Is Tiger Jinxed?

[bigoak]

Back in the dayI remember thinking that Tiger got a lot of good breaks.  These breaks plus his talent made him a winner of many tournaments.

I just feel now that he gets many more bad breaks than in the past.  His swing changes are not helping the lefts and rights.  BUT

Does Tiger need an exorcist to help him?

[Shindig]

I haven't actually been able to watch enough of him playing in the past year or so, something I regret immensely. I did watch him play the majors, and it looked to me much like the other years, pre-provisionals, when he came close but didn't get it done. Of course, the one pre-provisional luck I really remember the most was the chip-in at 53 at the 2008 U.S. Open. It wouldn't surprise me if he seemed to be getting more bad luck lately. Not to the point of needing an exorcist, but I wonder how his practice time now (versus 2009) is. And then there's the Gary Player story about how one gets his luck.

[phillyk]

I have definitely noticed that Tiger manages to get a ton of great breaks when he plays well, and when he's not playing well, he gets horrible breaks.  This happened in the past, and it seems to continue now.  Once, if ever, he gets his game back together, I'm looking forward to seeing if this holds true.

[GaijinGolfer]

Its not luck.  Tiger's mental game is a little weak right now.  Thats his problem, not bad luck.

[zeg]

Luck favors the prepared.

The way you manufacture good luck is to hit high-percentage shots on the right line every time.  Everyone gets, on average, the same number of good breaks.  If you're hitting the ball well, those good breaks mean putts go in.  If not, it just means you don't miss as bad and nobody notices.

So no, he's not less lucky, he's just not playing as well, so it seems that way.

[Shorty]

Quote:

I just feel now that he gets many more bad breaks than in the past.

What on earth ate you talking about? Give us ONE example of a bad break.

Drives into the rough?

Iron shots into bunkers?

6 foot putts that don't even hit the hole?

Tiger's got a swing that's either a "work in progress" or a complete disaster zone.  What "bad breaks" is he getting that other players aren't getting?

[pbailey]

Bad breaks are not his problem right now, his brain is scrambled.

[Deryck Griffith]

I am a true Tiger Fan; however,  I am also a BIG believer in Karma.  And there is a LOT of bad Karma that Tiger needs to work off before he wins "consistently" again.

[Zeph]

Originally Posted by bigoak

I just feel now that he gets many more bad breaks than in the past.  His swing changes are not helping the lefts and rights.  BUT

You haven't noticed the improvements he's made the last year?

[ET-Taylor]

Sergio Garcia lost his ball up a tree and couldnt prove it was there so 3 of the tee so it doesnt just happen to tiger bad luck is out there for everyone if you hit it of line you deserve to be punished. So personally i think it is just catching up with him.

[max power]

No karma, no bad breaks, no anything in golf other than where you hit it.  It feels like bad breaks, but it's physics.

[Shorty]

I'm still waiting for a single example of a bad break Tiger has had.

[dv7834]

Originally Posted by Shorty

I'm still waiting for a single example of a bad break Tiger has had.

Elin found out?

[lumpuckeroo]

Originally Posted by TitleistWI

Its not luck.  Tiger's mental game is a little weak right now.  Thats his problem, not bad luck.

Totally agree, he got good breaks because he could turn anything positive, but lately it has been the other way around.

[GolfBookie]

Tiger is struggling, no doubt about it, but as of now, I believe he will get back on top. The reason I say that is that I see no diminishment in his desire to win, and that desire will overcome his present difficulties. That desire is what separates him from the field; it's as if he was born to play the game, and certainly his upbringing by his father reinforced that destiny.

That intensity of desire is also what makes Tiger such a tragic figure. His fits of temper and general grumpiness show that unless he is winning, he is a very unhappy guy. His pain is visible for all the world to see, and sometimes it's hard to watch. I'd like to think that he can change and find some peace in his life, but until he does, he'll drive himself to win. When we see him "mellow out", then maybe he'll be done on the course, but right now I don't see it.

Unlike Jack or anyone else who's played the game (except maybe Hogan??) it's hard to imagine Tiger without golf, and I don't want to imagine golf without Tiger.

[RichF]

Quote:

Tiger is struggling, no doubt about it, but as of now, I believe he will get back on top. The reason I say that is that I see no diminishment in his desire to win, and that desire will overcome his present difficulties. That desire is what separates him from the field; it's as if he was born to play the game, and certainly his upbringing by his father reinforced that destiny.

That intensity of desire is also what makes Tiger such a tragic figure. His fits of temper and general grumpiness show that unless he is winning, he is a very unhappy guy. His pain is visible for all the world to see, and sometimes it's hard to watch. I'd like to think that he can change and find some peace in his life, but until he does, he'll drive himself to win. When we see him "mellow out", then maybe he'll be done on the course, but right now I don't see it.

Unlike Jack or anyone else who's played the game (except maybe Hogan??) it's hard to imagine Tiger without golf, and I don't want to imagine golf without Tiger.

``I'll definitely quit the game earlier than people think. The only reason I would play is the occasional tournament if my son is good enough to be out there, and he chooses to play. That would be cool. But my foundation means much more than what I do out here. When my best isn't good enough, I'm walking, You'll know when you're not able to produce any more. I don't lie. When I play well, I tell you guys. And I tell you when I haven't played well. I've won tournaments out there when I wasn't playing my best. But if I play my best and don't win, there's no reason to be out here.''

[senorchipotle]

the close lipouts have come back to haunt him. he still looked great though. glad to see him play two good rounds at least.

[stealthduffer]

As my old man would tell me: "It isn't bad luck - you hit it there."  But I do think 2 factors have changed - one is that Tiger is no longer as young as he once was and is unable to pull off the "miracle" shots he made seem routine.  Whether it is strength or confidence (probably both) one couldn't expect it to last forever.  Two is that back in the day everyone seemed to fade once Tiger made a charge.  The new crop seems to be willing to charge right back.  There was some seriously incredible golf going on yesterday afternoon.  If you are looking for an inflection point I'd look to the 2009 PGA Championship when Yang beat Tiger head to head.