Tiger's Problem?

[iacas]

I believe Tiger's problem is a combination of things: his putting and his general tee-to-green game.

Jack said this a few weeks ago on the podcast regarding his putting: when Tiger was young, he rammed the ball in the hole and took very low, aggressive lines. Now he dies it in the hole and finds himself leaving putts short or missing low because his reads haven't re-adjusted to the way he used to putt for 20 years (low and aggressive).

Still, I can't recall a time when Tiger played as badly tee-to-green as he has at times in the past two years. The duck-hook on Friday into the Burn at the Open Championship this year was from out of nowhere. He's missing wedges 30 yards right, tugging them way over greens. He dropped his club from the fairway in disgust during his follow-through at least six times last week. Twice he actually made the birdie putt, but clearly those weren't shots he wanted to hit.

Tiger used to be a fearsome putter, but I think his tee-to-green game is putting more pressure on his putting than ever before. The difference between stuffing a pitching wedge to six feet and flailing it to 30 is easy to see, but what about missing the green on a 150-yard par three like Tiger did in the first round at the Open Championship? Suddenly it's 15 feet for par instead of birdie. And though the difference between a 15-footer for birdie and a 20- or 25-footer for birdie is tougher to spot, they'll still show up in the stats.

When Tiger is "on" with his new swing, he's really there and he plays better than ever. But when he's "off," he can't seem to adjust mid-round. His "on" days are a spectacle, but so are his "off" days. Rarely does Tiger have an "on" front and an "off" back or vice versa.

Yes, Tiger would have won a few majors the past few years (in addition to the ones he has won) if his putting had been better. But don't forget he rinsed an approach at 15 at Augusta on Sunday, buried his ball in a bunker on 17, hit two horrible wedges at Oakmont on Sunday (#11, #14), etc. He's put a lot of pressure on his putter lately with his bad (by his standards) tee-to-green game. Years ago, like in 2000, he wasn't putting all that pressure on his putter.

So, I think Tiger is suffering on both fronts, but I would put the majority - about 75% - of the blame on his tee-to-green game. Driving in particular.

[Jeremy517]

The thing I noticed in the US Open was that he was making almost all of his roughly 8-12 foot putts for par, but missing all his birdie putts in the same range. One stat:

Birdie conversion rate in 2000: 36.1% (1st)
Birdie conversion rate in 2007: 28.86% (47th)

Of course, other than the US Open, that might just be because he had longer putts. Another stat:

Driving accuracy in 2000: 71.2% (54th)
Driving accuracy in 2007: 56.56% (171st)

But then again, while his GIR dropped a bit (75.2% to 69.44%), but he's still third overall there.

So to answer your question, both are hurting him, but this casual observer would think that his putting is hurting him more. It is close though.

[BigAl5150]

I voted tee-to-green as he now seems to get into so much trouble off the tee that it forces him to do something heroic in order to make birdies, or heck even pars. If you look at his

driving stats , they are abysmal. It's a testament to how good he is to be #3 in GIR's and #1 in scoring average. It's been joked about on the forum and podcast about having Stevie break his driver before every round so he can't use it but whatever problem he has now seems to have leaked into the rest of his clubs. I can't recall ever seeing Tiger hit so many poor shots with just about every club in his bag. That duck hook was just incredible.

When Tiger is "on" with his new swing, he's really there and he plays better than ever. But when he's "off," he can't seem to adjust mid-round. His "on" days are a spectacle, but so are his "off" days. Rarely does Tiger have an "on" front and an "off" back or vice versa.

That is a great point and perhaps the most intriguing note of all. Why is he unable to make the necessary swing adjustments mid-round with his new swing?

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

It's hard for me to vote for just one of them. Don't get me wrong, I'd love to have Tiger's "problem". It just seems to me that he hasn't had all facets of his game clicking at one time. He's had rounds where he is unbelievable tee to green and doesn't get nearly enough out of it because he doesn't make anything on the greens. The third round of the US Open comes to mind but there have been quite a few rounds like that for him. Then, he has rounds where he hits it all over the place and his putting saves him. Third round of the British comes to mind. He was draining everything but hit some of the worst approach shots I have ever seen him hit. One thing remains constant is his ability to grind out a par. He is simply amazing at those 5-12 footers for par. If I had to vote and I will vote in a minute, I'll vote for his putting. Sure he's had "off" days with his irons but it seems to me as a viewer that he's been "off" much more frequently with the putter. Matter of fact, that round at the British was one of the only good putting rounds I've seen in recent memory. I think there is something there to the comment regarding his speed. He seems to ram them in when they are for par but for birdie he's a little more tentative. Different mindset.

