Tiger Playing in Fry's.com Open

[funkyfred72]

"I always enjoy competing in my home state, and this tournament fits my schedule perfectly."

"John Fry and his company have supported the tour, and I've heard good things about the event and the golf course," Woods said. "One of my goals this year was to participate in a tournament I hadn't played before, and now, I will."

One of your goals?  Yeah right.  Couples said he wanted Tiger to play before the Presidents Cup.  It's funny how Tiger makes it seem like this is his idea and not "taking an order" from someone else.

[newtogolf]

Tiger is taking some heat off of Couples who in good faith commited to have Tiger on the Presidents Cup team.  Give Tiger a break, he's an adult, it would sound ridiculous for him to say, "Yeah, the only reason I'm playing in this stupid tournament is because Couples is making me.

[Kieran123]

It would of happened if he made the presidents cup team or not.

Good, the guy needs to play more events regardless

[jamo]

I wonder if Rocco is going back to defend his title?

[xxsoultonesxx]

Should be interesting to see how he does in a weaker field.

[michaeljames92]

Imagine how bad it would look if he missed the cut. On the other hand, if he won, freddy couples masterstroke?

[TN94z]

Weaker field or not, it's his swing that will make the difference.  Many people act like just because the field is weaker, Tiger's swing will magically be better. That's just setting up the excuse of Tiger playing well or finishing well was just because the field was weaker.  You can tell how well Tiger is playing by how HE is playing....not by how the field is playing.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by TN94z

Weaker field or not, it's his swing that will make the difference.  Many people act like just because the field is weaker, Tiger's swing will magically be better. That's just setting up the excuse of Tiger playing well or finishing well was just because the field was weaker.  You can tell how well Tiger is playing by how HE is playing....not by how the field is playing.

Exactly.

Plus, Tiger tends to avoid the "low scoring" events because his game is and always has been geared towards making a lot of pars. Oh, he can get on a roll (or past tense if you prefer), but for four days, no, he's tended to avoid them.

I'm glad he's playing. I don't really care how much each factor played a role. I just care about and am happy about the end result.

[Bo the Golfer]

I am also just glad he's playing. I always wished that the marque names would play more of the Fall Series.

[bunkerputt]

Quote:

Originally Posted by iacas

Plus, Tiger tends to avoid the "low scoring" events because his game is and always has been geared towards making a lot of pars. Oh, he can get on a roll (or past tense if you prefer), but for four days, no, he's tended to avoid them.

I've heard the arguments, but I've never really understood them.  It seems like, even in weaker field events on slightly easier courses, the game of golf is still complicated enough so that the better golfer wins on average.  I understand the 'tailoring your game for the majors' goal that Tiger has had, so I could see him not playing in these events if it negatively impacted that.  But this isn't 2000 and he needs something to get his game back.  At this point in his career, the only professional reason I can see not to play in a weaker event is because you are afraid of losing it.

Quote:

I'm glad he's playing. I don't really care how much each factor played a role. I just care about and am happy about the end result.

Exactly.

[MSchott]

No matter the reason, it's good for golf that Tiger is playing a relatively unimportant tournament. Tiger's presence alone will boost ticket sales and TV interest. I know that if he wasn't playing I'd watch very little of this tournament.

[colin007]

Originally Posted by bunkerputt

I've heard the arguments, but I've never really understood them.  It seems like, even in weaker field events on slightly easier courses, the game of golf is still complicated enough so that the better golfer wins on average.  I understand the 'tailoring your game for the majors' goal that Tiger has had, so I could see him not playing in these events if it negatively impacted that.  But this isn't 2000 and he needs something to get his game back.  At this point in his career, the only professional reason I can see not to play in a weaker event is because you are afraid of losing it.

Exactly.

the weaker tour stops are easier courses, set up less penally, which tends to level the field.  it becomes easier to for everybody to make birdies and doesnt really separate the cream from the crop.

[LankyLefty]

Originally Posted by colin007

the weaker tour stops are easier courses, set up less penally, which tends to level the field.  it becomes easier to for everybody to make birdies and doesnt really separate the cream from the crop.

I agree, when Tiger was Tiger his trademark was being more aggressive then the rest of the field, when the course is easier everyone is gonna be aggressive.

[jamo]

Expect record ratings for the Frys. And I agree what TN94Z and iacas said above. Tiger can be aggressive when he has to, but he does it on a hole like the 8th at Augusta. That is, if he can make one swing that can completely change the tournament, he does it. But shots like that don't matter a whole lot at an event like the Hope or the Frys. He would much rather be making pars when everyone else is making bogeys than him having to make eagles when everyone else is making birdie. That said, it should be interesting.