Opinion & Analysis
4 things Tiger Woods needs to quit before he has to quit
I am a huge Tiger Woods fan, and I admire what he has done for the game and how he has impacted a new generation of golfers by making golf cool — but I have officially reached the end of my rope with him.
Like everyone else, I’m sick of hearing about his process, reps, release patterns and explosiveness right now, and I don’t know how much more I can take. I’m even more sick of watching the most dominant golfer of all time embarrass himself with three scores in the 80s in the past 15 rounds. That’s like watching an average golfer shoot 150 from the white tees.
Maybe better golf is right around the corner for Tiger Woods, but even as I write those words I’m shaking my head and thinking “It’s definitely not.” Tiger is so far off track, and that’s why he’d be better off to quit golf right now if he plans to carry on the way he has these past two years.
Before the Tiger fans come hunt me down and beat me up, let me explain my stance and why I feel the way I do. I have been a tournament player and a teacher for more than 22 years, and I have an understanding to some degree of what he is going through and the frustration he is feeling. His rapid decline is something that many professional golfers go through, and the ones who bounce back are those who can put their egos aside and accept that they are not working on the right things. They learn from the feedback golf always provides, tap back into their natural ability and almost always see their results improve.
But is Tiger Woods actually learning anything right now? His celebrity might eclipse more than the game of golf, but the golf gods have no sympathy for a golfer who won’t listen to what his scores are telling him.
Here are four things Tiger needs to do before he quits, and if he refuses to quit then it’s better that he quits the game right now.
Quit trying so hard and caring so much
There is a difference between trying “hard” and trying “too hard.” Few golfers have not worked themselves into a tizzy on the course. In this mode, golfers are trying so hard that they can’t even execute the simplest shots.
Think about putting: How many times have you practiced tirelessly on the putting green only to get on the course and let the pressure of a short putt cause you to miss most of them, if not all of them?
This is where Tiger is with his golf game right now, driver through putter.
At some point, golfers have to stop trying so hard and trust that the practice they’ve put in, along with their natural ability, will allow great shots to happen. Tiger has fallen into the trap of trying too hard and must allow himself some levity so he can enjoy the fruits of his labors again.
Quit being so hyper-focused on mechanics
Within the golf instruction world, we all know that Tiger is a hard player to teach, and it’s not a secret that he directs the teaching process where he wants it to go. All experienced teachers have gone through this with one or more players, but with Tiger it’s different.
How hard it must be to convince one of the greatest golfers of all time that working on his mechanics right now will only hinder his progress.
The type-A personality that Tiger possesses has served him well up to this point, but it’s clear that his focus is almost entirely on mechanical perfection, not winning golf tournaments.
Tiger’s previous coaches — Butch Harmon, Hank Haney, Sean Foley and now Chris Como — all know what they are doing, and I can say this because I know all of them personally. If asked, they would all say that Tiger needs to step back and remember that there has never been one perfect golf swing in golf history, and that all golfers possess idiosyncrasies that they have to work around.
Sure, golfers can always get better… but where would Jack Nicklaus have been if he’d have tried to “fix” his flying right elbow? Where would Lee Trevino and Fred Couples be if they tried to aim straight? What would have happened to Furyk if he refused to play with his non-conventional backswing? I guarantee that we would have never heard from them.
Tiger is in the wrong mode right now, trying to “fix” everything he sees and not letting Chris Como help him make his idiosyncrasies work for him.
Quit taking time off
Players of all levels know that there is a huge difference between working on your game on the range and on the course with your buddies and playing in tournaments where your score actually matters. There is no substitution for playing tournament golf, and even the best golfers in the world cannot exactly replicate the stress of a tournament. That’s why those who don’t play much tournament golf cannot improve their game as fast as those who do.
“Every bad tournament day you have is one day closer to you playing well again,” my father used to say. Sometimes time off is good for golfers, but Tiger has taken more time off for one reason or another than any of his peers since his last major victory, the 2008 U.S. Open. Clearly his current tournament schedule is not working. The last thing he needs to do is go back home to the range and worry about this and that with his body, setup and swing. He needs to get back into a tournament rhythm so he can start playing golf, not golf swing, for a change.
Quit forgetting that you have the best instincts on the PGA Tour
Tiger had (and probably still has) one of the best minds for the game of golf, and his instincts and feel for the shot at hand was in a league of its own. He has since lost that, allowing his mind to wander off on other tangents that have made things that used to come easy to him very difficult.
