2008 US Open - Tiger Woods

[motteler621]

Watching this video of the sudden death playoff US Open 08 kinda shows me why Tiger is in such a slump right now. Hes with his wife and kids on top of the world it seems and everyone is watching in admiration. Then he goes through one of the most publicized divorces from cheating on his family with porn stars etc. It shouldnt surprise anyone how bad Tiger has been playing and yes I think he will be back on top. You dont just loose talent like that, He hasnt lost the talent ever, hes just trying to get his life back into place so he can actually play to his potential and who knows how long that will take but it will come.

[max power]

Definitely a tremendously stressful and public divorce, so no surprise his game has taken a hit.  People also have to accept that Tiger coming back successfully doesn't mean he will be as dominant as before.  He had an unprecedented 10 year run, and it's inevitable that he'll drop off at some point.  Even if he only won another 2 majors and a handful of tournaments over the next 10 years it would still be an incredibly successful post-age-35 career.

[clubchamp]

They way he got humbled would take a lot out of anyone...

[Kieran123]

I doubt he will ever dominate again

The generation he inspired to be great at the game are now on the tour, and they're just too good

[iacas]

Originally Posted by motteler621

You dont just loose talent like that

Sure you can. History is littered with people that simply "lost it."

Tiger may or may not have "lost it." Before, he could win with his B or even C game. Now his best is roughly equal to his previous D game. It's still relatively early, but 2011 is a big year for him, and I thought he'd be a little farther along...

[motteler621]

Originally Posted by iacas

Sure you can. History is littered with people that simply "lost it."

Tiger may or may not have "lost it." Before, he could win with his B or even C game. Now his best is roughly equal to his previous D game. It's still relatively early, but 2011 is a big year for him, and I thought he'd be a little farther along...

yea, i guess Im only saying I think Tiger is playing bad because of his personal life. When you go through something like Tiger did, he didnt focus on golf or wasnt even interested in playing. It takes awhile to get back to normal. Once he gets more comfortable and happy with his personal life, he will play better golf. Alot of people lose their game due to physical stuff (david duval). Kobe bryant is a good example when he went through that rape trial, game was horrible for awhile.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by iacas

Sure you can. History is littered with people that simply "lost it."

Tiger may or may not have "lost it." Before, he could win with his B or even C game. Now his best is roughly equal to his previous D game. It's still relatively early, but 2011 is a big year for him, and I thought he'd be a little farther along...

Have a look at Bobby Orr's hockey card as an example. His demise was inury related, but it still blows your mind.

I'm not sure why people seem to be so caught up in whether Tiger wins as many tournaments as he once did.  I mean, it's sort of impossible, isn't it? Doesn't mean he won't win more events, and even pass Jack's major record, but that his career is trending down is a no brainer.

[RichF]

Originally Posted by motteler621

yea, i guess Im only saying I think Tiger is playing bad because of his personal life. When you go through something like Tiger did, he didnt focus on golf or wasnt even interested in playing. It takes awhile to get back to normal. Once he gets more comfortable and happy with his personal life, he will play better golf. Alot of people lose their game due to physical stuff (david duval). Kobe bryant is a good example when he went through that rape trial, game was horrible for awhile.

Yet more pathetic excuses...

Going through swing-changes in 2003-2004 put in him in a slump? Still won 8 tournaments.

Losing his Dad in 2006 put in him in a slump? he won 6 tournaments (+ 2 Majors) that same year.

The-Sand-Trap-Tiger-Fan-Boys ( and a certain Moderator is honorary President ) are going to have to get real and deal with the facts: he isn't winning, he hasn't won since 15 months ago, he's no closer to winning and here's the clincher: he won't ever win another Major .

[motteler621]

Originally Posted by RichF

Yet more pathetic excuses...

Going through swing-changes in 2003-2004 put in him in a slump? Still won 8 tournaments.

Losing his Dad in 2006 put in him in a slump? he won 6 tournaments (+ 2 Majors) that same year.

The-Sand-Trap-Tiger-Fan-Boys (and a certain Moderator is honorary President) are going to have to get real and deal with the facts: he isn't winning, he hasn't won since 15 months ago, he's no closer to winning and here's the clincher: he won't ever win another Major.

Exactly my point swing changes arent going to really effect Tiger winning. Losing your Dad is a hard thing, but he also had his wife etc in his life, he knew his Dad would be gone at some point as well, plus he probabaly had the motivation to play for his dad.

Yes he hasnt won since the divorce and public shame. Doesnt mean he wont ever win another major. This isnt even on the same level of the two things you pointed out.

I think people need to understand why he isnt playing all that great and from my first post I believe thats the reason why, not who his swing coach is or his swing flaws.

