Is Tiger Back (Early 2011 Edition)?

[mcfc_nick]

now he looked good big time yesterday and ive heard a lot of people saying that he's back and will soon be back to his very best! now im not saying that's not true as i also think he looked very good but he finished T4, the same as last year and that didnt really build onto anything last year. All im saying is that we all know that Tiger could finish in the top-10 at the Masters in his sleep so it could be a little premature to say that he's back!

[te3point5]

Last year he was still using his old tour tested swing. This year was the first time he really put his new swing all together for a whole tournement. I would say he's back and with a little luck (and some more practice with the putter) he'll be winning agian.

[newtogolf]

I'd let him put a few good tournaments together before declaring him back.  He did look good, very exciting Masters this year.

[jamo]

If his swing had been balky all week, and he was scrambling just to limp around at a few under par, I would say no. But this week he scored really well without putting worth a damn a lot of the time, and also while battling some very shaky wedges. In addition, this week wasn't really a story of just "knowing Augusta." If that were the case, it would have been his putting that was great, because he has played so many rounds there.

I say if he gets putting and wedge play right (and he certainly has plenty of time to practice), he's back. He probably could have won a lot of events with the game he had this week, but he'll need to be a little bit better if he wants to pick up some majors.

[iacas]

I'm excited by the possibilities that if his swing is closer to being "locked in" and his transition closer to complete, that he can spend some time working on his putting stroke and get that back to where it once was.

I'm worried that his putting stroke has changed and the "I've not had time to practice my short game" is an excuse and that we won't see Tiger putting at the same levels as he has for the vast majority of his career.

[Kieran123]

Sand play could so with some work too...he is looking A LOT better though. Putting is streaky....some GREAT putts, and some down right terrible putts.

[Deryck Griffith]

His swing looks locked in and was for four days.  We all know that there isn't any better tournament than the Masters to test your swing and based on how Sunday played out, his "new" swing was tested to the extreme with great results.

Conversely, I am worried about his putter...on the first nine yesterday, he had nothing to lose and putted accordingly.  On the second nine, the pressure changed and he needed to make putts to either take the lead, maintain it etc and that's when it broke down.  So my point is, will his putter wake up this year when everything is on the line.

We'll see....

[TheGeekGolfer]

His full swing looked alot more solid this week.  His confidence in his full swing is returning, too.  You could tell on his approach to #11 and #15 yesterday.  On 11, he turned to Stevie and said it was perfect.  On 15, he knew it was good the moment he hit it, just started walking up the fairway, knew it was going to be close.  His putting and short game chips need to improve and he'll be back to his winning ways.

[mutadayen]

I was paying attention and what stood out the most was his driving looked solid.  I could have sworn that one of the commentators said that Sean Foley had him shorten his swing on the driver and that was resulting in the better shots with the driver on Sunday.  If he can drive consistently, then the field will start to resemble a Tiger and rest look again.  Two out of four rounds is an improvement, but I think he's still at least a month out, if not two...

[GaijinGolfer]

Until Tiger learns how to putt again I dont think you can say that he's back.  He missed a lot of putts at Augusta that in the past he would have made.

Tiger used to have almost an ability to will the ball into the hole and make clutch putts.  I dont think he is to the point yet.

[Dave Gordon]

Still doesn't look right to me him using the new putter. Wonder if it's going to be an irony that he gets his swing sorted but then falls short on the putting!

[Chilli Dipper]

It depends on what one's opinion of Tiger being back is. Is he back to being a lock for six tournament wins a year? No, and I don't think he ever will be back to that level. Is he ready to win again, and insert his name back into the discussion of the world's best players right now? If Augusta and Bay Hill are any indication, absolutely. We'll find out more next month at Quail Hollow, which is likely the next time we'll see him play.

[golf1234]

Not yet in my opinion, but I think he is improving and eventually he will win again.  Right now he is just not able to put everything together.  When he swings well, he doesn't putt well enough.  His short game isn't as good as he used to be when he misses the greens.  As of now he makes too many bogeys when he is in trouble instead of saving pars like he did in the past.  He is also not hitting his shots too well from the bunkers right now.  I think he is getting closer to win again, but it will take some more time in my opinion.

[tristanhilton85]

He's getting closer and closer to being there... I think one of the biggest reasons is that the changes he's making are finally becoming more second nature to him.  One of the biggest reasons that I would say that he's back (or at least close to it) is that this is really the first time that he's finished a tournament strong in a long time... We've seen him have a good first or second round but hasn't ended on a strong note and that wasn't the case this time.  A big part of that is, like I said above, the swing is more locked in now and even when the pressure is turned up he is beginning to just play golf rather than think about mechanics.

[Eloh]

Originally Posted by TitleistWI

Until Tiger learns how to putt again I dont think you can say that he's back.  He missed a lot of putts at Augusta that in the past he would have made.

Tiger used to have almost an ability to will the ball into the hole and make clutch putts.  I dont think he is to the point yet.

If we take off our HATER shirts we can say he is back regardless of the putting...   In spite of the putting his score was allot lower than many Super Stars including the 3 day leader Mcilroy, Couples, Mickelson, Harrington, Westwood. And I am sure you would not say that these fine gentlemen are not "back".  They are just extraordinary players who also happen to be human!  I think we can look past some missed putts. Other people did win tournaments before his "slump" you know.

[iacas]

It's important to remember that the scale of things is vastly off when it comes to TW.

If Tiger shoots whatever Martin Kaymer shot, he's "toast." Or McDowell. But Kaymer and McDowell get free passes.

[iphiclus1]

Great to see Tiger make a run, no doubt that it helped the Masters' ratings this past Sunday.  When Tiger is on his A-Game everyone on  the PGA tour stops and takes notice.  Time for everyone else to be on the watch for Tiger to get back to his proper level in 2011 and beyond.

Looking forward to watching him dominate on Sundays once again.

[BallStriker]

It's a cliche term, but he is "very close".....the bottom line from my perspective is that Tiger had a very good chance to win despite playing with what I would consider his "B minus" game at Augusta......Obviously, you can argue whether he will ever be able to bring his "A" game of old...but I think he can and will.....I have a feeling he wins by multiple shots at Congressional......just a feeling.