Is 2014 a make or break year for Tiger?

[Jakester23]

At 38 and playing on 4 major venues where he has had at least some success is this a make or break year for him to get his first major since 2008?

[geauxforbroke]

At 38 and playing on 4 major venues where he has had at least some success is this a make or break year for him to get his first major since 2008?

Make or break in what sense? No major means he'll never win another? Won't catch Jack? Will fade into obscurity like David Duval?

I think the answer to all three is a resounding "no".

[Dave2512]

No. Can't use conventional wisdom to predict what someone like Tiger will or won't do.

[nevets88]

Who the heck knows. It's like trying to predict where the market will go. I'll go out on a limb and predict something bizzaro will happen this year at a major :-)

[Fourputt]

At 38 and playing on 4 major venues where he has had at least some success is this a make or break year for him to get his first major since 2008?

I don't see it as make or break if he gets his physical issues sorted out.  If he doesn't, then I think he's pretty much done.  If he can't finish 4 rounds, and play well in doing so, he's never going to catch Jack's major record.  Time is slipping away, and he isn't getting any younger.  This thing with his back could be career ending.

[Jakester23]

I meant in terms of breaking Jacks record. I feel like he has 6-10 more years of being able to compete in all for majors.  Id also say another 5 years beyond that for the Open and the Masters.

[iacas]

I feel like he has 6-10 more years of being able to compete in all for majors.  Id also say another 5 years beyond that for the Open and the Masters.

You think he's going to be competing for the Open and the Masters at 53?

[Jakester23]

Maybe not every year but I feel if health he can be like Tom Watson a few years ago and have a shot. So yes I do. Someone is going to win a major at 50+ why not the GOAT.

[Fourputt]

Maybe not every year but I feel if health he can be like Tom Watson a few years ago and have a shot. So yes I do.

Someone is going to win a major at 50+ why not the GOAT.

His body is already damaged goods.  Do you really think that he will be competitive in to his 50's?  I'm not sure that he'll make mid 40's right now.

[Jakester23]

His body is already damaged goods.  Do you really think that he will be competitive in to hIs 50's?  I'm not sure that he'll make mid 40's right now.

I do. Im not saying that hes going to be#1 in the world but he still will be a threat. In the next few years I think we're going to see him start gearing everything around only the 4 majors.

[Spitfisher]

Right now he swings too hard and fast to have any consistency, as other have mentioned he is very banged up due to over use, injury and what could very well be PED. use from earlier years. It wouldn't surprise me and it shouldn't surprise anyone and his injuries are consistent with outher athletes that did so. The ones he likely used were not illegal or discovered at the time. but this subject is suited for another thread. The expectations of woods, I would compare to a high performance car with excessive mileage and was not properly maintained. Perhaps in disrepair. I believe looking back his swing change was a mistake and he lost valuable time in his career. He'll never admit this. His reported lifting and training is well documented from some of his coaches as being too much strength conditioning, when we all know its about tempo, balance and consistent ball striking. His long term strategy of being curt with the press and a recluse, is now coming back to haunt him and clearly is now in his head. Jacks record could very well be safe and no one should ever compare jacks age while he played. For example from 1962 thru 1986 I believe I read somewhere he only withdrew only twice. Don't misunderstand me, I am fully aware of his record, no one can take that away from him, but that was then and this is now.

[Spitfisher]

I do. Im not saying that hes going to be#1 in the world but he still will be a threat. In the next few years I think we're going to see him start gearing everything around only the 4 majors.

. His focus and training has been around the majors for over a decade, he has stated this. Why would there be any change in the future? Right now he only plays in what maybe 20 events and he seems to take a lot of time off in between them to. Some guys have already played over 10 already this season.

[iacas]

Right now he swings too hard and fast to have any consistency, as other have mentioned he is very banged up due to over use, injury and what could very well be PED. use from earlier years. It wouldn't surprise me and it shouldn't surprise anyone and his injuries are consistent with outher athletes that did so.

Yeah, a back injury… that's so common among athletes who used PEDs. Or… not. It is, however, quite common among golfers .

His other injuries - he tweaked his neck at TPC Sawgrass. He has had issues with his knee (since a child - it's been operated on three or four times now spanning almost 20 years), and then his achilles on the same foot (common for one injury to create another, especially given the stance on which he injured it at Augusta (beneath Ike's tree, IIRC).

In other words, I think you have no real basis for saying this at all.

[slightlymad]

how much does he even lift?

[chriskzoo]

I don't see it as make or break if he gets his physical issues sorted out.  If he doesn't, then I think he's pretty much done.  If he can't finish 4 rounds, and play well in doing so, he's never going to catch Jack's major record.  Time is slipping away, and he isn't getting any younger.  This thing with his back could be career ending.

People were talking about his knee issues being career ending and they haven't been an issue essentially from the time he started working with Foley and developing a swing that took the pressure off.  I am sure he'll be able to do something similar if his back continues to be an issue in completing tournaments (note he's on WD'd 5 times and no more than once a year).

I think Tiger's problem is that he just doesn't play enough and focuses too much on developing confidence through practice sessions.  He only played 16 events last year - less than pretty much anyone on tour.  I know he plays other tournaments around the world, but the travel schedule can't help.  I think he'd just be more consistent if he played in 20-22 a year and mixed in some new venues.

When guys like Ben Curtis have won majors and we see Greg Norman and Tom Watson in contention in their mid to late 50's, anyone saying that Tiger will never win another major are just silly.

[colin007]

im going to go out on a limb and say yes, it is a make or break year.  i think he has to win a major - if he doesnt then we will be at DEFCON 10.

and i say this being the biggest Tiger fan in the world.  if i could, i wouldve rubbed his back personally to get him back in shape.  however, i think he is on a precipice that will influence the rest of his career.

the biggest moment of his major career recently was when that midget YE Yang looked Tigs in the eye and punched him in the face at the PGA (2009 i think).  since then he hasnt been the same.

so yes, Tigs needs to win a mjor this year.

[iacas]

im going to go out on a limb and say yes, it is a make or break year.  i think he has to win a major - if he doesnt then we will be at DEFCON 10.

Extra zero there. :)

DEFCON 1 is the highest state of alert. DEFCON 5 js the lowest state of readiness. :)

[nevets88]

I'd say it like Kevin Dunn in Veep, he'll be at DEFCON f*&k.; :-)