Let’s take Tiger’s chipping, for example. How can the the golfer who hit so many great flop shots under pressure on the final holes of major championships get the chipping yips? The only way a player loses the very best parts of his game is when they allow their instincts and feel to be compromised by something else, another more dominant thought. They starting thinking: “My club is out of position,” or “I need to do this or that on the way down” while they are playing.
Tiger has forgotten how to use his mind and experience to his advantage, and has morphed into a golfer who now hits cold tops from the fairway in major championships. The solution? Go back to hitting big hooks and slices, low shots and high shots, stingers and spinners in practice until you can begin to trust your talent again. When golfers vary their practice in this way, their mechanics almost always improve because they shift their focus from making a perfect swing to making a perfect shot.
As I said, I am a huge Tiger fan and think he’s great for our game, but if he does not quit what he is currently doing then he’s done as a threat to win major championships. No one can alter Tiger’s mindset and reverse the road he’s traveled except Tiger — not Butch Harmon, Hank Haney, Sean Foley or Chris Como.
Tiger’s problem is not his mechanics or the instruction he’s getting. It’s Tiger!
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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j
Aug 16, 2015 at 11:29 pm
I think it is simple
– Get out of the limelight
– Play more golf in Europe or any where else outside of the United States
– Stop thinking so much
– Stop trying to change your swing
– Get back to basics
Dr. Fitzgerald
Jul 22, 2015 at 11:44 am
honestly, he went into rehab at one point and likely they suggested some prescription medication to help him through the anxiety and depression. those medications can be powerful. then he is expected to go back on tour and hit a little white ball within millimeters of accuracy after starting a new medication that alters brain chemistry to some degree. that could be at play here.
shabby
Jul 10, 2015 at 11:45 am
Tiger should hold hands with bubbs and jump off a tall building
Speedy
Jul 3, 2015 at 10:15 pm
How ’bout, Quit being a jerk.
As much as some can't stand him....
Jul 1, 2015 at 3:17 pm
Tiger dominated for a long period of time. I don’t believe the players (greats) he is compared to played with as great of a field as he has had in his era. I just think the game is much more competitive then it was 30 years ago, and yes there have been some modern day great players, but none have done what tiger did for such a long period of time. How would ex. Jack play with the players on tour today? We will never know. But we do know tiger did it and crushed it for years. Whether people like him or not, what he did to the game and for the game will probably never be repeated. Will Speith or Ror’s stay on top for as long? Yet to be seen, but I have seen short periods of dominance out of players today, but nothing compared to what tiger has done for years. It’s sad, and I hope he doesn’t “jerry rice it”, but I think there were greats in the past, but in my opinion those greats wouldn’t fair as well as tiger did against the crop in past 15-20 years. Just my .02
Dennis Clark
Jun 30, 2015 at 5:05 pm
insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result
leo
Jun 29, 2015 at 4:50 pm
during tiger’s days of true dominance he was one of if not the longest player on tour. those days are gone he will never be the longest of the top players. while tiger has gotten shorter especially in relation to other players the courses have gotten longer.the stinger shot is mostly obsolete except in cases of very firm fast courses the same holds true for using exclusively less than driver off the tee.he can’t spot today’s tour players 20-30 yds off the tee and hope to win consistently.he must fix his problems with the driver first.Quit trying to move the ball so much off the tee.decide which shape he can regularly find the fairway at a distance he can be competitive and go with that 90% of the time,be it draw or fade.bubba watson just won hitting fades almost exclusively when hitting driver, patrick reed is having success with almost all draws off the tee.when tiger tries to hit those big fades off the tee it usually results in a double cross pull or a swipe to the right.if tiger could start finding some fairways while still hitting driver and be able to visualize a consistent shot shape i think he can win again and even sneak in 1 or 2 more majors. he still fares pretty well at the masters and the quirky courses in scotland with firm wide fairways are his best shot.i totally agree with points 3 and 4 in the article i guarantee tiger never shoots 80 in a practice round. as to plying more tiger always played a limited schedule and with his history of injuries playing a lot may not be an option
Tony Lynam
Jun 29, 2015 at 10:44 am
Great article Tom, the truth on so many levels. Also Tiger, more than anything, needs to find peace in his life and that peace will only come from a relationship with Jesus Christ and not some fat golden statue named Buddah.
