has been a major nemesis of Woods throughout the years, as he has not recorded a single top-10 finish there this past decade. He did win the event in 2001, but since then the course has proved to be a major pain (pun definitely intended).

You’d have to go back to September 13, 2009 for when Tiger last won a PGA event.

Tara Sullivan, columnist for the Bergen Record, was barred from the locker room after the Masters. She was attempting to interview Rory McIlroy, who was the leader heading into the Sunday.

“Bad enough no women members at Augusta. But not allowing me to join writers in locker room interview is just wrong,” the initial tweet read.

A member of the Masters media committee (Steve Ethun) told her that it was a mistake and that she should have been allowed in to conduct her interviews.

Augusta National Golf Club has a long history of discrimination and still does not allow female members to join the club.

For the second time since August, Jim Gray has found himself in the center of controversy involving professional golf.

In August of 2010, he got into a heated exchange with last year’s U.S. Ryder Cup team captain Corey Pavin, calling him a lair after he insisted that Pavin had told him Tiger Woods would be a shoe-in to make the team. Pavin refuted Gray’s report and the two exchanged words, at which point Gray shouted, “You’re going down!”

His most recent incident came at this weekend’s Northern Trust Open. Golfer Dustin Johnson was assessed a two-stroke penalty but avoided disqualification after he was late for his tee time on Thursday morning. Johnson’s caddy, Bobby Brown, took responsibility for the mistake and then became enraged when Gray decided to question Johnson during live action. After the round was complete, Brown and Gray reportedly got into a heated, profanity-laced argument.

Now, some will say that Gray was just doing his job but he could have waited to question Johnson until after the round was over. The penalty had been assessed and the round had already started, so most journalists would have probably waited before questioning the golfer about what happened.

Not wanting him or the situation to become a further distraction, the Golf Channel removed Gray from this weekend’s coverage. It was a smart move considering that Gray has taken it upon himself (whether purposely or not) to become the story. When you’re getting into multiple incidents with the people you’re supposed to be covering, that’s a problem.

Gray has been around long enough to know that he shouldn’t be a nuisance and yet that’s what he’s become.

Listen as commentator Ewen Murray tongue-slaps Tiger Woods for spitting on the 12th green at the Omega Dubai Desert Classic over the weekend:

The European Tour wasn’t pleased with Tiger’s actions and announced Monday that it will be fining him an undisclosed sum. Tiger has since taken to Twitter to apologize about the grave injustice to the world of golf.

The Euro Tour is right – it was inconsiderate to spit like that and I know better. Just wasn’t thinking and want to say I’m sorry.

Murray obviously has a point: nobody wants to put through Tiger’s spit and Woods should have apologized for not having more awareness. But I don’t think there was any reason for Murray to channel his inner Joe Buck.

Relax, Joe.

- Tiger Woods battled some rough conditions to shoot an even-par 72 in Dubai. (Golf.com)

- The labor agreement delay may cancel any free agency movement in the NFL and force free agents to stay with their current teams. (SI.com)

- Packers give general manager Ted Thompson a well-deserved contract extension. (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel)

- Is Matt Holliday willing to take a paycut to help the Cardinals re-sign Albert Pujols? (St. Louis Post Dispatch)

- LeBron James gets into it with a fan after said fan mentioned LeBron’s momma. (ESPN)

- Hey, the Cavs finally won a game! (Cleveland Plain Dealer)

- The Penguins and Islanders racked up 351 penalty minutes in one game last night. Yikes. (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette)