Opinion & Analysis
Tiger’s major problem? It may be bigger than anyone thinks
These days everyone’s a know-it-all in regard to Tiger Woods’ 0-for-17 slump in major championships.
Tiger’s struggles in major championships continued yesterday in the final round of The Open Championship at Muirfield, prompting ESPN Golf Broadcaster and 1993 PGA Championship winner Paul Azinger to say:
“This is not the Tiger Woods we’re used to seeing. Maybe it is the Tiger Woods we’re getting used to seeing.”
And the Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee, one of Woods’ most vocal critics, took a veiled shot at Woods’ swing instructor Sean Foley after Woods T-6 British Open finish saying,
“What I hate more than anything is [Foley’s] turned [Woods] into a technical junkie. There’s so much pressure on him to be technically perfect, and it distracts him. He makes mental mistakes now that he never used to make. At 37 years old, he’s got all this experience and he’s not relying on it. [Instead] he’s playing with his golf swing.”
Even before the 142nd Open began, Woods took criticism from another golf broadcast heavyweight — 6-time major winner and CBS Sports analyst Nick Faldo. He said that Woods “is in a different mode when he’s winning regular tournaments, but he gets to the majors and something happens. The self-belief you have to have, maybe there’s a little dent in there.”
Woods is now more than five years removed from his last major championship, and is 25-over par in his last seven major weekends. But listening to Tiger, you wouldn’t think that he’s a guy with any weekend woes at all.
“I feel very good about my game,” Woods said before play began on Thursday. “I feel very, very good going into major championships.”
Assessing his performance after the Open, Woods said,
“I had a hard time adjusting to the [green] speeds, but I didn’t really play that poorly. I really hit the ball well today.”
And without prompting, Woods went on to also address his major dry spell, saying, “I’ve been in probably about half the majors on the back nine on Sunday with a chance to win during that stretch. I just haven’t done it yet.”
Sounds like the confident, fist-pumping, fairway-marching, 14-time major winner we all know, right?
The problem is that Tiger’s been giving this exact same speech before and after nearly every major for the past five years, and the results aren’t changing. Going back to April and Augusta, Woods said, “I feel like I’m playing well. I was pretty close and I had the lead at one point. Unfortunately, I just haven’t gotten it done.”
And after the U.S. Open at Merion, Woods said,
“I did a lot of things right, unfortunately I did a few things wrong.”
Tiger’s overall numbers at Muirfield were impressive certainly, hitting nearly 70 percent of the greens and 75 percent of the fairways, both well above the field averages.
But on Sunday, Woods hit numerous approach shots poorly, staring incredulously as shots veered off in various directions. Woods missed one green far right, came up miserably short on another, and flew the green on yet another. Despite missing more greens on Sunday than he did in the first three rounds, it’s perplexing that Woods would say he “hit the ball really well.”
Even when Woods did admit he couldn’t get the speed right on Muirfield’s greens, the statement came with a caveat:
“They were much slower today, much softer.”
That begs the question: If Tiger knew the greens were playing soft, why didn’t he adjust early on, or at least mid-round? That seems like something even a weekend golfer would know to do, let alone the greatest player of this generation.
Whatever Woods might say, there’s no mistaking Tiger’s demeanor on the course tells a completely different tale than what he presents in his press conferences. Enough even to at least question if Woods actually believes what he’s saying.
After Woods’ 13-over finish at the U.S. Open at Merion last month, former instructor Hank Haney called out Woods preparation for majors on FOX Sports, adding
“Tiger’s having a real hard time winning the easiest major he’s going to win – No. 15. No. 18 to tie Jack (Nicklaus) and 19 to beat Jack, those are going to be the hard ones.”
And Sunday at Muirfield, Tiger wasn’t charging with the verve and vitality of someone confident and playing well. He stood with shoulders slumped on multiple holes, with dazed resignation in his eyes. As early as his ugly three-putt on the first hole, Woods appeared tired — not in a physical sense, but emotionally. The kind that comes with the unrelenting pressure of watching yet another major championship slip away.
But put aside for a moment discussions of Tiger’s age and injuries, swing styles and scandal, or whether you agree with Azinger’s diminishing skills sentiment, Chamblee’s paralysis by analysis notion, or Faldo’s and Haney’s mental hurdles presumption.
Woods’ biggest problem may very well be a history no one has ever defeated. A five year major drought has been the death knell for every major champion in the history of modern golf. In the last 37 years, no player has ever won more than one final career major after going five years without major victory.
Woods seems to lean on his history of 14 majors as a reason why he’ll win again. And once upon a time that would have been enough. But history says that it’s likely Woods will struggle to get more than 14 or 15 majors, and that the window may have already closed on Tiger’s chase to surpass Jack.
Club Junkie
Tour Edge Exotics mini driver review + TaylorMade Spider ZT Max first look – Club Junkie
On this episode of Club Junkie, I put the new Tour Edge Exotics Mini Driver to the test and break down the performance, forgiveness, distance, and where it fits compared to a traditional driver or strong fairway wood. If you have been curious about adding a mini driver to the bag, this one is worth a look.
I also dive into the new TaylorMade Spider ZT Max putter that was recently spotted and discuss the growing zero torque putter trend. Plus, there is a closer look at the new Project X Titan Yellow shaft showing up on the PGA Tour and what makes it different from other profiles currently out there.
Opinion & Analysis
AVL: We’re talking about practice! My best tips for taking your game to the course
With the beginning of June on the horizon and courses rounding into peak condition for the season, it’s time to hone the finer skills that often get rusty over the winter. More sunlight also means more time to get out on the course and work on your game.
Whether it’s the practice green or the driving range, there’s always something to improve—whether you’re enjoying the fresh air or preparing for a weekend game or tournament. You can work on drills or freestyle around the green, and friendly competition is a great way to sharpen your skills.
While there are endless ways to get better at golf, I’m going to focus on practicing around the green. Let’s take a look at a few things to keep in mind as we head into the summer months.
Drills
From the driving range to the practice green, it’s important to incorporate drills into your routine. Years ago, I spent a weekend working on my short game with James Sieckmann. He recommended doing drill work for 5–10 minutes, then returning to your main practice.
This way, you create a balance between structured drills and real-world scenarios, so you’re not confined to “perfect” situations. For example, hitting the same three-foot putt over and over is good for repetition, but after a while, it becomes less interactive for your brain.
My approach is to use a putting trainer with a narrow gate for the ball to pass through, or simply place tees just outside the width of the ball. I’ll hit a series of four putts through the gate for three sets. Then, from a similar distance, I’ll hit four putts without the training aid and repeat that sequence three times.
Next, I’ll hit a number of 15–25 foot putts in a random fashion, then circle back to repeat the short putt drills with and without the training aid.
This breaks up the rhythm of hitting short putts with the training aid. When you hit the same short putts over and over, it’s easy to get into a groove—which is great for the drill, but not reflective of actual course play. While finding a rhythm is fundamental for drills, I like to introduce variation with longer putts to keep things realistic.
Game Mode
Once you’ve established a foundation with drills, it’s time to simulate on-course scenarios. This is where a few practice games come in handy.
One that I’ve been enjoying lately involves putting 10- to 15-footers with two balls. If I make the putt, great! If I miss, I pull the missed ball back a putter length. Suddenly, that little tap-in becomes a nerve-wracking three-footer—at least at first. As you get better at this game, those three- and five-footers become much more comfortable and routine.
It may sound cliché, but each shot is just what it is—it’s how we react that makes the difference. I like this game because it blends the pressure of on-course putting with the consequence of leaving yourself a much longer putt than usual.
Another game I like is one I recently learned from Brad Faxon. Place three tees in a line at four different locations around the hole: one at 3 feet, one at 6 feet, and one at 8 feet. The 3- and 6-foot putts count as par, and the 8-footer is for birdie.
This game keeps you focused on scoring and helps you get into a competitive mindset. You can even think about this putting game while you’re on the course. I just started playing it, and last week I couldn’t get better than two under par.
Competition
Competition during practice is when drills and games come to life, and you start to see results. For me, nothing beats a putting contest with a friend or two. In the right setting, these contests can become talking points for the whole season.
Match play, a game of 21, or simply seeing who can make the most one-putts (with a small prize on the line) are all great ways to simulate real on-course pressure. Recently, I played in a putting contest where one competitor made back-to-back 30- and 50-foot putts. As they say, expect your opponent to make every putt—and he nearly did. That’s impressive, and it’s something you see on the course, too: you have to stay committed to your game plan, no matter what.
When it comes to practice, it’s important to blend feedback from recent rounds with the fundamentals you want to reinforce. Drills, games, and competition—from the driving range to the putting green—form the backbone of skills you’ll rely on during actual rounds.
Finding the right balance is something we’re all working on, one practice session at a time. With the beginning of June on the horizon and courses rounding into peak condition for the season, it’s time to hone the finer skills that often get rusty over the winter. More sunlight also means more time to get out on the course and work on your game. Whether it’s the practice green or the driving range, there’s always something to improve—whether you’re enjoying the fresh air or preparing for a weekend game or tournament. You can work on drills or freestyle around the green, and friendly competition is a great way to sharpen your skills. While there are endless ways to get better at golf, I’m going to focus on practicing around the green. Let’s take a look at a few things to keep in mind as we head into the summer months.
Drills
From the driving range to the practice green, it’s important to incorporate drills into your routine. Years ago, I spent a weekend working on my short game with James Sieckmann. He recommended doing drill work for 5–10 minutes, then returning to your main practice. This way, you create a balance between structured drills and real-world scenarios, so you’re not confined to “perfect” situations. For example, hitting the same three-foot putt over and over is good for repetition, but after a while, it becomes less interactive for your brain.
My approach is to use a putting trainer with a narrow gate for the ball to pass through, or simply place tees just outside the width of the ball. I’ll hit a series of four putts through the gate for three sets. Then, from a similar distance, I’ll hit four putts without the training aid and repeat that sequence three times. Next, I’ll hit a number of 15–25 foot putts in a random fashion, then circle back to repeat the short putt drills with and without the training aid.
This breaks up the rhythm of hitting short putts with the training aid. When you hit the same short putts over and over, it’s easy to get into a groove—which is great for the drill, but not reflective of actual course play. While finding a rhythm is fundamental for drills, I like to introduce variation with longer putts to keep things realistic.
Game Mode
Once you’ve established a foundation with drills, it’s time to simulate on-course scenarios. This is where a few practice games come in handy. One that I’ve been enjoying lately involves putting 10- to 15-footers with two balls. If I make the putt, great! If I miss, I pull the missed ball back a putter length.
Suddenly, that little tap-in becomes a nerve-wracking three-footer—at least at first. As you get better at this game, those three- and five-footers become much more comfortable and routine. It may sound cliché, but each shot is just what it is—it’s how we react that makes the difference. I like this game because it blends the pressure of on-course putting with the consequence of leaving yourself a much longer putt than usual.
Another game I like is one I recently learned from Brad Faxon. Place three tees in a line at four different locations around the hole: one at 3 feet, one at 6 feet, and one at 8 feet. The 3- and 6-foot putts count as par, and the 8-footer is for birdie.
This game keeps you focused on scoring and helps you get into a competitive mindset. You can even think about this putting game while you’re on the course. I just started playing it, and last week I couldn’t get better than two under par.
Competition
Competition during practice is when drills and games come to life, and you start to see results. For me, nothing beats a putting contest with a friend or two. In the right setting, these contests can become talking points for the whole season. Match play, a game of 21, or simply seeing who can make the most one-putts (with a small prize on the line) are all great ways to simulate real on-course pressure. Recently, I played in a putting contest where one competitor made back-to-back 30- and 50-foot putts. As they say, expect your opponent to make every putt—and he nearly did. That’s impressive, and it’s something you see on the course, too: you have to stay committed to your game plan, no matter what.
When it comes to practice, it’s important to blend feedback from recent rounds with the fundamentals you want to reinforce. Drills, games, and competition—from the driving range to the putting green—form the backbone of skills you’ll rely on during actual rounds. Finding the right balance is something we’re all working on, one practice session at a time.
For Korean golfers, we always look forward to the last of the kkot-saem-chu-I for the true start of a new golf season. The term refers to a cold snap, but literally translates as “winter being jealous of the flowers beginning to bloom, thus lashing out one final time before surrendering to spring”.
A rather poetic mouthful packed into a short expression.
Koreans can be like that. Understated, yet oddly expressive at the same time. And nowhere is this more true on the golf course and in our golf bags. In fact, I suspect many Korean golfers look forward to new apparel and accessory drops more than they do actual equipment launches each year.
At this point, Korean golf fashion may exist on its own timeline. (courtesy of @seonbi_golfer)
There is ample evidence to support that suspicion. Korea is the world’s third-largest golf market behind the United States and Japan, yet its appetite for golf apparel exceeds that of both countries combined. Recent estimates suggest that Korea accounts for nearly 40 percent of the global golf apparel market, placing it among the world’s most influential golf fashion markets and punching well above its size.
Simply, we care deeply about how new golf clubs look and feel, but enjoy looking good while swinging them even more.
Golfers in the West may laugh and say that golf is played on a course, not a fashion runway. Perhaps. But what’s the harm in trying to look and feel good, if the added self-confidence can help actual performance? It certainly seems to have worked for Jason Day, who may have unlocked a new stats category: dormant strokes gained. Coincidence?
During the COVID-era, estimates placed the market near $9 billion, an astonishing figure for a single country.
As a proud member of Gen X, I’ve witnessed the highs and lows of golf fashion firsthand. The pleated trousers and wing-tipped shoes of Jack Nicklaus, the stylish plus-fours and knickers of Payne Stewart, the baggy black trousers and fitted mock-necks of Tiger Woods, and the thigh-hugging athletic tailoring of Rory McIlroy. Golf fashion, like the golf swing itself, has rarely stood still.
But nowhere have those trends shifted, evolved, and been scrutinized quite as relentlessly as in Korea. Here, golf fashion moves faster than fairway gossip, and consumers dissect brands with a level of discernment that can be both impressive and mildly terrifying. New brands are studied, judged, embraced, or dismissed with startling efficiency.
The result is a consumer base with one of the sharpest eyes for quality and authenticity anywhere in the world. It is difficult to quantify, but easy to recognize. Clean lines without trying too hard. Luxury mixed with utility. Trend awareness balanced by restraint and purpose.
It’s golf fashion shaped by one of the world’s most style-literate cities, something I like to call Seoul Sensibilities, referring to the taste level forged by a uniquely competitive environment.
And increasingly, global brands have noticed.
Many golf brands in Korea have their own flagship shops dedicated to apparel only
Titleist understood this years ago, when its apparel business in Korea took on a life of its own under new ownership and local direction. What had once been a straightforward extension of an iconic equipment giant became something sharper and more premium. By going all in on the serious Tour-player look (I couldn’t even fit into their XL sizes), Titleist struck the right chord with Korean consumers and helped its fledgling apparel business break into the mainstream. Titleist became a household name even for non-golfers who wore its caps, shirts, and windbreakers in daily life. In many ways, it proved that even heritage golf brands could carry real fashion credibility when viewed through a Korean lens.
Several years later, PXG took a page out of Titleist’s playbook and followed suit. Korean consumers helped transform the brand from one known largely for irons and loud commercials into something broader and more stylish. PXG apparel’s growth in Korea was explosive, where it found an early audience and turned the category into something more than mere logo merchandise. It is still hard to walk anywhere in Seoul without seeing its palindrome logo.
Malbon’s meteoric rise in the United States was genuine, but its ascent into a global golf lifestyle brand owes much to Korea, where it was elevated by a market already fluent in modern golf style. Korea did not simply embrace Malbon. It pressure-tested the concept, refined its appeal, and helped push it into the global spotlight.
As such, new brands may arrive from abroad, but more often than not, their sharpest evolution happens here. If a brand can earn credibility in Seoul, it’s deemed to have passed one of the toughest style audits in the game.
That is why the next meaningful chapter may not come from outside, but from a Korean brand moving in the opposite direction, carrying those Seoul Sensibilities outward as K-pop once did.
Play young Stay dope.
From Seoul, With Intent
Khalhon is a label that feels less like a trend-chasing newcomer and more like the product of a market that has already seen everything. Golfers here have long been surrounded by luxury logos, technical fabrics, and tour uniforms disguised as lifestyle wear and vice-versa. In other words, novelty alone rarely lasts here, and the Koreans seems to understand that instinctively.