Thaiger Woods
Jul 12, 2015 at 9:19 pm
@Tony Lynam
I have 2 words for you !!
Richard Dawkins
Artsontop
Jul 21, 2015 at 3:05 am
Amen, Tony!
It is so refreshing to see real men of real charachter and substance prosper in this game today. Zach Johnson, in winning The Open is humble and thankful for his God given talents and success.
Appreciative that he plays golf for a living! Jordan Spieth, a product of Dallas Jesuit, of the same mold. Did anyone notice Zach and Louis Oosthuizen share pleasantries as they walked 17 and 18 in the playoff? NEVER would you have seen the self absorbed, arrogant, ego filled Tiger Woods share such moments with his competitors…
Oldplayer
Jun 25, 2015 at 5:51 pm
Good article Tom. Relevant points well made.
Just remember one and all that golf is a tough game and that inside every great player is a bad player trying to get out!
PFTaylor
Jun 25, 2015 at 4:45 pm
To my eye, Tiger looks like a washed up ex-steroid juicing athlete. That explains a lot. Just take a look at those baseball players who no longer take steroids (Ryan Howard, et al). Their power numbers look “normal”, their bat is slow, and they are on their way out of the game.
Getting back to Tiger, since his name was on the list MLB uncovered from Biogenisis, if it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck…
Larry Fox
Jun 24, 2015 at 11:13 pm
Tiger was fine till he started playing golf with the President. I think government scientist found a way to swap his talents with the Presidents. When we hear about Obama shooting a 66 at the club we will
know i was right. You heard it here first.
talljohn777
Jun 24, 2015 at 4:09 pm
Pretty simple, Tiger needs to stop practicing and start playing lots and lots of tournament golf.
Tom Wishon
Jun 24, 2015 at 3:33 pm
Surfing channels last night I caught part of The Golf Channel’s “Golf Greatest Rounds” showing Tiger’s final round in the 2000 Open Championship at St Andrews when he shot 20 under and won by two miles. The replay made note of the fact between June 1999 and July 2000, he won 13 of the 23 tournaments he entered.
It only took seeing one swing during that replay to be shocked at his swing today vs then. No dip down and up, no right elbow outside the right hip, no getting jammed through the ball – he stayed level through the ball with a very consistent posture from back to follow through. Aggressive but very simple, stable and balanced. I could not help thinking, I wonder if he really looked at this 2000 round whether he could just go swing like that again.
Probably not since paralysis from over analysis seems to be approaching a fatal stage with him now. It’s too bad. While one certainly can criticize his behavior and demeanor over the years, solid playing Tiger was good for golf and good for increasing interest in the game.
Perhaps Jordan can achieve that so the game has a very strong ambassador to bring more people into the game.
Jimmy
Jun 24, 2015 at 1:10 pm
I am sick of hearing statements like……”most dominant golfer of all time”. For a while he was dominant but there are others that could be considered “most dominant golfer of all time”.
Lion Irons
Jun 24, 2015 at 3:02 pm
Who else has won a MAJOR by 15?
I’m not saying he’s the only ‘dominant’ golfer, but you say it like there are dozens of others. In reality, there are a select few that are even worth considering.
mike
Jun 25, 2015 at 12:01 am
In all seriousness, Tiger is the greatest golfer ever even if he hangs it up right now.
In the history of golf, there has never been any golfer considered the #1 athlete in the world. Tiger reigned supreme as not the best golfer but as the #1 athlete in the world for no less than 10 years following MJ’s final championship.
Think about it. A “GOLFER” being considered the greatest athlete in the world for over a decade. That is a monumental accomplishment to say the least.
Jason
Jun 24, 2015 at 1:07 pm
Precisely what I was thinking. Tiger needs to stop trying to find the perfect angles, plane, etc and just let his natural talents/instinct take over. This is like Michael Jordan worrying about his running mechanics instead of just getting the ball to go in the hoop anyway he can.
Ct
Jun 24, 2015 at 2:25 pm
Tiger needs more strange (p—y) in his life to get back to the top!!!
Steven Thomas
Jun 24, 2015 at 12:22 pm
Tom:
I just wonder if the desire is still there.
Tom
Jun 24, 2015 at 11:44 am
Tiger will be fun to watch a) continuing his down fall b) when he starts to come back. I am excited to watch golf with the game’s current greats. If Tiger can be part of it, wonderful. But if he continues to stink it up, pls keep the cameras off him and don’t let him be a story line. Right now he’s a 10 handicap.