[Cleveland Gunmetal]

It's been joked about on the forum and podcast about having Stevie break his driver before every round so he can't use it

Like the scene from Tin Cup... Tiger can just par in with a 7 iron

Driving in particular.

OK. I was thinking approach shots with my previous post. While I will stay with the putting, his driving is certainly a very close second in my opinion. He used to bomb in down the middle and have short irons into greens. Now he's getting himself into much more trouble and giving himself more difficult approach shots.

[hurley9192]

that duck hook was with an iron, not his driver, IIRC...

[iacas]

that duck hook was with an iron, not his driver, IIRC...

You do "RC," but nobody's said anything about it being with a driver. It was, however, from the tee.

[lamebums]

His driving is bringing the rest of his game down. It looks like these days he's getting up there and trying to murder the ball - hitting it as far as possible, usually into the cabbage or some other unpleasant lie (read: other than the fairway). That puts pressure on his iron play, which can't perform as well out of the crap on the sides of each hole than in the fairway - that happens to anyone. That leaves him with fewer GIR's putting more pressure on his short game - needing to get up and down more often, or having longer putts than before. Basically, one aspect goes down, bringing the rest of his game with it, like a stack of dominoes.

You can't win a game off the tee box, but you can certainly lose it.

[asianpsuation]

i think this year in particular he has not been as focused as he has been in the past. The child has certainly taken him away form the game; and his performance has suffered because of it. THe combo of this, his golf course designs, and his many media/sponsorship obligations have hurt his game this year. This is not an excuse for Tiger, but at the end of the day he was playing much better golf last year. IMO his 2006 was as good as any year hes had, barring '00 maybe.

[despereaux]

The tee shot is the key shot (to steal a title from golf digest eons ago). Remember when Tiger was all about "You da man" and just absolutely crushing it down the middle? Now granted he had all the other pieces of his game, but damn you got the sense that he LOVED killing the ball and leaving all the other guys in his dust...it built confidence that allowed his short game magic to come through..and trust me its awesome stuff all in itself.

It was like when Agassi came out serving a million miles an hour and he was quoted as saying "I just can't wait til he feels that serve hit his old wooden racket" or somesuch. Has that bravado left with "the old swing"? I dunno.

But, I think that lacking confidence in hitting the tee shot (driver or some other club) is starting to make him rely on other parts of his game TOOO much and therefore it would appear that they are hurting him...you have to set yourself up for success...

IMO.

[TheNextBen]

He said himself that his approach isn't as good as it is when he wins majors. But that his putting is okay.

[iacas]

He said himself that his approach isn't as good as it is when he wins majors. But that his putting is okay.

Huh? His approach isn't as good as it is?

Tiger said he'd have to re-think his approach to winning when coming from behind, but that's about all he's said on that. And that has little to do with the poll or topic of this thread. So, which is it TNB: tee-to-green or putting?

[TheNextBen]

Huh? His approach isn't as good as it is?

Maybe you missed his interview after The Open? He was asked why he didn't win. And he said that he wasn't sharp enough and that he wasn't able to get the approaches close enough. He also said that he didn't have a problem with holing putts at all.

So my answer on this poll is that Tiger's problem is tee-to-green, since the approach is included in that.

[iacas]

Maybe you missed his interview after The Open? He was asked why he didn't win. And he said that he wasn't sharp enough and that he wasn't able to get the approaches close enough. He also said that he didn't have a problem with holing putts at all.

No, I saw his interview.

Your post was badly worded. You said "his approach" in the singular, which also implies his game plan. Not "his approach shots" or "his approaches to the greens." If you truly meant his approach shots , then please say that next time to avoid confusion.

[TheNextBen]

No, I saw his interview.

Yes, you're right. My post was pretty wierd when I look at it now.

[td67mustang]

Voted tee to green. I say go back to Butch and get that driver fixed. Hitting approach shots from the long hair all round is going to leave you with long putts or tough up and downs and takes away scoring opportunities. He is still the best at getting up and down and thats what keeps him alive... If he was in mid fairway he wouldnt have to make all these ridiculious up and downs. (I cant blame it on the scotty)

[outrider2288]

i think both are hurting him, but i voted putting because i remember when tiger was younger he made every putt. i remember watching him w/ my dad years ago and my dad would always be saying "watch heres another clutch putt" so i think hes just not putting like he used to.
but like eric said that could be because his tee-to-green play has put so much pressure on his putting

[popey]

If you listen to his interviews he will always blame his putting for not scoring well but i think he needs to open his eyes and work with the driver and other shots from the tee.