Its style language leans into clean silhouettes, relaxed but tailored proportions, muted palettes, and premium materials that speak quietly but confidently. There is a modern city aesthetic running through it all, with strong layering pieces, thoughtful textures, and subtle branding that suggests sophistication rather than demanding attention.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
Most importantly, the garments seem designed to blur the line between golfwear and everyday style. Shirts, trousers, knitwear, and outer layers move comfortably between a game of screen golf, a lunch reservation, an airport gate, or an afternoon coffee in Gangnam with friends.
It raises the question of whether this is golfwear that happens to look good off the course, or everyday clothing that performs beautifully on the fairways.
Personally, I have long appreciated Nike Golf for its clean, athletic modernization of golf attire. It also has the useful side effect of making me look like a more serious golfer than I probably am. But off the course, there are times when being instantly identified as the golf guy in a crowd of non-golfers can feel a touch self-conscious.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
That is part of what drew me to Khalhon, which seemed to blend golf and everyday wear naturally. While some of the outfits may be slightly beyond my personal confidence level, the brand also offers tasteful options for older guys like me who still want to express a little personality without regretting the decision later.
These are not simply flashy outfits worn on the course and then banished to the closet until the next tee time. They work surprisingly well off the course too, and I suspect many of the pieces will still look right a couple of years from now, which would certainly be kinder to my wallet than most golf fashion trends tend to be.
And perhaps that broader lifestyle positioning also helps explain why someone like Sean Wotherspoon would find Khalhon creatively interesting in the first place.
“Built for the course. Designed beyond it.”
“Korea is not only one of the most fashion-forward golf markets in the world, but one of the most fashion-forward markets globally. Korea is ahead, and I love to watch and try to catch up.” – Sean Wotherspoon, Creative Director at Khalhon
Seoul and Beyond
If Khalhon’s rise says something about where Korean golf fashion is today, its relationship with Sean Wotherspoon says even more about where it is heading.
For readers less familiar with Sean Wotherspoon, his arrival at Khalhon is not some routine celebrity endorsement or influencer collaboration. In design and streetwear circles, Wotherspoon is regarded as one of the more influential creative voices of his generation, particularly when it comes to blending nostalgia, storytelling, and contemporary culture into products that people can connect with.
He first gained widespread attention through his now-famous Nike sneaker collaborations, where his vintage-inspired designs and instinct for color helped turn him into one of the defining artists of the late-2010s sneaker era. His work gradually expanded beyond footwear into apparel, automotive collaborations, collectibles, and broader lifestyle design.
Modern golf style now extends well beyond the fairways, where performance and functionality are largely expected by default. And while plenty of brands already make technically competent golfwear, Khalhon seems more focused on designing clothes people would genuinely want to wear even after the round ends.
And when guys at Wotherspoon’s level show genuine interest in working with a Korean golf brand as its new Creative Director, fashion circles tend to sit up and pay attention. There’s already a huge buzz among the fashion-conscious here about upcoming collabs with iconic sports stars and brands.
“My creative direction for Khalhon is disruptive, colorful, nostalgic, and modern. My goal is to blend these avenues seamlessly within each collection.” – Sean Wotherspoon
In chatting with Sean, what stood out most to me was how genuinely energized he sounded about the project itself. Despite having already worked across and countless other creative spaces, he described golf as a completely fresh category for him, saying that Khalhon “will be an amazing vehicle for my design work.”
At the same time, his enthusiasm seemed tied just as much to Korea itself. He spoke openly about admiring Korea’s fashion culture while repeatedly insisting he is still a terrible golfer.
There was something oddly refreshing about that humility. Rather than sounding like a celebrity parachuting into golf simply because the category suddenly became fashionable, Sean sounded genuinely curious about what Korea might do with the category next.
And perhaps that is what makes Khalhon feel interesting right now. The brand feels less like a trend-chaser and more like the natural result of a market now confident enough to export its own point of view.
For years, global brands came to Korea to sharpen their image against one of the most discerning audiences anywhere. Now, a Korean label appears ready to send those Seoul Sensibilities outward instead.
Which brings us back to kkot-saem-chu-i.
That final cold snap before spring always arrives with a reminder that seasons are changing, whether we notice it immediately or not. Golf fashion feels a little like that right now as well, as the old boundaries between sport, streetwear, luxury, and everyday style continue to soften.
And somewhere in Seoul, a Korean golf label already seems prepared for whatever season comes next. I just hope they have everything in my size.
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John
Nov 17, 2016 at 6:12 pm
I will never understand why tiger woods is the only athlete in the world that has to constantly answer for cheating/getting divorced. At the rate that stuff goes on in everyday life with normal people you really have to be a sheltered little alter boy to be so offended that the highest paid athlete in the game can’t stay married. Golfers who are concerned with who tiger is shacking with or the manor in which he’s doing so clearly never understood why people were drawn to him in the first place. Tiger gave golf a mistique and coolness that boring overweight white guys couldn’t. He most likely won’t ever win another major and might not even be returning to professional golf, but the whole on course off course behavior argument is the most laughable way of dismissing woods yet.
Flip
Sep 26, 2016 at 1:16 pm
Washed up
videos
Dec 10, 2013 at 8:41 pm
You guys should really look at this web site, they offer the highest quality baseball tubes I’ve stumbled upon up to now.
Jamie
Aug 18, 2013 at 3:38 pm
You guys are funny…yes I’m a Tiger fan, but I’m a Nicklaus, Phil, and Duff fan. So Joe Montana is the greatest QB because he won the most SB’s? Or is Bill Russell the greatest B-ball player because he won the most rings? You’re telling me Robert Horry is better or as good as MJ or Kobe? He’s got the rings. Tiger is the best by far of our generations and many past and future. He will have more wins, most likely over 100. Better overall statistics the Jack, or any other golfer ever to walk the earth will over a career. BTW…he is the only golfer in history to have an average score in the 60’s for his career…THE ONLY. Not Jack, not Lee, not Arnold…Now he is a Type A, anal, focused individual…but so are many geniuses. I don’t condone poor behavior, but I don’t walk in his shoes and will never judge another man/woman before GOD.
IMHO, Tiger is the best golfer of all time. He may not be the most Majors winner of all time, but he’s no Bill Russell. And BTW, Sam Snead was better then Jack. Jack will tell you that.
Desmond
Aug 3, 2013 at 6:45 am
You made the mistake of mentioning Haney.
Jim
Sep 9, 2016 at 11:58 pm
The over- rated hack that totally mismanaged the prodgeny that fell into his lap. HE did nothing to protect and prevent injury – already recurring at the time and look to the future.
Anyone changing a grip or backswing – the dude had since he was 3 – that weren’t hurting anything – while he WAS dominating the WORLD (so they could ‘show’ some swing change THEY made should be sued for malpractice.
Tiger’s problems started as most sheltered prodgenys do. The protectors keeping him from the real world die – or – as often happens in many arenas, the two toughest guys on the block – sooner or later, they’re gonna fight. In this case Earl passed, Tiger & Butch kinda had the ‘toughest guys’ moment…. (he discovered strippers too)…
whatever
Here’s the real bottom line. Golf hasn’t been fun for HIM. Not for a while. He may still love it, may still want to play & most certainly win – I can’t believe he could lose his core ‘drive’ – but the scales have tipped. The balance of drive combined with the JOY of it all has tipped to drive – but instead of joy, it’s struggle. Struggling to make the WRONG changes based on a NEW baseline built not apon a sheltered, strong and healthy body and mind, but an injured frame and mind fogged by BAD DECISIONS AND WORSE “COACHING” ….
IF I were Tigets friend & confidant, I woulda told him look bro, we’re taking this year off (after the 2nd knee surgery). We’re renting a Tour bus, and we’re gonna start in Maine in May, and do a secret ‘Tiger vacation/tour’. No press, no agents, no nuthin. Just golf at a different great club everyday. Eat good food – and yes – hit a titty bar or two every so often… We’re just gonna play golf everyday with no pressure, no BS – until the great catharsis that is golf – cleanses his soul and it’s fun again.