Craig B
Jun 24, 2015 at 11:41 am
One Person who he should take a look at is Martin Ayers
Craig B
Jun 24, 2015 at 11:37 am
Having been a caddy on both sides of the pond in recent years, to which i have now retired and running a Golf Business day to day. The business that i now operate is to what people know as “Custom Fitting” but this is what all these big outlets call it but basically it’s trial and error and thats a FACT!! My business is that i optimise your equipment from Driver to putter none of this trial and error rubbish.
So to the point, Tiger’s equipment is all over the shop from when i last saw what he’s playing with theres no stability within in his shafts to what he’s playing. When i last saw his driver had a 60g shaft in it and his 3 wood was a 103, this is just complete bonkers!!! going from one club to the next he doesn’t know what feeling he has with his clubs, he needs to get this sorted first off as you can’t tell me its just down to what these so called Coaches are doing with him!! They’re all yes men and afraid to say anything as they’ll be off the payroll, go back to Butch that’s if he would have him back and start from there.
Hazen
Jun 24, 2015 at 11:30 am
Tiger needs to play a few rounds with Charles Barkley. That’ll make him feel better, a morale booster if you will. 😉
Jayw
Jun 24, 2015 at 5:03 am
Most of us are raised to be quitters. We are told that if we don’t succeed in certain areas then we will grow up to be failures. We are programmed to be fearful of failure. People are like animals in that when we see someone like Tiger struggling and hurting, to attack. People start laughing, heckling, put downs and whatever else, ( like to much advice), will finish him off. Tiger accomplished what he did because he was raised and told to go ahead and keep plugging away and to block out all of the mean and hateful things that people will throw at you. I believe that Tiger should do whatever he decides to do pertaining to his golf, since it’s his life and his golf game. If Tiger thought like everyone else he would be just like everyone else would have quit a long time ago. There is no one else that could stand up in front of the world and do what he’s doing and take all the meanness that the world has to offer. That shows what Tiger is really made of. It’s really like comparing us (mice) to a Tiger.
Nathan
Jun 24, 2015 at 1:01 am
Y’all got it wrong.
Tiger needs to do exactly what he used to do. Play golf, go back to hotel room think about what he had to do and just do it! Come out the next day relaxed as and play golf again.
Simple really
The stuff he would do in the hotel room with those ahh stars.
That’s the stuff missing from his game.
Bring it back tiger, you know it’s the only way
mike
Jun 23, 2015 at 10:57 pm
He needs a girlfriend. If you know what I mean…
There is one thing that is extremely important to men whether we would like to admit it or not.
This is the reason half of all commercials on the golf channel are about the blue pill or it’s counterparts.
The downfall started the day he got caught. Not sure why the public was so outraged about a personal matter. Not saying what he did was right but in all seriousness, it isn’t a big deal.
Tiger will play better or even dominate again if he stops trying to be like Jack Nicklaus and starts living free like Jack Nicholson.
Bruce Ferguson
Jun 23, 2015 at 5:56 pm
On top of those four things, I might add a fifth: be fan friendly. High-five the kids and sign some autographs, dialog a little with the gallery, loosen up. A player going through a bad patch needs fan empathy, and these days, I’d hate to hear some of the murmuring going on in the galleries when Tiger tops a shot or chokes on a putt.
other paul
Jun 23, 2015 at 9:09 am
This is the most I have ever disagreed with something you wrote Tom. Tiger needs to quit Chris Como and fly to Hawaii for a month or two and be with Kelvin Miyahira. Or at least talk to Lucas Wald. These guys are so far ahead of what everyone else is doing its silly.
Billy
Jun 23, 2015 at 4:51 am
I also sick of people blasting Tiger, it’s probably the lamest thing you can do right now, but we can certainly all learn from this article. Thats if you ever played a tournament, or tried to be competetive on any level.
Amado villanueva
Jun 23, 2015 at 4:06 am
KARMA PENDEJO
Tom Stickney
Jun 23, 2015 at 12:59 am
Jeff*– my thought was not to tear Tiger down but in fact help him understand what he needs to do to improve. I’m sick of the fact that he’s going about it the wrong way and robbing us of his great play from years past.
