Has Tiger got the chip yips?

For the 3rd day running Tiger is duffing his chips from just off the green, as someone who has struggled with short game issues over the years I am concerned for Tiger as I believe this problem is not technical and is more a mental issue, especially if the problem persists as it seems to be doing in this tournament for Tiger. He says it is all part of the process when changing your swing as he is doing with his new coach to experience a few problems but I fear there may be more to his short game problems than he is saying. Tiger is always extremely positive and he would never admit that he experienced any negative thoughts over the ball, I hope I am wrong in my assessment but only he really knows what is going through his mind as he approaches these short shots, I do know from painfull personal experience that the longer the problem persists the more difficult it is to overcome.I was really looking forward to watching how Tiger performs this week and to me he seems to be swinging really well and in my opinion his swing seems to be smoother and flowing much better than when he first starting working with Sean Foley but to compete at Tigers level his whole game has to be tip top. I hope for Tigers sake this week is just an anomaly , time will tell.

Some reports are saying he is, or has been sick. Running a fever and such during the first round. Perhaps that might be a problem.

Chipping yips? I am not so sure. Maybe. Yips to me are a mental problem associated with fear. Fear of missing the the shot, and/or thinking too hard about not missing it.  Tiger has never been fearful of anything in the past where golf is concerned. Nothing that I know of anyways.

Perhaps he has not spent enough time on his short game, and it is lagging behind. He might be thinking too much about his long game, and how his back, knees, or heels  will react.

The scores he is posting right now are not important. What is important, if true,  is that he is making all his full swings with out any pain.

Another problem that might be considered is that there is something else physical he needs to over come to get his short game back. Maybe there is a balance issue when standing over a shorter shot. Maybe a visual problem. No one knows for sure, and like anyone else other than Tiger himself,  I am speculating at best.

Two competitive rounds after his lay off  are just another beginning, and should not be considered normal play on his part.

He's been trying to hit a shot that requires absolute precision. Most of the time, it's not a problem for him to hit those chips and nip it right under the ball, but he's not been precise like the shot requires. An inch or two fat and that's what happens.

I'd put it as a reaction to being away from the game for such a long time. Both hitting shots and playing competitively. We've seen this before IIRC.

I'll leave this quote here from Zach Johnson. I believe Jimmy Walker had his troubles yesterday as well. If this persists even at different courses, then maybe it's something other than grass, rust, etc

"It's not him, it's the grass," said Zach Johnson. "We're all doing it. I've flubbed two chips this week. It's a very fine line out here."

Read more: http://www.golf.com/tour-and-news/tiger-woods-gets-sick-golf-course-then-plays-well-hero-world-challenge#ixzz3LDpFbHnL

I would say it is a combination of things. Definitely having mental issues now but others have had difficulty with the grain and density of the grass. If you notice, they kind of "chunk" at the ball because the club won't pass through. Normally that shot is used in deep rough but they are using it in fairway conditions. Lack of practice with this condition and some focus too I believe is also a part. I think he will get past it but it's going to take exposure to tournament rounds.

Here's hoping it's just a blip this week and he gets all parts of his game firing on all cylinders, although I am a massive Nicklaus fan I would love to see Tiger win another few Majors, roll on 2015.

Jimmy Walker should have been penalized on his flub (Rule 23-1) because he fixed his divot as the ball rolled back toward him. A case can be made for Tiger as well when he did the same thing on Thursday on his flubbed chip on 17. I'm guessing the rules officials are being generous this week due to the fact that this is not an official event, but I think they would have acted differently in a real Tour event.

Tiger's case was reviewed and no wrongdoing was deemed to have occurred, I don't know what happened to Walker's case. I don't know why officials will be generous with golf rules in a tournament that offers world ranking points, it will be a disservice to other members of the tour not in the event.

I think he'll figure it out.

i think its technical i think he's got the ball too far back in his stance too much forward shaft lean and using the leading edge too much. he has got to use the bounce on that type of grass. but chris como will probably fix his chipping before 2015!

It's not like Tiger has been a stellar chipper by any means, even his days under Haney there was much room for improvement. Haney eluded to it in "The Big Miss".

That explains his high standing in scrambling in years gone by.

We're u an Englash techer?

To the previous point, Jimmy Walker should've definitely been penalized. Tiger no.

Golf is a Bottom-line sport.

And if you're at bottom yourself, you ought to feel awful about it. Tiger is not used to this feeling. I hope he dioesn't make a habit out of this.