Tiger Woods Master Catch-All Discussion

[Vinsk]

On 3/22/2018 at 10:11 AM, nevets88 said:

I don't think that would happen today. I wondered what the kid said, but kids say silly things. Maybe if Woods didn't have the extra layers he might have noticed. Anyways, that was a cool moment. I bet that kid is a Tiger fan for life.

No, today someone would say they were offended by the kid for battery of Tiger.

[nevets88]

 

[Zeph]

OK, a few things from a stroll around paradise. First of all, it’s pure madness out there, on a Monday practice round. Just complete chaos. People can’t get enough of TW.

— Tiger Tracker (@GCTigerTracker) April 2, 2018

http://news.tigerwoods.com/woods-excited-with-the-masters-only-one-week-away/

Quote

Last week, Woods played Augusta for the first time since the final round of 2015 Masters, when he tied for 17th. He played two practice rounds and was joined for nine holes each day by Bryson DeChambeau.

“They resurfaced a few of the greens, but they still look like they’ve been there for 100 years,” Woods said. “The course was in fantastic shape. My yardage book was basically the same.”

The weather was cold – in the 30s and 40s – and a challenge was deciding how many layers to wear. The greens and fairways weren’t up to tournament speed, but will be next week.

“It played brutally long,” he said. “The ball wasn’t flying or rolling out. It will play much, much faster in the tournament.”

The elevation changes and sidehill lies came back to him quickly.

“I’ve played basically flat courses,” said Woods. “Hitting off slopes and walking was different. The only real flat spots at Augusta are the tee boxes. You have to make constant adjustments.”

Woods is still sorting out his practice rounds and might play in the Par-3 Contest. He has tweaked the shafts in his driver and 3-wood, and will decide whether to make the switch.

While Woods has missed the last two Masters, three of the last four, his expectations haven’t changed.

“I’m just there to win,” he said.

 

Edited April 3, 2018 by Zeph

[DeadMan]

If you haven't read this already, this article by Kevin Van Valkenburg of ESPN on Tiger is really good: http://www.espn.com/espn/feature/story/_/id/22969155/tiger-set-return-masters-new-generation-fans-watching

[saevel25]

Great article @DeadMan 

[mvmac]

https://www.pgatour.com/news/2018/04/02/tiger-woods-augusta-national-masters.html?cid=sf86609534

Quote

He's still one of the best iron players on TOUR.

Woods ranks 15th this season in Strokes Gained: Approach and is 29th in play from the Red Zone (175-225 yards). Excellent Red Zone play is one of the three common attributes I’ve seen among players who are successful at Augusta National. The ability to hit it high and far are the other two.

Iron play is especially important at Augusta National, where it’s difficult for even the best short-game players to save par because of the firm, fast and undulating greens and the tightly-mown areas around the putting surfaces. Nine of the past 10 Masters champions have hit at least 49 greens (Danny Willett, who hit 40 in 2016, is the exception).

Like his iron play, Woods’ putting is very strong but not quite at the level he displayed from 2005-09.

Woods is definitely playing well enough to win a fifth Masters. His game is not quite where it was in 2005-09 but it is quite similar in terms of the overall ‘profile’. As he did during his prime, he relies on his iron play, short game and putting to gain most of his strokes and make up for his weakness off the tee.

 

[Vinsk]

6 minutes ago, mvmac said:

https://www.pgatour.com/news/2018/04/02/tiger-woods-augusta-national-masters.html?cid=sf86609534

 

Great article @mvmac. I’ve gotten tired of hearing people (ad nausea Hank Haney) say that Tiger really has no chance at The Masters because his driving is off. 

[iacas]

16 minutes ago, mvmac said:

https://www.pgatour.com/news/2018/04/02/tiger-woods-augusta-national-masters.html?cid=sf86609534

And those are his ranks including his first few tournaments back. He appears to be getting stronger with each event.

The course is more about driving, though, so that's ultimately why I don't put him as my #1 pick.

If it was the 1997 Augusta National course, sure. Because you could drive it anywhere.

[nevets88]

 

[mvmac]

2 hours ago, iacas said:

And those are his ranks including his first few tournaments back. He appears to be getting stronger with each event.

Right and after not playing in a tournament for about 2 years.

[nevets88]

It was reassuring in the above interview to hear him say that he has dialed down his practice time on the range, even though it's more a his body won't let him thing. So he's coming back quickly while practicing not as much as he used to. I think he said something about smart practice vs beating balls.

Maybe I didn't catch it, I would have asked how much his kids play into his motivation - is it a hey kids, I was pretty good back in the day, lemme show you what I can do kind of thing.

[jamo]

Got to follow his group with Phil, Couples, and Pieters today. More pictures to come tomorrow when I get home. 

[nevets88]

Ahhhh, there it is, a new, proper Tiger Woods commercial.

 

[jbishop15]

On 4/3/2018 at 9:47 PM, jamo said:

Got to follow his group with Phil, Couples, and Pieters today. More pictures to come tomorrow when I get home. 

God, I bet that was amazing. Welcome back to Georgia, again! 

When I went to the Masters three years ago, he didn't show up for a practice round until late, after we had left. When I followed him at the 2011 PGA the crowds were ten deep. Nuts the amount of attention he gets. 

[Zeph]

Someone mentioned a rumor that Tiger would play at Zurich Classic 26-29. April, which could potentially set up another 3-week schedule with Wells Fargo and The Players following next. Of course just a rumor, we don't know anything at this point really. He hasn't said anything about his plans, aside of The National in June/July.

[iacas]

 

[nevets88]

Woods has 40 European Tour wins.

 

[iacas]

3 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

Woods has 40 European Tour wins.

 

What prompted that?

Most of those wins are, of course, WGCs and majors.