Stretch
Jun 24, 2015 at 12:57 pm
Great article! The readers have hovered around the root of Tiger’s problem. When he came out on tour his power created shots that demoralized his opponents. He created today’s bomb and gouge style of playing. His changing of coaches and styles is a need to get back to physical dominance which will not happen as the younger generations are bigger, stronger and faster. Technically he tries to create power and two problems arise. Too much energy in the transition lays the club down and back into the stuck position leading to hitting far right and left shots. Second the dipping of the head to create ground forces that can create some extra power leads to the thin and fat hits. Combining the two problems is creating all manor of havoc and seems to eliminate hitting the ball in position where his putting and short game superiority can create the winning game he still has lurking.
Jeff*
Jun 22, 2015 at 9:53 pm
Dude gave us the best golf we’ve ever seen, for a decade. Sorry to hear you’re sick of him, by winning the players in 2013, he’s qualified to play on tour 8 more years. Pretty sure he’s earned the right to tee it up.
You’re nobody. It doesn’t take courage to pile on. Congrats, you have readers. What I’m getting sick of is self-serving sentences that start with, “hey I’m a huge tiger fan”…BUT, pile on, pile on, profess to have solution, take a few more shots about how he should have been nicer all along and close it up with, “so I’m hoping he does get it back,” which you’re not, because nobody cares what Tom Stickney has to say about Tiger if he’s playing well.
So, you’ve got a lot of people to read what you wrote about Tigers slump. Slump working out pretty well for you, as it makes your information more important, certainly more urgent, being a golf teacher. The problem is I’ve read the same article a hundred times now. It’s not taking the high road or being a Tiger Woods fan, sorry. The high road means not highlighting the struggle of others for personal gain. See ya Tom.
I was alays a bit of a Tom Stickney fan, I respected him as a teacher, but as a golfer he just should have had the sense to not tear down someone who conquered golf, as a writer, just because it could get more people to view his work, so, I am SICK of Tom Stickney. I’ll watch Tiger play golf til the day I die.
Dan Nichele
Jun 23, 2015 at 3:31 am
Settle down fanboy! Gee dry your eyes princess
Jack
Jun 24, 2015 at 10:26 pm
He WAS the best golfer. Now he’s near the bottom. Everyone can see that he’s struggling. And most think that he is struggling because he keeps changing his swing. Not sure what was wrong with the one with Butch or Hank since he won plenty with them. Now he wants to change again. It didn’t work with his last coach and it’s not working with Como. Stop dicking around and just play what you body wants you to do. He’s fighting so much against his instincts.
Ilsompati
Jun 22, 2015 at 9:53 pm
Karma baby………it is simply karma.
Ryan K
Jun 22, 2015 at 9:17 pm
All I really got from that was apparently Jim Furyk has a bass ackwards swing. Thanks Tom! Ha
Mark
Jun 22, 2015 at 7:28 pm
Tiger needs to speak to Jack about course management. Nicklaus’s biggest weapon was his brain. He didn’t try to blast it if it didn’t need blasted. And as already said he must play more events. Try 3 or 4 on the bounce. Play some courses you haven’t before and be prepared to go out in non-marquee groups. And dare I say he needs to do a Phil and get a mini driver that he can shape and keep in play?
Mitch
Jun 22, 2015 at 7:22 pm
plus he seems to be injury free
Matto
Jun 22, 2015 at 6:55 pm
Just stop trying to hit the ball so godamn hard for christ’s sake!!!! Just peel it back to even 85-90% when the long sticks are in the hand. His swing (with that now huge head lowering move) has never looked more brutal and aggressive……but not in a good way. It just looks like it’s out of control and that it hurts!
Sacrifice 20 off the tee and hit the fairways for starters.
Hints
Jun 22, 2015 at 6:30 pm
I don’t think it has anything to do with his “mechanics” and you don’t become a great sportsman without great instincts. It has everything to do with his head and specifically his ego and self image. At his best he “knew absolutely” he could do anything. I mean on the course and also in his private life. He was at the pinnacle of sport and life. He was able to express himself entirely without the constraints that self doubt impose on normal human beings. His behaviour off the golf course mirrored this, he felt entitled, deserved and as with with shot making, he pushed the envelope to the limit. When he was exposed it cracked not only his personal life but his persona as well. His downfall was swift and complete. His grubby goings on were laid bare for the world to see and the people he relied on washed their hands of him. He was alone for the first time in years and it must have forced him to take a long hard look at himself and I think he didn’t like much what he saw.
I don’t believe he can get back to the top of the game. I think he thinks he can, and that is why he is so tough on himself but his inner image has been shattered and the voice in his head now says “I think I can” instead of “I KNOW I can.”