There can never be ‘another’ Tiger Woods. It’s NOT possible to capture lightning in a bottle twice. No one’s afraid of him – shit, they’re all as strong and as good as they are now BECAUSE OF HIM… he’ll never be ‘Tiger’ again….
Time for ELDRICK to come out n play….
ps…he should see me for lessons that’ll keep him injury free. I was able to turn professional AFTER I broke my back. Working with ‘geniuses’ – that never been through it themselves doesn’t seem to be working.
Bill
Aug 1, 2013 at 10:18 am
Tiger is starting to talk down the greens for the PGA Championship at Oak Hill. Yesterday mentioned that they are slow and no thatch. Not sure if aim right about this but doesn’t thatch make them soft which adds resistance which slows down the greens and makes them bumpy.
David
Jul 31, 2013 at 10:52 am
Ack…. there’s nothing “wrong” with him. He’s just playing with a little less consistency. It happens to all players now and again. It’s happening to Rory now too. The game comes and goes. The majors are set up hard and it’s reflected in occasional bad scores.
That’s it in a nutshell. I’m no Tiger fan but all this speculating is silly.
Brian
Jul 29, 2013 at 2:18 pm
Performance enhancing drugs ruined Tiger’s body and Sean Foley ruined his swing, NOT a good combination……..
Jim
Sep 10, 2016 at 12:23 am
Haney ruined his swing FIRST – AND FAILED to impart biomechanical changes to PROTECT him from further injury and stop the two excessively violent moves he did – that even Butch told him would eventually wreck his back and his knee…neither Haney or Foley got it.
It was about THEM – NOT Tiger. They should both “go to the box and feel shame”
Chris
Jul 29, 2013 at 7:24 am
no loss—happy to see him fail in the majors…mark me a hater!
Sean
Jul 27, 2013 at 7:29 pm
I’ve observed that this Tiger guy seems rather polarizing. If you say something negative you’re a hater, which seems a bit over the top, because not all negative comments are “hateful”. I never believed that Tiger cared what anyone thought, so I don’t buy the argument that it’s outside influences putting pressure on him. As far as “how many majors have Azinger and Chamblee won” that’s simply specious. Yes, he’s won four times this year, but on courses he’s intimately familiar with, which doesn’t detract from his wins, just a point of observation. Frankly it’s a puzzle why he hasn’t won #15. Maybe he just doesn’t have the same fire. Maybe he needs Stevie back on the bag. What he says in his post round interviews doesn’t jibe with what’s happening on the course. In any case, he’s making too many unforced errors, which he never used to do. Figure why that is and you’ll know why he’s not winning majors.
stephenf
Jul 29, 2013 at 11:59 am
Maybe it’s just really, really hard to win 15 majors, even in an era of talented-but-soft competition (no Palmer, Player, Trevino, Casper, Watson, etc.), which is why only one guy in history has ever done it.
In other words, maybe it’s time for writers to stop making every single event about Tiger Woods, and take another look at Nicklaus’s stupendous level of excellence in achieving that record.
Tom Murch
Aug 20, 2013 at 10:32 pm
From tstephen to stephenf: where were you the past 3 months when I was trying to convey your point regarding Jack vs Tiger on the thread “Greatest male player ever” since you have made so many good points?
Shane Keeley
Jul 25, 2013 at 11:26 pm
I do not agree with any of the statements in the article, however my opinion is that Tiger no longer has the joy aspect of the game that he had when he was constantly winning. I honestly believe that he does enjoy the game but not to the extent where he’s excited to go practice and go play to the best of his ability.
If I could look at Tiger and tell him one thing about the game it would be to simply stop worrying about the titles, the glory, the money, or criticism and just go have fun… go enjoy the game like you did when you were younger and before you had the weight on your shoulders.
M. P. Ohaneson
Jul 25, 2013 at 9:12 pm
I think the past problems of his personal life really derailed him for awhile, but he has shown a lot of great golf and a number of tour wins, especially this year. He looks happier than ever since he started seeing Lindsey Vonn so I think his personal life is no longer the problem. I think he is playing with injuries. He’s such a fierce competitor that I think he will play in a major even if he has an injury. Say what you will about him, but he doesn’t make excuses for himself, and I think he plays injured without anyone knowing it.
David
Jul 25, 2013 at 9:17 am
I don’t think anything is “wrong” with Tiger. It’s just that he’s gotten older, and it’s clear injuries have effected him in his career. One thing people always forget is that Tiger isn’t 21 years old anymore yet unless he repeats that same level of dominance he had when he was 21 people say “Tiger’s just not right”. When it comes to majors as well the fields become a lot more competitive than they do with the weekly events that he does continue to have success at.
At this point Tiger reminds me of a great power pitcher in baseball where when they’re 21 or 22 they can just blow everyone away with their nasty stuff. When they age and the stuff becomes more ordinary they have to learn how to actually pitch by changing speeds, and working the inside of the plate.
Johnnythunders
Jul 25, 2013 at 7:48 am
I am so happy to see Tigers continued slump in the majors. I never liked Tiger from day one. He had talent but no class. What I find interesting is once he started winning all of the media just fawned all over him and how 5 years into his majors slump they have turned on him. Love it.
No matter how many majors Tiger wins or how many tournments he wins, he will never be considered “great”. Jack, Be, Sam, Gary and Arnie are great and maybe even Phil someday. Tiger will not be remembered kindly by history.
stephenf
Jul 25, 2013 at 4:10 am
Nice piece with some really cogent points, but please, I’m asking as nicely as I can…figure out what “begging the question” actually is, then tell every writer friend you have. It’s a sacred duty not to contribute to the obliteration of a perfectly good, in fact critically important, logical fallacy.
matt
Jul 24, 2013 at 11:57 pm
this is really tigers come back year..just because he hasn’t won any majors doesn’t mean he wont next year, or the next, or the next. he has a lot of golf to play, I think him losing these majors will only make him better. take adam scott he blew last years british and came back the next year and wont the masters. he said he learned a lot from losing that tournament. Phil has been runner up 6 times at the us open, what does he do the next major after? shoots 66 in the final day to win. just give the man a break and leave it alone, he will win a major again, maybe the pga, or maybe it wont be until next year.
Jim
Sep 10, 2016 at 1:43 am
TIGER is dead.
NO ONE catches lightning in a bottle twice. No one is afraid of him any more – they’re stronger and better BECAUSE of him.
If ELDRICK finally sheds himself of the worst, most over-rated blowhard coaches – who ARE NOT protecting his injuries and not making changes to his swing based on biomechanical NECESSITY, he may very well win a couple more ‘Majors’. Frankly, that shouldn’t even be part of the equation right now.
Eldrick will win when he grows up, resets his compass “gets his shit in one sock” as we used to say – and regains the LOVE he had – for just PLAYING THE GAME
Curt
Jul 24, 2013 at 10:53 pm
Ladies, ladies, ladies – Tiger would have to achieve Mickelson’s entire major championship career (5 majors), from this point on, to surpass Jack Nicklaus’ 18 majors.
Face reality, its not going to happen. As I said above in another post, he might win one or maybe even two more majors, but he will not will 5 more from here.
He has way to much scar tissue between the ears and outside, physical injuries, age, nerves, etc. and the field gets deeper and deeper every year, while just get older and older………………
Brick
Jul 24, 2013 at 11:45 pm
Funny you mention age. I clearly remember seeing Tom Watson nearly win the 2009 Open Championship at 59 years young. And we should listen to your doubt and criticism of Tiger because he has 14 Major Championships and you have what?…maybe a handful of wins on Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14?
Curt
Jul 25, 2013 at 7:00 pm
I challenge you to TW PGA Tour 14 any day of the week!!!
Raymond Filip
Jul 24, 2013 at 10:39 pm
Tiger has class. Nicklaus is the spoiled son of a pharmacist; he enjoyed a major head start in life. Tiger had to fight for every inch of success as a “Caublasian,” as well as dealing with media pressure and a depth of field that Nicklaus never had to worry about. Give Tiger his due with 14 majors. Nicklaus could never have achieved that many in today’s era. Class is not a numbers game.
stephenf
Jul 29, 2013 at 11:55 am
I wonder how people as ignorant as you are on this subject feel qualified to post at all.
