Tiger outside the Top 50

[Chas]

Originally Posted by makaveli

Good point deasy!

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

It is because they haven't overcome their obsession with the golfer.  Change can be difficult.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by PiustheDrGolf

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?

It's " PGA Tour sanctioned ," and I don't particularly like that you have acted all year as if I've forgotten about the bet or something. Gee whiz. And though I personally don't expect him to play in too many more events (Disney is probably unlikely, but there's the HSBC and the Chevron), the Fry's.com isn't the last one he could play in nor is it the last one he will play in (barring some weird thing), so I'll wait if only because that's the official, best way to go. Waiting should give you plenty of time to actually PM me with a name, email address, or snail mail address so that I can pay when/if the time to do so arrives.

[sean_miller]

Originally Posted by Chas

Quote:

Originally Posted by makaveli

Good point deasy!

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

It is because they haven't overcome their obsession with the golfer.  Change can be difficult.

Unless you're a complete cynic about everything and everyone (at least one dinosaur at GD comes to mind) how could you be a sports wtiter and not long for Tiger's return, or at the very least for the emergence of his successor?

Sports are emotional. I've found myself reading someone's take on an important event (important in the world of sports at least - an upset winner, a comeback, falling short, the basic couldas, wouldas, shouldas, and somehow miraculously dids) and found myself wiping away tears.

Tiger was the best player of our generation by such a large margin that everyone else seemed like a minor leaguer in comparison. He was the graceful power of Snead or Nicklaus with the precision of Hogan and the flare and creativity of Ballesteros all rolled into one. He was Norman's talent with Faldo's Sunday nerves, He was Tom Watson turned up way past 11.

Watching him at The PGA Championship this year made me feel old and tired. I just want Tiger to either go on a tear or go away, because watching him play now makes me sad.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Watching him at The PGA Championship this year made me feel old and tired. I just want Tiger to either go on a tear or go away, because watching him play now makes me sad.

I feel similarly.

[The_Pharaoh]

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Watching him at The PGA Championship this year made me feel old and tired. I just want Tiger to either go on a tear or go away, because watching him play now makes me sad.

Yes, very much like watching Michael Schumacher´s Formula One comeback!

Btw, his opening 6 holes today are not too shabby. He's back!! ;-)

[iacas]

Originally Posted by The_Pharaoh

He's back!! ;-)

Back to what? PGA Tour events are usually 72 holes. :-)

[abraxas]

great post!!

Originally Posted by sean_miller

Unless you're a complete cynic about everything and everyone (at least one dinosaur at GD comes to mind) how could you be a sports wtiter and not long for Tiger's return, or at the very least for the emergence of his successor?

Sports are emotional. I've found myself reading someone's take on an important event (important in the world of sports at least - an upset winner, a comeback, falling short, the basic couldas, wouldas, shouldas, and somehow miraculously dids) and found myself wiping away tears.

Tiger was the best player of our generation by such a large margin that everyone else seemed like a minor leaguer in comparison. He was the graceful power of Snead or Nicklaus with the precision of Hogan and the flare and creativity of Ballesteros all rolled into one. He was Norman's talent with Faldo's Sunday nerves, He was Tom Watson turned up way past 11.

Watching him at The PGA Championship this year made me feel old and tired. I just want Tiger to either go on a tear or go away, because watching him play now makes me sad.

[makaveli]

I dunno about the comparison with Schumacher, he made a comeback mainly for sponsorship I suppose (from the Italian Ferrari to the German Mercedes), while Tiger just destroyed himself going with 50+ prostitutes while having a family... dunno... but I agree with you, watching them right now is is pretty pathetic...

(imho)

Originally Posted by The_Pharaoh

Yes, very much like watching Michael Schumacher´s Formula One comeback!

Btw, his opening 6 holes today are not too shabby. He's back!! ;-)

[MiniBlueDragon]

I think if Tiger can juggle his schedule to actually play some competitive golf (rather than playing practice rounds and putting up new swings and scorecards on Golfshot to try and impress people) he'll be able to claw his way back.

All these "reps" with Foley are all well and good but it's only in competitive play that he'll be able to test himself and get back to playing golf instead of re-learning it based on what his coach says he should do.

[RichF]

I think it was a lot to ask him to turn up and win this...but to expect Top 5 was not out of the question, and certainly not a Top 10.

Instead he flapped around and grinded into a T30.

His performances used to inspire people and draw huge crowds. Now we have a small following of fanatics, and draws the derision of the majority.

People are even throwing food at him...

I call it as I see it - and the worst of this situation isn't so much his play, but that he is becoming used to not finishing high and being mediocre. Over the weekend, I watched to read his body language: shoulders slumped, grimacing (probably the knee is playing up again), he trundled off the course giving weak handshakes, starring at the ground.

Result: 38 year old man with the body of a guy 10-15 years older. A shattered public persona who has become a side-show for a hardcore following who show up to watch, not to see his play but to witness the continual decline the most iconic golfer ever.

For all the constant "it is what it is", "work in progress" and " I'm here for the 'W' " - I think this is a guy who knows what a lot of people already do: the game is up.