The next generation of golfers, some of whom would have been inspired by his bold, exciting style are now breaking through. Time to be easier on yourself Tiger. Try and smile a little and you may start to enjoy yourself a tiny bit more. Crowds can warm to a fading champ, but they don’t like Mr Grumpy, just ask Colin Montgomerie….
cody
Jun 22, 2015 at 6:08 pm
he for all intents and purposes is done. Start the na, na, na, na goodbyes.
Matt H
Jun 22, 2015 at 6:02 pm
Matt Hirshland
I think #2 is the most important. He needs to play more tournaments. He swings beautifully on the range and can hit any shot he wants. Get him on the course, and we all know what happens. If he truly believes in “more reps” then they need to be 18 holes at a time. Forget the range. Get on the course and get comfortable playing in tournaments again.
cb
Jun 22, 2015 at 6:02 pm
tom, from a mechanics perspective would you like to see tiger have his hands higher on the backswing? he’s always had this natural dropping on the downswing, and in the 2001 era swing his hands were higher and they would drop on plane. now his backswing is more on plane but then his hands often drop below and thats when he gets “stuck” and has to flip it or block it. just a thought, and always love your articles
Mitch
Jun 22, 2015 at 5:05 pm
why do people keep mentioning Butch? first of all, how much time is butch willing to commit to tiger? tiger needs to figure this sh$t out himself. he is totally lost right now. Case in point, Wednesday afternoon before the US Open, you see him on the range, he isn’t rehearsing any pattern or working on anything because he is hopelessly searching for that “feeling”, all the years I have watched him, he is either working on a particular shape or even something mechanical. Right now he can’t self correct on the range or on the course. He can’t differentiate why he is hitting a bad shot or worse yet why he hit a good shot. Historically even when he tore down his swing, he could at least hack it around and place top 40 at worst. I don’t know if his philosophical approach is not matching up with his new body, or if he has a lingering injury. Either way there is a major disconnect between what he wants to do vs what he is able to accomplish. This is arguably the greatest golfer and athlete we have ever seen yet he can’t even hit functional shots after all this time off? I would say whatever he has been doing the last few months, put a stop to it. Go play some tennis, call up Derek Jeter and learn to throw side arm. His hips and legs look strong and he seems to moving them in a sequence similar to Ben Hogan, but his hand path is so out of sync that he has no other option but to rely on impeccable timing to square up the face.
Tom – I thought Chris Como was big on how the arms and hands move during the transition? Surely they can see from video that Tiger’s hand path is dropping down rather than at the ball, its almost like he wants to reverse what him and Foley were working on?
Steve
Jun 22, 2015 at 4:50 pm
Its over guys, 25 year old Tiger is gone. What is left is a scrap heap of swing thoughts and over thinking. Alot of mental and physical scar tissue. When his kids are old enough and wonder why mom and dad got to divorced, all they do is google and find out of much of a jerk he was. All this has to weigh on his game. His dad passing, his divorce, swing coach after swing coach, different caddy. He is 205 in OWGR and sinking fast. Every hack in the world knows what is wrong with him, maybe this is how it ends. Epic flame out
Mitch
Jun 22, 2015 at 5:10 pm
From my perspective Tiger’s off course life is probably at one of the best times in his career. He is financially set for life and he is happy. his golf game just sucks right now.
Steve
Jun 22, 2015 at 5:14 pm
He has been fianacially set since he signed with Nike almost twenty years ago. Why do you think off course is the happiest in years?
Mitch
Jun 22, 2015 at 7:21 pm
He seems at ease when he arrives at tournaments. he isn’t stand offish in the past. He doesn’t have to deal with any off course distractions. he is after all a bachelor again, and he has the means and ability do whatever he wants outside the ropes. what more can a golfer ask for?
Steve
Jun 22, 2015 at 7:49 pm
You could be right, who knows what in his head. It is just hard for me to believe that the struggles on course are physical. Physically he is not capable of playing high level golf? Or mentality not capable?
Slimeone
Jun 23, 2015 at 4:34 am
I don’t think he’s at ease. I think he knows that he has no game to justify acting like a tool anymore. He’s also trying to be nice to the other players so they treat him gently. If only Sergio had some game he would punish Tiger but he’s about as inept as Tiger at the moment.