If you want to believe the “depth of field” nonsense constantly put out there by the PGA Tour (which has no interest in tarnishing its product by admitting that Nicklaus, Hogan, and Snead had better top competition), go ahead and believe your adolescent myth that the current era must be better. In fact, it is provably not. If I thought it would do one bit of good, I’d go into it here. We’ll start with the fact that anytime you want to bring Woods’ top four rivals against Nicklaus’ top four, just say the word. It doesn’t matter how “deep” the field is — how many people around #125 can get rich with a stroke average of 71 or 72 and never sniffing a win — it matters how high it is. And there is no disputing that during both the Nicklaus era and the Hogan-Snead-Nelson era, it was much higher.
As for “privileged,” Woods had nothing to do all his life but play golf and travel to tournaments. Nicklaus’s family was solidly middle-class; his father owned a pharmacy, which did not make him a rich man, although they were well-off enough for him to play tournaments. But when Nicklaus was in college, he was married and selling insurance to make a living. He was also looking forward to a career as a pharmacist himself (probably) and a high-level amateur career as a player, until he decided to give the Tour a try. Woods was never anything other than completely groomed for professional golf and never for one moment made a living any other way. To act like Woods had some kind of underprivileged background and was prevented from doing anything significant in the game because of his race is just nonsense.
As for “class,” I mean, you have got to be living in a cave. Woods humiliated and betrayed his wife and children by sleeping with every cocktail waitress and aspiring porn star he could get his hands on. (Hogan, on the other hand, threw himself across his wife’s body to save her life in a head-on collision with a bus. And neither Hogan nor Nicklaus nor any of the other great players in history ever had so much as a hint of marital or sexual scandal.) He curses on camera regularly, despite knowing that millions of kids are watching. (Nicklaus, by contrast, quit smoking the day he saw himself on film, deciding it looked bad and was a bad influence on kids.) Then there was the time he refused to sign a golf ball for charity, or other times when he curses and elbows fans out of the way after a bad shot. Yeah. Nothing but class.
As for media pressure, cry me a freakin’ river. Media “pressure” doesn’t excuse his behavior, and it doesn’t come for no reason at all. It comes with celebrity, which happens to be the reason he’s the richest athlete on the planet. I don’t see him ducking away from his celebrity. I see him pumping it, or at least he did for most of his career. I see him participating in the ridiculous myth of his own invincibility, which leaves him vulnerable to criticism when he can’t control winning all the time. If he has “pressure,” he brought it on himself, every dollar of it. He could be as private as he wanted to be, but he _doesn’t_ want to be. The idea of “media pressure” for somebody like him is a joke.
Woods is clearly the “best” player of his generation, if you limit the notion of “good” strictly to striking a ball and scoring low, and erase all questions of character from a game where character is supposed to matter. His skill level is off the charts. His mental and competitive toughness make him a man among boys on that count. But “class”? Woods is emblematic of the vulgar, self-indulgent child, sometimes race-obsessed and race-excusing, that has become the model of the modern pro athlete. Anybody who cares at all about the best traditions of this game will find that intolerable.
Paul
Jul 24, 2013 at 9:03 pm
I fugure the only record Tiger should keep his sights on is Sam Sneads total tournament record. If he passes that mark – he is undisputed in my book. If he squeezes out another major or two in the process that’s still an undisputed record.
stephenf
Jul 29, 2013 at 11:39 am
Okay. But who are his Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan?
Brick
Jul 24, 2013 at 5:16 pm
Tiger WILL win his next Major Championship when Tiger is ready…he broke through and won three times last year and four out of his first eight starts this year. His performance at The Players this year was phenomenal. I, like many others, expected Tiger to sweep The Memorial again this year…however, from the get-go, it was easy to see that his demeanor wasn’t the same as when he was at The Players. Although the world puts Tiger on pedestal…Tiger is a human being and puts his pants on one leg at a time, just like you and me. Stop hating on the greatest golfer of this generation…we all make mistakes and poor choices in life. It is too easy to criticize others while wearing our own shoes…
Bart carter
Jul 24, 2013 at 4:02 pm
Can’t help but wonder if Jack really faced the same standard of competition that Tigers faces, the comparisons are a bit silly aren’t they? all things being equal??? I think Tiger in a face off would be a better prospect, but who knows??.
Dan
Jul 25, 2013 at 1:20 pm
Are you for real? Nicklaus had to compete against the truly greatest players in the game; Palmer, Player, Trevino, Watson, Ballesteros, Kite, Norman, Crenshaw, Irwin, Casper, Floyd, Langer, etc.
Who was around when Tiger showed up? Mickelson? Els? Singh? Goosen? Harrington? I’ll give you those guys HoF’ers. But beyond that? Garcia, Janzen, Olazabel, Price, Stankowski, Couples?. Lots of guys nearing the end of their PGA best years or guys like Sergio, good but never great.
The reason Tiger isnt blowing the field away is that there are a lot more young capable players since 2009, maybe not as consistent but guys that have similar amounts of talent and strength.
stephenf
Jul 29, 2013 at 11:34 am
You said it.
For further corroboration, just check the average score Woods has had to shoot to win majors — with near-perfect course conditions, a longer and more consistent ball, and game-improvement features in clubs.
Also look at what scores were shot by others in contention.
Also look at what people have done in playoffs against him, and what scores he’s had to make in playoffs to win. (If I had time and opportunity, I’d go into that abominable chicken-out at Torrey Pines in the U.S. Open as an extended example of “just glad to be here”-ism.)
People frequently cite the fact that Woods has been statistically the best frontrunner in history among great players. There’s a reason for that, but hardly any of the people who point to that particular stat as an indication of Woods’ superiority have any idea what that reason is. It is inconceivable that such a thing would’ve happened in the era of Hogan, Snead, Nelson, Demaret, et al., or in the era of Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Trevino, Casper, Miller, Watson, et al.
Sure, some of the guys you mention (Mickelson and others) are hall-of-famers, and I absolutely love some of them (Mickelson and Els in particular), but among those only Mickelson is starting to approach the level of the top competition faced by Hogan, Snead, and Nicklaus. And frankly, when Mickelson is playing his best, there is no way Woods can dominate him. It’s just that Woods has been tougher and more consistent mentally over his career than Phil has. I have a feeling, though, that if Mickelson keeps his desire, he could be a Snead the Second — smarter than he was in the first two-thirds of his career, still stupendously long and no sign of that diminishing, and cagier about certain strategic situations and how to keep himself in contention. We’ll see.
Ward G. Walkup IV
Jul 24, 2013 at 2:08 pm
Was watching old videos of Tiger 2000-2002 era and was surprised at how natural and fluid he was. Even his practice swings for swing keys were smooth and fluid. Fast forward to today, he just looks so technical and jerky. Maybe its just over analysis, but its hard to play and is mentally fatiguing to constantly be working on technical queues instead of just playing golf. His numbers with Foley look good, but it seems to be that when it counts, e.g. Majors, he’s continually coming up short.
An even bigger issue seems to be his putting under major pressure, as he just doesn’t seem to be the same in pressure situations. Looking back at all the footage of Tiger under pressure in big tournaments, he always nailed the momentum building or momentum killing puts, which he seems to not be doing as much lately. His numbers are still great though, as hes, I believe, in the top 5 in strokes gained putting.
The other big elephant in the room for Tiger seems to be winning from behind in a Major, as hes never won without having the lead going into Sunday in a Major. While he’s won like crazy, a lot of his wins have come from other guys self destructing or crumbling when Tiger’s leading or near the lead, which isn’t happening like before.
I’d really like to see him break Jack’s record, in spite of his personality flaws, indiscretions, etc., just because of his sheer athleticism and determination. Do I believe he’ll do it? Less and less so, but can’t say I’m not going to watch or be any less interested.
SN
Jul 24, 2013 at 1:39 pm
I see 4 kind of people bashing TW; haters, hypocrites, racists and medias.
Personally I would love to see him winning at least a major again, not for beating Jack’s record… I dont even understand why people give so much crap about Jack’s record. TW is great enough already, with or without beating Jack’s record…
Yet, seriously I wanna print all these crap writing and comments of these hater and shove up to their arse when TW win the 15th…
Abu Dhabi Golfer
Jul 29, 2013 at 10:58 am
That’s funny.
