Tiger outside the Top 50

[mvmac]

Did you ever think you'd see this?

"LONDON (AP) — Tiger Woods is out of the top 50 in the world ranking for the first time in nearly 15 years.

Woods, who hasn't won in nearly two years, was assured of dropping from the top 50 when Louis Oosthuizen finished in a three-way tie for fifth in the Dunhill Links Championship.

That ends a streak of 778 consecutive weeks inside the top 50, dating to when Woods was No. 61 on Oct. 13, 1996.

Woods, who has not played since missing the cut at the PGA Championship, returns to competition this week at the Frys.com Open at CordeValle in northern California."

Read more: http://www.golf.com/golf/tours_news/article/0,28136,2095963,00.html#ixzz1ZjLzEqMO

I know that he has played very few tournaments and not done well in those, but this is still kinda weird to see.  There was a time Tiger could fall out of bed and win 4 tournaments a year.  I think most of us feel this is only temporary and he'll get back to his winning ways soon.

With the "news" of Tiger shooting 62 at his home course, is this the week he turns it around?

[MiniBlueDragon]

Amazing that it took two years of not winning for him to fall out of the top 50.

I sincerely hope he manages to get his head on straight and tweak his swing to be consistent while not damaging his knee. Come on Tigger, bounce!

[iacas]

Originally Posted by MiniBlueDragon

Amazing that it took two years of not winning for him to fall out of the top 50.

While true, he played well at the Masters the last two years, could have won the U.S. Open in 2010... and had some other "decent" finishes.

Just goes to show how quickly the talent drops off. Then again we have a world #1 that rarely wins anything... so the whole list is lower than we're used to.

[Shorty]

If someone had foretold me this two years ago you would only assume that he was recovering from an accident of Ben Hogan proportions.

On the other hand, it only goes to show how irrelevant (to a point) the Number 1 ranking is. Tiger is not the 50 somethingth best player in the world, in the same way that the Number One player is not the "best" golfer in the world.

[mvmac]

Originally Posted by iacas

Then again we have a world #1 that rarely wins anything... so the whole list is lower than we're used to.

Good point Erik

[deasy55]

Luke Donald is pretty easily the "best" golfer in the world at the moment

Originally Posted by Shorty

in the same way that the Number One player is not the "best" golfer in the world.

[makaveli]

Good point deasy!

I don't understand why people are still surprised about Tiger is falling out of the top 50...

Originally Posted by deasy55

Luke Donald is pretty easily the "best" golfer in the world at the moment

[The_Pharaoh]

I don't see why the number one golfer has to be winning in order to be ranked number one. The whole idea of a ranking is so golfers finishing consistently top 5, top 10, top 20 etc. get points. Based on that criteria, Luke is a deserving number one.

If not, scrap the world rankings and just say Na and/or Hoey are/is the number one(s) based on the previous tournament's winner(s).

This subject really burns my toast as the system is fine when Tiger is number one, even when he's not winning as everyone considers him the best golfer in the world, however the moment someone else tops the rankings it is shot down.

[makaveli]

Some people are becoming nostalgic, that's the point...

Originally Posted by The_Pharaoh

This subject really burns my toast as the system is fine when Tiger is number one, even when he's not winning as everyone considers him the best golfer in the world, however the moment someone else tops the rankings it is shot down.

[newtogolf]

There are numerous ways to rank players and teams but it's never going to satisfy everyone.  Every ranking system has inherent built in flaws (look at the BCS in college football).   People will always argue if consistently finishing in the top 10 is a greater achievement than winning once or twice and otherwise not finishing in the top 10.

During most of Tigers reign as number 1 I think there was general consensus that he was the best golfer in teh world.  I doubt you'd find that level of agreement among the pro's today - they may think Donald is a great golfer, but I don't think there's a consensus that he's currently the best.

Originally Posted by The_Pharaoh

I don't see why the number one golfer has to be winning in order to be ranked number one. The whole idea of a ranking is so golfers finishing consistently top 5, top 10, top 20 etc. get points. Based on that criteria, Luke is a deserving number one.

If not, scrap the world rankings and just say Na and/or Hoey are/is the number one(s) based on the previous tournament's winner(s).

