Tiger's Incredible Run: What's Standing Out in His Game?

[r7 425]

Is it his driving, short game, putting. We all know hes focused as ever but what has been the X-Factor for Tiger

I feel its his driving accuracy. I havent seen Tiger drive like this since his first Buick Commercial. In all seriousness- I think hes following through with his drive more fully than ever before. Johnny Miller said "His follow through looks like a piece of spaghetti flinging back. I think in the past he was trying to guide the ball with the driver instead of swinging "all the way back"

[NCGolfer]

His will and mental toughness.

Let's face it. Tiger has every shot in the bag...but for him to go on win streaks like this even when he has "off-days" like last Thursday is just testament to his mind. He treats every shot like it is the most important and thinks of nothing else. This is why he holds up under pressure so well...he forgets everthing that happens before and focuses on the shot at hand.

Case and point is the last putt he made. I heard that he hadn't made a single putt outside 20 feet all weekend. He was 0 for 17 or 18...but then he drains a 24 footer? To WIN no less?

It's just stunning. I'm in awe and wonder every time I watch him.

[BASHERBAKER69]

why can't he do it in the Ryder Cup?..is it because he's so much of an individual and not a team player?-not necessarily a bad quality.

bb

[TourSpoon]

His will and mental toughness.

This is the edge that he has on everyone. The hole must look like a basketball hoop to him.

[BASHERBAKER69]

Should we start doing mandatory drugs tests on tour?..they test in tennis and other sports so why not golf?...some people could be suspicious rightly or wrongly about his winning streak because it is just so incredible.

bb

[Wisco-Kid]

His mental game is uncanny. It is almost like he is from another planet. His putting is why he is winning. I have never seen anyone putt like that, I honestly didnt even know it was possible. I just keep shaking my head wondering how in the heck is he doing this? It is exciting to be watching the history that is being made on the golf course everytime he plays!

[Mathwiz]

His mental game is uncanny. It is almost like he is from another planet. His putting is why he is winning. I have never seen anyone putt like that, I honestly didnt even know it was possible. I just keep shaking my head wondering how in the heck is he doing this? It is exciting to be watching the history that is being made on the golf course everytime he plays!

I agree with this totally. It always gets down to putting, long or short, and Tiger is the best putter I have ever seen and I am 49 and have seen a bunch of them. Here is the secret that no one knows about.......Remember when Tiger had the Lasik surgery on his eyes ?..........Thats right.......Those aren't his real eyes. He has bionic eyes.

[iacas]

Should we start doing mandatory drugs tests on tour?..they test in tennis and other sports so why not golf?...some people could be suspicious rightly or wrongly about his winning streak because it is just so incredible.

a) Off-topic, so let's get back on topic. This isn't a discussion about drug testing.

b) Are you unaware of the PGA Tour's drug testing policy? It kicks off in a few months.

[Thrash13]

I don't want to take anything away from Tiger because he is playing better than ever right now. That being said, is anyone else really playing that well right now? A couple years back, it seemed like we had guys playing the best they ever had as well. Phil has a win this season, but he isn't playing lights out by any means. Vijay is playing ok, but he still can't make any putts. Els was ousted in the first round of the Match Play one week, wins the next week, then misses the cut a week later. Stricker hasn't made much noise this season.

Other guys hanging out in the top ten include Adam Scott (where has he been), Justin Rose, Jim Furyk (not playing well), Rory Sabbatini, and Padraig Harrington. To me, this top 10 isn't near as strong and consistent as it was a couple years back. There was actually competition to stay inside the top 10. Right now, whoever doesn't play the worst stays inside the top 10 it seems.

All that rambling may not mean a thing, and Tiger would probably win regardless of how well the other top-10 guys are playing. It just seems like the PGA Tour is "middle" heavy right now and not "top" heavy as far as the World Rankings go. There are a lot of guys in the 20-40 range challenging Tiger a little, but the guys above them really aren't doing much.

Once again, Tiger's streak has been awesome, and I doubt it will end until after the U.S. Open. I just can't see him losing right now, especially with the courses he will be playing in the next month or two. Other than Sawgrass, he has dominated on the courses such as Augusta, Torrey Pines, Muirfield, etc.

Edit: I apologize for not actually answering your original question. Like Dave said, his will and mental toughness has been unmatched since he starting playing golf. At every age level, Tiger has always had the edge in this area.

[Puttin4Bird]

Where to start??

Putting: He is the best putter anyone has ever seen, if he doesn't drain the putt it is always just barely a miss. I cannot believe how well he putts. The 3 putt on Sunday was such a surprise, yet he didn't let it cost him anymore, which leads me to....

Mental: Seriously, has anyone been so focused on anything in this history of the world? He is so good at taking each shot as the most important thing going on in the world at that moment. On Sunday toward the end (I can't remember for sure which hole, sorry) he was totally into the approach shot, meticulously studying the wind until he knew exactly the shot he wanted and pulled the trigger. I know it's not even close, but think of your own game, you go up there, see that the 150 marker is 10 yds away, grab your 8 iron and hit. Other pros are meticulous, but like that? No. He is so good at staying in the moment and concentrating on the shot at hand.

Driving: Now that he is in so much more control of his driver he's absolutely phenomial off the tee. Look at that low laser 3 wood he hit off 18 on Sunday, so cool to watch and absoultely placed as perfectly as could be.