THOSE are the four same kinds of people that I see praising TW!!!!
purkjason
Jul 24, 2013 at 11:04 am
Jack’s 18 Majors won’t be beat for a long, long, time if ever. And Jack’s 19 second place finishes at Majors is more mind boggling to me because it truly shows how consistent he was on the big stage. Tiger may have talent but EVERY HUMAN BEING hits that age when your body says NO MORE. Everybody hits their peak for awhile but you can’t sustain it forever. For some it’s early in life and some a bit later. But to say that Tiger is in the same category as Jack is nonsense due to Jack being a REAL MAN with moral principles like Arnie, Gary, and even the great Phil Mickelson. A good human being means more than athletism, adultary, vulgar speech, etc. We all miss seeing alot of great golf out on the course due to the media shoving Tiger down our throats with each televised tournament. When is enough enough ?
Blanco
Jul 24, 2013 at 2:03 am
Tiger, like ALL golfers, runs on confidence. The #1 story in golf is “when will Tiger win his next major?” In the world of social media hell– there’s no way someone wouldn’t be affected by the frequent media assault on his character and skill.
This is Tiger Woods– when he wins his next major, he will continue to win majors. Kindof like when Brandell said he would NEVER win again and then once he does, he regains #1 and is winning %50 of all tournaments entered.
To all you saints who can’t handle Tiger showing emotion– realize that you’re making strong judgements on a human being based on what Television is choosing to show you. The only person that should be passing judgement on his merits as a PERSON is Tiger himself. Watch golf for displays of awesome talent– not a displays of superior morality.
HBTrojan77
Jul 23, 2013 at 10:50 pm
The pressure of chasing Jack’s record seems like it’s taking a toll on this guy…his game is nowhere near what it was back in 2000. His short game sucks if you want to compare this Tiger to the same Tiger back in 2000. Seems like that is what everybody is waiting to see. Not gonna happen. That run he had back in 2000 will never come around again.
Jason
Jul 23, 2013 at 8:56 pm
Tiger is like a boxer that is great when he is the one landing punches, but as soon as he gets punched he folds the tent. When he is the front runner and everyone is chasing him he handles adversity completely differently than he does when he knows he has to make up ground. Tiger has yet to prove he can come from behind on Sunday in a major, and I still say that when Y.E. Yang beat him at Hazeltine that Tiger’s ego and confidence took a hit from which he has yet to recover.
Stu
Jul 23, 2013 at 8:21 pm
Muirfield was brutal. TV made it look easier than it was. Phil got it done and kudos to him for overcoming the disappointment of Merion and demonstrating that a US Tour player who is a student of the game can prevail in tough links golf conditions.
I used to be a Tiger-hater. But forgetting all the off-course antics, what he has achieved in his career is phenomenal in the modern era, where many guys are more focused, athletic and better coached in all aspects than they ever have been. He has stiff competition every week and has lost some of the ‘playing for second place’ fear factor.
I think he’s gonna do 15 minimum. No doubt.
Golf is really turning into a hater/gossip-fest these days. The thing I have love about golf over the past 30 years ( I’m 40 now) is that it was a sport where there was not the BS and rampant journalistic jingoism that prevailed in other sports (or pastimes as my friends call it until they try and rip one 300 yards…). But that has change and with the new media, the nonsense surrounding golf is no better than that surrounding football in my home UK or football/bball in the US.
There’s now soooooooo much cash at stake every week on the US Tour that guys in the Top 100 make huge coin every year. $1M plus for the winner every week.
If I were Tiger, I’d retire and say ‘**** you’ to all the haters. But guess what, because he is an egomaniac / super-driven super- athlete, he won’t. He will pound his battered body until he hits 19. And everyone should be grateful. Especially his fellow golfers as $$$$ in the game is due to the Tiger Effect. When he’s not there, audiences fall, revenues fall…
So he should be applauded, not for being a perfect human being. Which of us are by definition? But for making the modern game what it is today for spectators, other athletes and even the guys who get to bash him in the press.
Tiger. I’m not your biggest fan.
But I also speak for every professional golfer and kid go dreams of emulating your achievements when I say let’s see 15. Hell, make it 20. Jack’s a fan! We should all be for what you’ve done for the game.
reqq
Jul 23, 2013 at 7:24 am
“The problem is that Tiger’s been giving this exact same speech before and after nearly every major for the past five years, and the results aren’t changing.”
Except that all these years he had different types of problems, problems that now start to be solved. He been so close lately in majors its just a matter of time.
yo!
Jul 23, 2013 at 2:23 am
Tiger’s the only guy where the expectation is that he wins every time he tees off, and when he doesn’t then there must be something wrong. He’ll eventually break through. I think his best chances are at the Masters and at the PGA championship because conditions are more predictable. The US and British Open requires some lucky bounces which makes Phil’s 66 one of the greatest rounds. Whether you’re routing for or against Tiger getting to 19, it just means that all eyes are on Tiger and no one has had the impact that Tiger has had on the game of golf.
Kyle
Jul 23, 2013 at 12:39 am
Just wanted to add that the BEST ever took first or second in 37 Majors. That my friends defines greatness!
AJ
Jul 23, 2013 at 11:12 am
Try 19
Joe
Jul 22, 2013 at 9:52 pm
This was a great read! Very good writing and Pete is one of the best on golfwrx.com!
I believe Tiger will win a few more majors before he hangs up the cleats. Look at the age of some current winners in majors. What makes everyone think one of the greatest player’s of all time can’t win at least one more before he is 50? He will eventually stumble on to # 15 and that will get him over the hump. Then, lookout!!!!
AZ Golf
Jul 23, 2013 at 12:43 am
All the detractors who say Tiger won’t eclipse Jack are crazy. He has the most wins on tour this year and is number 1 in the world. He’s been in contention in almost half the majors since the scandle, even when his life was in chambles. Yes, he hasn’t closed the deal yet, but he’s knocking on the door a lot – a lot more than anyone else. I personally think the 15th major will be the toughest to win due to the scandle, swing change, injuries and loss of confidence. Once he knocks off the next major, the flood gates will open and his confidence will be back. Watch out! He’s playing with a vendata now which will fuel him even more than before. The only thing that can stop him is injuries.
Armen Baghdasarian
Jul 23, 2013 at 3:06 pm
a normal comment? bless you and not because it was pro tiger but because it was a normal comment.
Steve
Jul 22, 2013 at 6:20 pm
Oh, Thank Heaven for Chamblee and Azinger and Miller and the rest of the “I wish I had had half the career Tiger has put together” crowd! This media noise has descended into a ‘who can be the biggest gossip’ fest! So Phil couldn’t put one together, then he did it TWICE in 2 weeks – and one was the Open Championship – for THREE wins THIS YEAR, so they have to lay off him or a few days (til the next US Open I guess)….so what do they talk about now? A Four-time winner THIS YEAR, a guy who constantly approaches his swing and performance in a scientific and professional manner, and is always under the gun from the guys with no game left. So what are they gonna do when Tiger takes the PGA?
….Oh, wait, there’s always McIlroy, Westwood, Bradley, and Snedeker, and Simpson, and Dufner, and Fowler, and other PGA golfers with ‘issues’. Give it a rest, boys, and tell your out-of-fashion GC bosses the ‘Fox News Model’ no longer works on the American public.
Double C
Jul 22, 2013 at 4:07 pm
He’s not on steroids anymore. It’s as simple as that. All of his injuries are common for steroid users. Why isn’t anyone talking about this??????
Serious
Jul 22, 2013 at 4:51 pm
You are a fool. They are crucifying him in the only way they can. He hasn’t won a Major in 5 years. Believe me, you don’t think the way they trash him they wouldn’t jump at the chance? Tiger was the one who asked the Tour to START initiating drug testing fool!
Adam
Jul 23, 2013 at 2:04 pm
This comment is absolutely stupid.
They’re also common injuries for somebody that puts several hundred ft/lbs of torque on his knees, wrists, elbows, and lower back – with every swing – several hundred times (or probably into the thousand) times a day.
Armen Baghdasarian
Jul 23, 2013 at 3:04 pm
well then lefty must be on steroids as well. hes winning at 43! omg omg lefty on steroids…ya hes not buff but lance armstrong wasnt either or roger clemens…get a life dude…tiger is known to be a hard training athlete. i wonder if theyll start calling him a domestic terrorist in the next 3 years…wouldnt be surprised.
btw..i was being sarcastic about lefty. just making a point.