Freddie A. Davis
Jun 23, 2015 at 2:09 pm
I’m sure in your heart that’s the case but thank God your feelings or opinions don’t have any weight in his outcome. If he never wins again he’ll be fine. He is a great golf player, his tournament wins say so and he’s more than capable of righting his ship. As far as being a jerk I’m sure that’s some peoples view of you, it certainly is mine.
Dr Troy
Jun 22, 2015 at 4:10 pm
Totally agree with your article, Tom!
jgpl001
Jun 22, 2015 at 4:02 pm
Well written and spot on
We are sick of the Tiger nonsense now
A few more things he needs to do:
1. Eat humble pie and phone Butch
2. Just go out and play, loose the intensity
3. Don’t bag a driver, his current mechanics are a mess
4. Where is the stinger 2 iron gone? – he could have walked around Chambers Bay with this tee shot
Greg V
Jun 22, 2015 at 3:15 pm
I don’t particularly like Tiger – he comes off as a spoiled brat – but I would like to see him play well again. To me, he looks impatient at the end of his backswing, as if he can’t wait to get the shot over with. First hole, second round at Chambers Bay, Tiger hit a decent drive in the fairway. Then his swing looked impatient on the second shot, and it was all downhill from there. A good swing has sequencing. Jack Nicklaus knew this, and called it “collecting” at the top. You can’t hit it with your backswing. You also can’t hit it decently when you lurch at the ball from the top.
Unfortunately, to get from here to there, he probably needs a much greater sense of inner peace. And a more supple, less ripped, upper body.
Dunce
Jun 22, 2015 at 2:55 pm
how about the things he needs to start doing, smiling
Brian
Jun 22, 2015 at 2:07 pm
My teachers would say to just go at it 80% and get the ball in the fairway. No one ever told me to “be explosive.” Just saying. I bet he could shoot a 75.
Sideshow Rob
Jun 22, 2015 at 2:04 pm
I agree with all your points. Hopefully he reads your article and puts his ego aside. The great player he was is still in there somewhere…
JE
Jun 22, 2015 at 1:58 pm
Well said Tom.
Damone’s (modified) Five Point Plan:
1. Take driver out of bag and throw into lake. Big lake.
2. Always call the shots.
3. Act like wherever you are – that’s the place to be.
4. Make peace with who you are. It’s a classy move.
5. When it comes to making out, whenever possible, put on side one of Led Zeppelin IV.
Relax Tiger. No one is going to ever do what you did for golf. You can take it easy now and have fun. We will still like you.
Winmac80
Jun 23, 2015 at 1:25 am
I think this is the best comment of all. Especially the last 2 lines.
Gubby
Jun 22, 2015 at 1:50 pm
Tiger is in a dark place right now. He is very caught up with mechanics. Guy has one of the best swings in the world and he keeps tinkering and building new ones, not sure why. He seem to almost have an obsessive compulsive personality even going back to his personal problems.
He needs to get out his own way and just start swinging again. I wish he and Butch could put egos aside and get start working again. They have a chance at history.
Pat M
Jun 22, 2015 at 2:04 pm
He or his sponsors need to pay Butch $4 million a year and Steve Williams $4 million a year to work with Tiger. Tiger needs to apologize to Butch and Stevie.
Adam Scott was in nowheres-ville until Stevie came back.
I think most of Tiger’s success had to do with Steve Williams. Tiger without Steve = no majors. Without Butch and Steve – there will be no way back for Tiger.
Patricknorm
Jun 22, 2015 at 4:16 pm
Your not wrong but it’s never going to happen. Tiger has burned so many bridges that there are many who are quietly enjoying this tragedy unfold. Professional golf is in a good place right now. We witnessed perhaps one of the best golfers of all time until his five win season in 2013.
Now after back surgery he’s playing catch up where the mind and body are not synchronized . Toms article is a start. Tiger is trying way too hard. He needs to try easy.
Quote attributed to former Yankees pitching coach Mel Stotylmeyer. Giving advice to wired, hyper son Todd who pitched for the Blue Jays in the mid ”90’s.
Pat M
Jun 22, 2015 at 8:22 pm
I agree about burning the bridges. A lot of people do not like him. He must dump the driver. Too many good players are playing now with no fear and no mental or injury issues. People like Spieth and the 21 year old Aussie kid who played very well.
Adam Scott’s turnaround once Stevie showed up was pretty incredible. It took a few days but Adam’s 64 on Sunday was pretty staggering.