[RichF]

Originally Posted by motteler621

Exactly my point swing changes arent going to really effect Tiger winning. Losing your Dad is a hard thing, but he also had his wife etc in his life, he knew his Dad would be gone at some point as well, plus he probabaly had the motivation to play for his dad.

Yes he hasnt won since the divorce and public shame. Doesnt mean he wont ever win another major. This isnt even on the same level of the two things you pointed out.

I think people need to understand why he isnt playing all that great and from my first post I believe thats the reason why, not who his swing coach is or his swing flaws.

Thing is, I think the playing field and depth of talent is so much better now - on the PGA and European Tour: Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy ...we've got some serious talent here that doesn't seem to be really fazed by the whole 'Tiger-Circus' like it was 5-10 years ago.

The fact that I think Woods won't win another Major is more to do with the rising talent than it is his swing/personal-issues...

[iacas]

Originally Posted by RichF

The-Sand-Trap-Tiger-Fan-Boys (and a certain Moderator is honorary President) are going to have to get real and deal with the facts: he isn't winning, he hasn't won since 15 months ago, he's no closer to winning and here's the clincher: he won't ever win another Major.

You must have missed the post I made a few above. Simple truth, Rich: I'm not a "fanboy" any more than (quite likely less than) you are a "haterboy." I simply don't care about his off-course activities, and I want to see him break Jack's record. Odds of doing it, in my opinion... 30% and dropping.

As for never winning another major, do you want to put $100 on that one? A thousand?

[motteler621]

Originally Posted by RichF

Thing is, I think the playing field and depth of talent is so much better now - on the PGA and European Tour:  Dustin Johnson, Rickie Fowler, Hunter Mahan, Bubba Watson, Martin Kaymer, Graeme McDowell, Rory McIlroy...we've got some serious talent here that doesn't seem to be really fazed by the whole 'Tiger-Circus' like it was 5-10 years ago.

The fact that I think Woods won't win another Major is more to do with the rising talent than it is his swing/personal-issues...

these are good players but they arent in the same status as Tiger woods and they more than likely will never come close. Tiger is up there with Jordan, Babe Ruth, ALI, Gretzsky etc. in sports talk. Its like when Jimi Hendrix died, we lost one of the greatest guitar players ever just like that. To want Tiger not to win any more majors again after this divorce is kinda sick to me. Odds are we wont see another player like Woods for many decades if we ever do.

[Kieran123]

Tiger will win more majors. This year? Who knows how long till he gets back into his groove.

And who doesn't want Tiger to break Nicklaus' record? That is making history...I sure as hell want to see it, because it's a rare thing.....we may never see another player so dominant in our lifetimes

But he will never dominate like he did....not IMO

[RichF]

Quote:

You must have missed the post I made a few above. Simple truth, Rich: I'm not a "fanboy" any more than (quite likely less than) you are a "haterboy." I simply don't care about his off-course activities, and I want to see him break Jack's record. Odds of doing it, in my opinion... 30% and dropping.

As for never winning another major, do you want to put $100 on that one? A thousand?

Okay, I apologize, that was a cheap-shot...personally, I consider myself a 'fan' of Woods - but like some, I don't get all offended by what he does on or off the course (cursing/spitting/club-throwing)...and to me, to see him up and down, performance-wise over the last 12 months is pretty bad.

I'm not a betting man...if i was, I would take that $100 bed...and unlike some, i would pay up if I lost!

[RichF]

Quote:

these are good players but they arent in the same status as Tiger woods and they more than likely will never come close. Tiger is up there with Jordan, Babe Ruth, ALI, Gretzsky etc. in sports talk. Its like when Jimi Hendrix died, we lost one of the greatest guitar players ever just like that. To want Tiger not to win any more majors again after this divorce is kinda sick to me. Odds are we wont see another player like Woods for many decades if we ever do.

Oh yeah, +1.

I can't see the Johnsons, Mahans, Westwoods, McDowells, etc always being in contention as Woods was, circa 1999-2002, e.g. minimum of 5 wins each year, 2-3 Majors per year, hardly ever out the Top-20 on the leaderboard, etc.

If one guy can even hit 50% of those kind of stats over the next 5 years on a consistent basis, then my money is on Kaymer ...

But it's those guys I mentioned that would be the cause of Woods not winning Majors anymore...

[shades9323]

Originally Posted by iacas

As for never winning another major, do you want to put $100 on that one? A thousand?

I want in too.  Rich, are you a betting man?

[mtsalmela80]

I think if Tiger never won another major it would the finest morality lesson ever given in the public forum. I wonder how bad Tiger feels about what he did to his children. That alone would make me wanna jump off a bridge, nevermind gather motivation to win a sporting event.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by shades9323

I want in too.  Rich, are you a betting man?

I think you missed the fine print. :-)