What happens if Tiger....

[mtsalmela80]

  sean_miller said:

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chas

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stretch

Maybe he just doesn't need the money? Maybe he feels practice is doing him more good than competition right now? Maybe he promised to take his kids to Chuck E Cheese's? Maybe there's a whole van full of strippers to plow through by Sunday?

Whatever. Tiger long ago earned the right to play the events he feels like playing.

I like all of your "maybe's" (funny or not as the case may be ....) except the second one, i.e. "practice is doing him more good than competition right now".  He flatly contradicated that himself in the recent interview - it's a clear case (to him) of not taking his game from his private world to the tour.  I'm inclined to believe him.

TW needs to play a rigorous PGA schedule in 2011 and claw his way back on top IMO - it's all in the head.  Maybe that's what he'll do - we shall see.  It's clear that he likes to keep us guessing - nothing wrong with that I suppose.  Yes, he "has the right" to do what he likes - but is he being smart if he focuses on major events + a few others during the year?

Maybe he's letting other players, like Phil, have the spotlight in Phoenix. Much like Phil does for Tiger at his pet events. As much as they don't hang out, I suspect they do actually get the importance of the other to the generic golfing public. Sometimes you can sell the confrontation and sometimes it makes sense for one guy to shine.

Either way, a lot of guys with a full schedules seem to run out of gas by the time the PGA Championship rolls around. Almost to a man, they admit they should have taken some weeks off.

Gee thats funny. I guess he "let" Phil beat him mercilessly and I guess he "let" himself nearly be outscored by John Daly last weekend.

He must have mailed it in to let the other players look good, right...

[sean_miller]

  mtsalmela80 said:

Originally Posted by mtsalmela80

Gee thats funny. I guess he "let" Phil beat him mercilessly and I guess he "let" himself nearly be outscored by John Daly last weekend.

He must have mailed it in to let the other players look good, right...

Are you referring to his level of play in San Diego? Yeah, that would have been funny. I was commenting on Tiger not teeing it up at the Phoenix Open and on players in general who play a full schedule and have nothing left in the tank near the end of the season.

[mtsalmela80]

Tiger needs to get it through his head that he is not a God anymore, he is a grunt like the rest of em. If he wants to win, he will have to play. How many tournaments is he going to play in before Augusta, 2-3?

[yimpydimpy]

He needs to play more. Put his swing changes to the test and see some success before the majors will happen. His confidence on the range is probably perfect, but hes obviously shaky on the course, especially in tournaments.

[Scofieldkid]

I wouldn't count out a return to form for Tiger, even a return to the intimidation level he once enjoyed.  He's only played in one tournament in 2011, after all, so it is premature to suggest that "he's done."  On the other hand, he's showing no signs of getting back to that level - yet.

[LargeMarge]

I'm guessing, but I'd bet that its awful hard for him, mentally, to play the way he has been playing (like an average pudknocker) after having been "Godlike" for such a long time. Hes got a ton of money, and since his divorce is final he can line up the girls all the way out the front door if he wants to, but I think he knows his best playing days are behind him.

I expect him to have occasional flashes of brilliance, but he'll never be the legendary striker of the ball that he once was.

I dont think Nicklaus has anything to worry about either. No way tiger will win 18 majors with that head full of garbage that he must have.

-LM

[Chas]

  mtsalmela80 said:

Originally Posted by mtsalmela80

Tiger needs to get it through his head that he is not a God anymore, he is a grunt like the rest of em. If he wants to win, he will have to play. How many tournaments is he going to play in before Augusta, 2-3?

Pure speculation on my part of course but Tiger has probably long ago realized that he is no longer God-like in the minds of many of his erstwhile fans, which must be difficult for him to fully come to terms with.  He certainly saw it in the distribution of the public around the south course at Torrey on the Saturday while I was there. Still I hardly think this is a sig. factor affecting his play - gives him more to prove on the tour you could argue, more of an incentive.  But this is off point and you're right '80, maybe he hasn't fully accepted the reality of his situation - which is that he has to suck it up and slog slog slog.  Not pretty but good for the soul.

He's made a major change in his game and he's no spring chicken.  His highly trained and tuned nervous system is revolting from the effort, he basically said it himself.  If nothing else the struggle continues to be something worth watching, successful or not in the end.

[Bill Bowman]

I believe that Tiger will be back to his winning ways. In the past when he has made changes with his swing he has long term plans.

Although in the short term his swing is not right at the moment. He certainly has shown some flashes of brilliance.

But he probably will not be as dominate as before simply because he has shown he is beatable. If Vijay can win as much as he

did in his 40's I look forward to the elder Tiger Woods.

Bill Bowman

[Blades4me]

I don't believe Mr Woods will come back to anywhere close to where he was before reality set in. I think he will win again, and still mite have a shot at Jack's record, but its not going to be easy.

Judging on how Mr Woods has done at the Desert Classic so far, I don't see any greatness, just a jounyman PGA golfer.