HBTrojan77
Jul 23, 2013 at 10:36 pm
You know…I have no proof if he has ever taken the “juice” but the fact remains why did get prescription meds from a known doctor who was implicated giving steroids to other athletes…HMMM?
naflack
Jul 24, 2013 at 1:02 pm
It makes me chuckle a little when I hear people cry about tiger being attacked by the media when there is clearly a story to be told regarding ped usage and the media is giving him a free pass.
Bill
Jul 26, 2013 at 7:26 pm
I’ll bet you are a real athlete since you know all about how one reacts when quitting PED’S.
neil
Jul 22, 2013 at 3:48 pm
I don’t really like Tiger at all but do wish everyone would stop over analysing everything he does (and doesn’t)
He’s probably not mentally as tough as he used to be after his issues and also during that time, a lot of other great golfers got to know what it was like to win.
I reckon he’s probably just got more competition these days than back in the day when he would scare all opposition come Sunday.
Tony Lynam
Jul 23, 2013 at 10:14 pm
Great point. He has more competition because in reality, his greatness created the competition, by inspiring multitudes of youngsters to take up the game and get this level.
Curt
Jul 22, 2013 at 2:27 pm
Tiger has a lot of scar tissue now; psychological trauma from the scandal and injuries too many to count (both between the ears and out)! I am sure he will win another major or two, but I agree with the author, passing Jack seems out of reach.
Serious
Jul 22, 2013 at 4:50 pm
The media is doing all there criticizing on purpose, to get into his head, and make it even harder for him to win any tournament. They have succeeded in making the public get on their bandwagon. Haney’s book, Norman, Faldo and Haney’s comments before Majors? Think they’re not trying to distract him? All these articles mentioning “scandal” almost 4 years later which will be on the Internet forever!!! They say it’s mental, yes, they are sticking the knife in even further every time they get on their high horses and bloviate about him disparagingly.
Bill
Jul 26, 2013 at 7:23 pm
Gee, I thought Jack was 46 when he won #18. Tiger is 37.
Curt
Jul 28, 2013 at 5:45 pm
Yeah, and like Jack just said, “Tiger is playing the entire field, not just one or two good players.” The field is much deeper than when Jack was playing, so your argument is not an apples to apples comparison. Matter of fact, the field is so deep now, that we may never see another double digit major champion again! Every week someone different is bringing their A game and that is hard to contend with, even for Tiger, because the margin of difference between TIger and the field is non-existant, unlike times of past! If there is a margin of difference between Tiger and the field its because the pendulum is far in favor of the field, not Tiger, which is why he never wins majors anymore!!! The proof is in the pudding……………….
naflack
Jul 22, 2013 at 1:36 pm
Looks like the tiger apologists have had their say…
I don’t dislike tiger but to the apologists if one isn’t completely enamored with him one is a hater?
Whatever the reason for his poor play at the majors, the fact remains that he consistently doesn’t play well enough to win them anymore. At this point in his career he is making a killing on a small group of courses he knows like the back of his hand.
A person can make any and ask claims but by tigers would tell you that the best ever will be whoever had the most majors
Nevo
Jul 22, 2013 at 1:18 pm
Ever wonder if Tiger ever misses his old Scotty Cameron putter? Is that one of the seeds of doubt in his mind?
Bill
Jul 26, 2013 at 7:20 pm
Tiger can go back to his SC putter at any time without NIKE approval. If he thinks it would help, he could make the switch. Obviously, he doesn’t and realizes that the NIKE putter is one that HE HELPED DEVELOP.
Tom
Aug 1, 2013 at 3:03 pm
Tiger needs to go back to the SC putter. Period. Whether he knows it or not he needs to go back. Someone PLEASE tell him. How many majors did he win w/o that SC putter?
Jim
Sep 10, 2016 at 1:14 am
While it’s impossible to rule out the psychological aspect, his SC was a ping clone – of slightly different weight, and no doubt they took a micrometer to that one to craft his “Nike”….
I’ve always gotten a kick out of the blacked out ‘Ping Man’ grip he’s that attached to….
bein’ that so much of the game IS between the ears, we can’t definitively rule out your diagnosis 🙂
Tiger’s MAIN problem – Golf simply isn’t FUN for him last few years. Bad decisions, Truly BAD Coaching
Luke Schumann
Jul 22, 2013 at 1:05 pm
Foley is one of the most knowledgeable teachers in the game and Tiger is the most talented athlete ever. He is good enough to win 5 more majors if he stays healthy and learns how to putt again.
Allen
Jul 22, 2013 at 12:48 pm
Why does no one talk about how maybe his body is also breaking down. He has worked it very hard and worked it like he was a weight lifter. He is a golfer and plyo and muscle elastisity is the way to go, not becoming a bodybuilder.
TonsOfSteel
Jul 22, 2013 at 1:25 pm
Ask Gary Player.
cg
Jul 22, 2013 at 12:36 pm
bad equipment…took down rory and michelle wie also….try real golf clubs by callaway or some other companies….
Honmagolfan
Jul 22, 2013 at 2:22 pm
Really?!
Flip4000
Jul 22, 2013 at 7:44 pm
come on bro, seriously?
Jack
Jul 22, 2013 at 11:49 pm
Pfft. I hope you realize how stupid you sound. Buying nice clubs is basically just for self satisfaction. All manufacturers make similar products. Plus these guys are fitted to the gills. I always think I have cool clubs until the 60 year old with 20 year old clubs takes me to school.
Scott
Jul 28, 2013 at 7:05 pm
Totally agree, Look at what this equipment has done to Rory’s game, I believe tiger would be almost there (at 18 majors) if he wasn’t using inferior equipment. Lets face it nike are a shoe and apparel brand. Put Ping, Titleist, Callaway or taylormade gear in his hands I say
Jim
Sep 10, 2016 at 1:23 am
Bad DRIVERS anyway…His Endo forged irons weren’t a problem – til some dipstick changed his grip & takeaway
Bill
Jul 22, 2013 at 12:17 pm
Pretty poor article that cites all of his critics, who as someone above has already said, are mostly just talking heads. The 5 year stat is interesting, but all it is is a stat, there’s no actual significance to it. I’m done reading these articles full of conjecture and meaningless “analysis”.
Brandon
Jul 22, 2013 at 1:19 pm
Well said…
MG
Jul 22, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Lets take it easy on the guy. He’s only gone through one of the most difficult things possible for an athlete (broken leg) and one of the most difficult things possible for a human (divorce).
Plus these are the same people that said he would never win again at all. Now that he’s won (not just won but dominated) the same people are giving him a hard time because he hasn’t won a major in a while. Hypocrites.
He’s got at least 40 more chances to win 5 majors and surpass jack. His winning percentage tells us he’s going to win at least 20.
He’s already the greatest golfer ever. Now he just needs to beat Jack’s major record to silence the haters.
Gary Murray
Jul 23, 2013 at 8:43 pm
Do you think he played with his broken leg without help . Rocco should have been given that championship for drug abuse by Tiger . He was on so much pain killers that he should have been dqed Remember how low he went down on his broken leg ( not possible without pain killers ) but we can not test Tiger WHAT A JOKE
Agreed
Aug 16, 2013 at 5:55 pm
I’m sure there are plenty of others on the tour who have cheated on their spouse, used profanity after a bad shot, but you would never know because he’s the guy with every camera on him and 20,000 people following him around the course…I’m sure the majority aren’t watching him hoping for him to fail. Being great puts the majority of focus on him. Why he hasn’t won a major yet, I dunno…but 5 wins in a season which some players will never do in a 20 year career isn’t to shabby in my opinion. There is so much parity on tour with such high skilled players I don’t think you will ever see again the dominance that he displayed early in his career.
Sam
Jul 22, 2013 at 12:07 pm
Why do Azinger and Chamblee continue to harp on TW’s majors and how he hasn’t won one in 5 years? Let’s talk about other players that have never even won a major yet or those that were one hit wonders and have fallen off the face of the earth. Or what about Padraig Harrington, who won 3 in 2 years and can’t even contend in a regular tournament, let alone in a major. He looks like a Nascar driver, with all of his lame sponsors all over his apparel.