[jamo]

I think it was a lot to ask him to turn up and win this...but to expect Top 5 was not out of the question, and certainly not a Top 10.

Instead he flapped around and grinded into a T30.

His performances used to inspire people and draw huge crowds. Now we have a small following of fanatics, and draws the derision of the majority.

People are even throwing food at him...

I call it as I see it - and the worst of this situation isn't so much his play, but that he is becoming used to not finishing high and being mediocre. Over the weekend, I watched to read his body language: shoulders slumped, grimacing (probably the knee is playing up again), he trundled off the course giving weak handshakes, starring at the ground.

Result: 38 year old man with the body of a guy 10-15 years older . A shattered public persona who has become a side-show for a hardcore following who show up to watch, not to see his play but to witness the continual decline the most iconic golfer ever.

For all the constant "it is what it is", "work in progress" and " I'm here for the 'W' " - I think this is a guy who knows what a lot of people already do: the game is up.

I was as discouraged as anyone, but FWIW, he's 35, not 38.

[iacas]

Originally Posted by RichF

His performances used to inspire people and draw huge crowds. Now we have a small following of fanatics, and draws the derision of the majority.

The commentators made several remarks about the "large" and "huge" crowds following Tiger around. Ticket sales were up 500%. Corporate sales were up 145%. TV ratings were up threefold, I believe.

He drew huge crowds. You can "call it like you see it" all you want, but you're not afforded the luxury of ignoring facts. Not without being called out on those facts. Just like the fact that he's 38.

You saw what you wanted to see in his body language. I'm still not particularly happy with his downswing, and goodness knows where his mental game is these days, but you've always been fairly clearly biased in one direction. You're looking at the situation through "Tiger-Hater" glasses and it colors what you say.

I don't particularly like the guy, but at the same time, he gets virtually unlimited "benefits of the doubt" to me, just as Jack Nicklaus does. 14 majors and 71 wins will do that for ya in my book, and I'd still like to see some records set. Still couldn't care less about his personal life.

[newtogolf]

I watched this weekend as well and it seems like Tiger is going through the motions.  He doesn't seem to have the confidence he once had in his swing - maybe the Foley Kool-Aid is losing its effect.  The hot dog incident while stupid could be an indicator of how far he's fallen.  People either loved or hated Tiger in the past but they all respected him on the golf course - that doesn't appear to be the case any longer.

[RichF]

Quote:

The commentators made several remarks about the "large" and "huge" crowds following Tiger around. Ticket sales were up 500%. Corporate sales were up 145%. TV ratings were up threefold, I believe.

He drew huge crowds. You can "call it like you see it" all you want, but you're not afforded the luxury of ignoring facts. Not without being called out on those facts. Just like the fact that he's 38.

You win a 'No-Prize' for picking out the two most trivial points of the post, which I threw them in to check to see if the pedantics are still in place.

I could have said "the attendance was up 500% from last's years' 1,000 for 4 days" and "he's 36 years old" and still got a similar response...

[Harmonious]

Watching Tiger now reminds me of an aging Sinatra, whose voice had left him but he still brought in the concert crowds basely solely on his past glory and his celebrity. If you had no idea of Tiger's golfing record, you would guess him to be no better than a journeyman pro, with a wayward driver and mediocre putting, when compared to the top players in the world.

When Bryce Molder was interviewed after he finished up his round, said that his recent improvement was due to him having more fun on the course.  He said he thought less about his swing and just tried to have fun (or words to that effect).

Rather than constantly worrying about his latest swing changes, maybe Tiger should follow that advice. What he's doing now clearly isn't working (T30 in a 2nd tier event), at least to the extent that he wants to compete at the highest level.

[topspin4hand]

I don't think all those people who were out there were watching to see a continual decline ... I think most genuinely want him to get back to some sort of top form so they can be entertained.

Originally Posted by RichF

Result: 38 year old man with the body of a guy 10-15 years older. A shattered public persona who has become a side-show for a hardcore following who show up to watch, not to see his play but to witness the continual decline the most iconic golfer ever.

Molder also mentioned some psycho babble about being comfortable w/ who he is - good result or bad result - but Tiger would never get that deep in an interview, especially a greenside interview.

Originally Posted by Harmonious

When Bryce Molder was interviewed after he finished up his round, said that his recent improvement was due to him having more fun on the course.  He said he thought less about his swing and just tried to have fun (or words to that effect).

[The_Pharaoh]

I dislike him solely due to his attitude on the course. The grimacing, swearing, club throwing/dropping needs to stop NOW. And if that means fining him to his last dollar, then so be it. I watch him wanting him to play well, I can't help myself, but every time he acts like a complete arsehole I want to switch off. I'm finding it harder and harder to root for him right now.

[deasy55]

You'd swear he was the only player doing those things.

Quote:

Originally Posted by The_Pharaoh

I dislike him solely due to his attitude on the course. The grimacing, swearing, club throwing/dropping needs to stop NOW. And if that means fining him to his last dollar, then so be it. I watch him wanting him to play well, I can't help myself, but every time he acts like a complete arsehole I want to switch off. I'm finding it harder and harder to root for him right now.