This subject really burns my toast as the system is fine when Tiger is number one, even when he's not winning as everyone considers him the best golfer in the world, however the moment someone else tops the rankings it is shot down.

[shades9323]

If Luke Donald isn't the best player in the world, who is? And what makes them better than Luke?

Originally Posted by Shorty

If someone had foretold me this two years ago you would only assume that he was recovering from an accident of Ben Hogan proportions.

On the other hand, it only goes to show how irrelevant (to a point) the Number 1 ranking is. Tiger is not the 50 somethingth  best player in the world, in the same way that the Number One player is not the "best" golfer in the world.

[Alistair]

Luke Donald is not outrageous in character or dynamic in style.  Nor does he win loads of tournaments.  But he has some impressive PGA tour statistics:

• He’s the 2011 money leader with $5,837,214 (tour average $943,956) – and Donald got there with fewer tournaments than others in the top 5.
• He leads in top 10 finishes with 13 (next is 10), and again got there with fewer tournaments played
• He’s number one in the new putting statistic of “strokes gained – putting”
• He has the best scoring average which is 68.86 (next is Webb Simpson with 69.34).

Stats from: http://www.pgatour.com/r/stats/ (I have to assume the overall FedEx prize money is excluded, and only individual tournament money is in the stats)

Donald may not seem exciting, but the next 4 in scoring averages are Simpson, Stricker, Watney and Kuchar.  They’re not balls of fire either.

[Zeph]

On a slightly related note, Luke Donald went 449 holes without a three putt the last 3½ months. The next one on that list is Sergio Garcia with 131 holes. The system works the way it does and I don't have a problem with that. Based on his performance the last years, Tiger is not a top player anymore. Everyone knows he can play good golf, but so can Ernie Els and Vijay Singh. They just don't do it anymore.

[The_Pharaoh]

Originally Posted by Zeph

On a slightly related note, Luke Donald went 449 holes without a three putt the last 3½ months. The next one on that list is Sergio Garcia with 131 holes.

The system works the way it does and I don't have a problem with that. Based on his performance the last years, Tiger is not a top player anymore. Everyone knows he can play good golf, but so can Ernie Els and Vijay Singh. They just don't do it anymore.

That is a very impressive stat.

Anyway, he could be ranked first in all the stats and still be an unpopular number one. The problem is his name is not Tiger Woods.

[PiustheDrGolf]

Since I am hooked into different sports, I haven't visit SandTrap as often as I used to.  The myth of 'Tiger will be back on top' is still here.  He is out of 50.  Regardless how he did well on few tournaments, he is out of 50.  I've been saying this for few years. He is not same Tiger anymore and will not be ever.   oh.. Iacas, which one is last PGA sanction tournament that Tiger will play? If the Fry's is the last one, I expects $100 from you on no later than coming Sunday evening (if he ever make a cut). and upon receiving the bet prize, I will double it for next year. Are you in?

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by The_Pharaoh

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zeph

On a slightly related note, Luke Donald went 449 holes without a three putt the last 3½ months. The next one on that list is Sergio Garcia with 131 holes.

The system works the way it does and I don't have a problem with that. Based on his performance the last years, Tiger is not a top player anymore. Everyone knows he can play good golf, but so can Ernie Els and Vijay Singh. They just don't do it anymore.

That is a very impressive stat.

Anyway, he could be ranked first in all the stats and still be an unpopular number one. The problem is his name is not Tiger Woods.

Well, Tiger is on pace to make the cut at the Frys, so that's a pleasant surprise. Other than The Masters, has he made a cut while with Foley?

[mvmac]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Well, Tiger is on pace to make the cut at the Frys, so that's a pleasant surprise. Other than The Masters, has he made a cut while with Foley?

yes

http://www.pgatour.com/players/r/?/00/87/93/career

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by mvmac

Quote:

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Well, Tiger is on pace to make the cut at the Frys, so that's a pleasant surprise. Other than The Masters, has he made a cut while with Foley?

yes

http://www.pgatour.com/players/r/?/00/87/93/career

Thanks - he's done better than I thought. I guess those two duds at the PGA kind of tainted his year (for me).