Let’s combine Azinger and Chamblee’s major record and see how they stack up to what TW has done…..oh they both can’t compare since they haven’t really accomplished anything. The one major they both have combined, can’t even compare to when people keep talking about TW’s 2000. So if they don’t have the experience, then why are they so hard to judge a guy that is actually in the record books and will make it to the hall of fame?
Once he gets (if he does get there), they will jump on the TW bandwagon and praise him and talk about how he will get to Jack’s record, blah blah blah.
Let’s move on to a new story and let’s come back to this TW story when (or if) he does win another major.
Serious
Jul 22, 2013 at 4:44 pm
IF HE GETS THERE? You must be a casual observer of golf. Tiger IS the Golf HOF! Installing 40 year olds is ridiculous, before their careers are over. It onlyl allows the media to say, “Phil Mickelson, HOF’er.” Ridiculous. They are trying to raise the age from 40 to 50 as they know it’s ridiculous. Any other sport you have to wait until you’re retired. Some 5 years. The ones that are getting inducted now are laughable, but they feel they have to have someone each and every year. Tiger could’ve been in over a decade ago, so don’t even ponder “if he gets in.’ He should NOT accept the invitation, and screw the media. He can have his own museum at the facility he chooses. Perhaps his Foundation.
Sam
Jul 22, 2013 at 6:51 pm
I think I stated it incorrectly or my typing was going slower than what I was thinking. When I was saying “once he gets there (of if he does get there), was meant for Jack’s record.
He is already in the record books and will blow away those that are already in the HOF.
Tony Lynam
Jul 23, 2013 at 10:10 pm
Spot on comment. The WGOF is a joke letting people in before they retire. Every time I hear HOFer before an active golfers name I cringe. NFL and MLB are REAL Hall’s of Fame.
Sam
Jul 24, 2013 at 12:26 am
I agree with you there, why don’t they change the rule to where the person has stopped playing competitive golf and then get into the Hall of Fame?
Bill
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:55 am
I totally agree Sam. If you think Tiger is over the you know nothing and should rather not comment. When he wins that next major, we will all hear how great he is and how the 18 majors will not be safe anymore.
Just remember he had a bit of injury problems, he struggles but still 4 wins this year and he contends in every major event though he cannot quite break through yet. Give the guy a break, he’s the world No 1, if theres something wrong with him then maybe some of us know allot less about the game than we think!!
David
Jul 22, 2013 at 12:04 pm
More over-analysis of Tiger from the media. The guy has four wins this year and was in clean contention this weekend. There is nothing wrong with Tiger. The guy is a machine and will achieve what he’s set out to do. The headlines just sound more interesting when there “appears” to be a problem. You can’t win every tournament. His winning percentage is still out of this universe. Tell it like it really is….The guy is already the best ever. Give him the respect and let him finish getting it done…..
naflack
Jul 22, 2013 at 1:22 pm
The best ever has 18 majors!
jtopher
Jul 23, 2013 at 7:02 am
That is the truth!!
Until he gets 19 he is NOT the best ever. I am a fan of Tiger, but he is not the same player that won those Majors before. It’s not a lack of respect theses articles are giving. He does not intimidate anymore, cannot get to the top by showing up, and everybody knows there is not one comeback victory on his list of Majors.
Gary Murray
Jul 23, 2013 at 8:35 pm
That’s right I don’t see him getting to the greatest as we all know that’s Jack and you never saw Jack cuss and act the way tigger does VERY POOR ROLL MODEL
ThumbsUp
Jul 24, 2013 at 3:33 pm
There is not much wrong with Tiger’s game. Four wins this year and in with a chance to win several majors recently prove this. However, it has been 5 years since his last major and it is something he really really wants. However, the longer it goes the greater the pressure and it is interesting that he frequently does well during the first three days of a major only to fail miserably on the last day.It is almost like he has inherited the title of being the best player never to have won a major (during the past 5 years) and he just can’t cope with the expectations. I am a Tiger fan but I don’t think he will win another major let alone beat Jack’s record.
stephenf
Jul 29, 2013 at 12:08 pm
By what measure is he the “best ever,” even leaving aside the question of character (which shouldn’t be left aside, in this game)?
He has fewer majors than Nicklaus and fewer overall wins on the American tour than Snead. He has way, way fewer overall wins than Player or De Vicenzo worldwide. And he’s done this in an era when nobody has come near the quality of Snead’s or Nicklaus’s top competition.
Go ahead. Make your case. Try to do it without resorting to ridiculous made-up stats like “win rate,” though, since they never existed before the drooling, hyperventilating need to find fake statistics to convince people that Woods was the “best ever.”
Arthur J
Jul 22, 2013 at 11:25 am
Muirfield is a par-71.
Jon
Jul 22, 2013 at 11:19 am
What can one say about Tiger? Tiger is what Tiger does on and off the course. Pay back is tough.
jamie
Jul 22, 2013 at 5:28 pm
I find this amazing, we got to witness one of the great last rounds ever put together at the open sunday, a great champion, a great golfer, a class human being full stop.
But still the tiger woods drum keeps beating, I for one was happy to see him come up short, simply because he does have the class of jack Nicklaus and I for one want the 18 target to remain with the greatest of all, who was that on and off the course.
Mike
Jul 23, 2013 at 6:11 pm
Well said, I totally agree.
Gary Murray
Jul 23, 2013 at 8:32 pm
GREAT COMMENT
Dan
Jul 24, 2013 at 11:51 am
I agree, Jack is the greatest, on and off the course. Class counts for something in this game. This is a gentleman’s game, not the NBA/NFL/MLB where Tiger’s behavior would be overlooked or celebrated, sadly.
stephenf
Jul 29, 2013 at 12:01 pm
You have just put your finger on exactly what is wrong with the pro game today. In its never-ending obsession for bigger money and bigger ratings, the PGA Tour has thrown in with the rest of pro sports, and so a large percentage of what pass for golf “fans” today expect no better behavior or character out of Tiger Woods than they do out of Kobe Bryant or any other adulterous, vulgar, self-indulgent pro athlete.
There is no reason in the world why the standards of character, class, and behavior that applied to every other #1 player in the history of the game ought not to apply to Tiger Woods. Period.
matt
Jul 24, 2013 at 5:39 pm
May I say that every golfer in world golf is training as wood’s did many years ago . Basically they have caught up . They are on the same fitness levels now .
skyler
Aug 19, 2013 at 1:52 pm
Well said. Tiger single-handedly turned competitive golf into a year-round sport including a weight, aerobics, flexibility, chiropractic and diet regimen. Much like Jerry Rice changed pro football’s off-season training regimen and introduced chiropractic care.
Danno
Jul 25, 2013 at 8:21 am
You said “he does have the class of Jack Nicklaus”, I’m sure you forgot the “not”. I loved the comment made Sunday and I quote “When Tiger misses he swears, when Mickelson misses he blames himself” Tiger is still a spoiled punk kid and the media is partially responsible for putting him on this ill-deserved pedestal.
t120
Jul 28, 2013 at 1:28 am
Golf isn’t’ about class, hell, it isn’t even about sportsmanship. It is a game selfish individuals play for ego. Pure and simple. You and I love the game because it’s “the game”, but on a professional level, it’s “the records”. Don’t fault him for trying. Class or not (and I’ll admit he doesn’t make you want to like him) he’s out there to break records. Same as Jack did, same as Jones did, same as some 19 year old will do in 10 years.
stephenf
Jul 29, 2013 at 12:05 pm
What a sad commentary on the state of the game, that somebody like you can post that the game isn’t and never was about “class.” You could not be more wrong.
It has nothing to do with whether people “like” Woods or his behavior. It has to do with class and character. A lot of people didn’t find Hogan very friendly, didn’t “like” him in any normal sense of the word. But Hogan saved his wife’s life by throwing himself across her body in a head-on collision, and was faithful to her all his life. Woods had sex with a variety of women while married, thus humiliating and betraying both his wife and his children. He also can’t be bothered to control his on-camera profanity — because, apparently, as his apologists tell us, it’s our job to adjust to him, not his to adjust to the traditional behavioral standards of the game.
It is certainly “about” class. Those who believe otherwise are missing the point entirely.
Jay
Jul 24, 2013 at 11:20 am
What an idiotic statement