Intimidation Factor: Bay Hill was about the first time people weren't falling all over themselves with him in the hunt, that is a credit to the guys up there this past week. But more often than not once he gets to the top he doesn't give the guys anything.

Plain and simple, he is amazing. I know people get tired of seeing the same guy win every time, but we are getting to witness the greatest golfer, no competitor (all sports included) the world has ever seen. He is so tough mentally and so together physically and so talented that it is literally like watching a perfect specimen at work. You can gripe and moan all you want, sooner or later (probably much later) guys will start beating him and his time will be running out, until then I say we enjoy it and try to take a little piece of his game and apply it to our matches with our buddies. We're lucky to witness him play, that's all there is to it.

There, my Tiger Woods woody is now gone.

[iacas]

I don't want to take anything away from Tiger because he is playing better than ever right now. That being said, is anyone else really playing that well right now?

I think they are - but Tiger's playing so much better that he makes them look bad. Think about it - how good do you have to be to make Phil Mickelson look like a chump? Or Vijay Singh? Pretty darn good, no?

A couple years back, it seemed like we had guys playing the best they ever had as well. Phil has a win this season, but he isn't playing lights out by any means.

I think if you look at the OWGR - and I realize it has some flaws, but I don't think they're dramatic - you'll find that a lot of the top players are playing better NOW than before. A lot of them have more points or roughly the same, and a few have been replaced by people like Steve Stricker or whomever.

Other guys hanging out in the top ten include Adam Scott (where has he been), Justin Rose, Jim Furyk (not playing well), Rory Sabbatini, and Padraig Harrington. To me, this top 10 isn't near as strong and consistent as it was a couple years back. There was actually competition to stay inside the top 10. Right now, whoever doesn't play the worst stays inside the top 10 it seems.

I will agree that so far this YEAR, you probably have a point. But it's still very early in the year AND, hey, there are more guys in the field than those fellas. Tiger's not just beating those guys, he's beating everyone else, too.

Other than Sawgrass, he has dominated on the courses such as Augusta, Torrey Pines, Muirfield, etc.

Good point - Sawgrass may be his nemesis this year.

To answer the question: what's standing out is his mental acumen and focus. To never take a single shot off is impressive to say the least. Everyone slacks from time to time... except Tiger. Although maybe he did on that second putt of his three-putt.

[r7 425]

Good point - Sawgrass may be his nemesis this year.

Hes going to win Sawgrass by at least 5. That course is for elite putters. The way hes rolling it-its over already-he knows how to play bermuda better than anyone ever. Tiger has no nemesis . Hes bigger than the game.

[iacas]

Hes going to win Sawgrass by at least 5. That course is for elite putters. The way hes rolling it-its over already-he knows how to play bermuda better than anyone ever. Tiger has no nemesis . Hes bigger than the game.

Like that missed two-footer on Sunday at Bay Hill? Mmmm hmmmm. I think his putting's been good but he's only won at Sawgrass once as a pro. And it's not just putting he needs there. Still, if he keeps driver in the bag, the course should set up well for him.

But let's get back on topic now, k?

[golf_junkie27]

Desire. That's the one word I can think of when I watch him play. The guy just wants to be the GREATEST PLAYER, EVER. Some guys want to be good, win some tournaments. He just wants to be the best.

Larry Merchant once told a story about three tailors that each had a business on the same block. It reminds me of Tiger:

Tailor number one had a sign that read "Best Tailor in New York."
Tailor number two had a sign that read "Best Tailor in the World."
Tailor number three had a sign that read "Best Tailor on the block."

That's Tiger. No matter what has happened, the next shot is going to be "the shot." He does not hide his feelings, either. He may be a machine but he's very human with his emotions.

[lamebums]

Hes going to win Sawgrass by at least 5. That course is for elite putters. The way hes rolling it-its over already-he knows how to play bermuda better than anyone ever. Tiger has no nemesis . Hes bigger than the game.

I disagree on the putting part--Tiger's a good putter, but he's not a great putter. If there's a weakness in his game apart from accuracy off the tee (which he fixes by hitting a lot of irons) it's his putting.

And besides, it's your attitude that the majority of tour players take - they're beaten before they even tee it up.

[Wisco-Kid]

I agree with this totally. It always gets down to putting, long or short, and Tiger is the best putter I have ever seen and I am 49 and have seen a bunch of them. Here is the secret that no one knows about.......Remember when Tiger had the Lasik surgery on his eyes ?..........Thats right.......Those aren't his real eyes. He has bionic eyes.

LOL! You may be onto something there mathwiz.

[Wisco-Kid]

I disagree on the putting part--Tiger's a good putter, but he's not a great putter. If there's a weakness in his game apart from accuracy off the tee (which he fixes by hitting a lot of irons) it's his putting.

Not a great putter? Have you seen his stats? Geez I guess only mediocre putters are ranked 1st in putting....

http://www.pgatour.com/players/r/?/00/87/93/stats

[r7 425]

I disagree on the putting part--Tiger's a good putter, but he's not a great putter. If there's a weakness in his game apart from accuracy off the tee (which he fixes by hitting a lot of irons) it's his putting.

So 51 out of 52 putts at bay hill within 7 feet doesnt make you an elite putter. Hes made more clutch 4 foot putts than anybody in the history of the game