Tiger Woods Master Catch-All Discussion

[k-troop]

9 minutes ago, mvmac said:

With the "lying" bit, maybe I'm cynical but I expect there to be some "spin" when he or Steinberg are talking about his health.

Totally agree--they have always been that way.  Do you think it serves a purpose?

10 minutes ago, mvmac said:

Tiger won't know how healthy or unhealthy his back is until he tests it out in tournament conditions, that's what he's doing and it puts him in a vulnerable position (media wise).

I'm not sure I necessarily buy this.  What's so different about a tournament that he couldn't replicate in practice?  Hitting a few hundred balls on the range, putting drills for an hour, walking 18, and getting in a light-to-moderate conditioning session...I'm guessing this is what a typical full day of "practice" or "training" would consist of if he's healthy.  How is a tournament going to feel different to his spine?

[iacas]

4 minutes ago, k-troop said:

I'm not sure I necessarily buy this.  What's so different about a tournament that he couldn't replicate in practice?  Hitting a few hundred balls on the range, putting drills for an hour, walking 18, and getting in a light-to-moderate conditioning session...I'm guessing this is what a typical full day of "practice" or "training" would consist of if he's healthy.  How is a tournament going to feel different to his spine?

• Pace of play is one. Pretty tough to make yourself take five hours to play a round of golf when you're just out by yourself.
• Weather conditions (yes, he could fly somewhere else, but typically Florida is warmer than Torrey Pines was, etc.).

Yes he could "replicate" tournament conditions, most of them anyway, but why would he? I've never heard of any player in any sport doing that. They'll work out - practice - harder than what game conditions are like, and say "well, that was fine, so I think I'll be okay." But then sometimes it's the twelve minutes between shots or just standing on the first tee after putting for 10 minutes that you don't think will matter that do.

I had a kid last year tighten up and get a hamstring cramp because he sat down in the shade to eat a hot dog due to a delay on the starting times. If he'd walked to the first tee and begun play right away, I think he'd have been okay.

[k-troop]

1 minute ago, iacas said:

• Pace of play is one. Pretty tough to make yourself take five hours to play a round of golf when you're just out by yourself.

Yes he could "replicate" tournament conditions, most of them anyway, but why would he? I've never heard of any player in any sport doing that.

Okay, fair enough.  I wasn't thinking about the idle-ness associated with a typical round on the modern tour.

Spoiler

If that's the issue, he just needs to play more rounds with Freddy Couples.  He'll learn all about knee-bends, toe-touches, and twistys.  His glutes will be firing like never before.

 

[CarlSpackler]

Long flights are also not good on a back. I imagine Tiger is flying on a private jet with a little more leg room than what I am accustomed to, but it can still take its toll. 

[nevets88]

14 minutes ago, CarlSpackler said:

Long flights are also not good on a back. I imagine Tiger is flying on a private jet with a little more leg room than what I am accustomed to, but it can still take its toll. 

He missed his private jet to Dubai, took a commercial flight, so definitely tighter (no pun intended) quarters traveling this time around.

[iacas]

10 minutes ago, CarlSpackler said:

Long flights are also not good on a back. I imagine Tiger is flying on a private jet with a little more leg room than what I am accustomed to, but it can still take its toll. 

He flew to Dubai "commercial." It's in quotes because it may have been Air Emirates or something.

I don't know whether it was one of the $25,000 suits with a fully reclining chair that turns into a bed, or what…

[dkolo]

4 minutes ago, iacas said:

He flew to Dubai "commercial." It's in quotes because it may have been Air Emirates or something.

I don't know whether it was one of the $25,000 suits with a fully reclining chair that turns into a bed, or what…

Yeah, I doubt Tiger was rocking a middle seat back in steerage.

[CarlSpackler]

6 minutes ago, nevets88 said:

He missed his private jet to Dubai, took a commercial flight, so definitely tighter (no pun intended) quarters traveling this time around.

 

5 minutes ago, iacas said:

He flew to Dubai "commercial." It's in quotes because it may have been Air Emirates or something.

I don't know whether it was one of the $25,000 suits with a fully reclining chair that turns into a bed, or what…

I hadn't heard that. How in the _____ do you miss a private jet?!!!!

[k-troop]

4 minutes ago, CarlSpackler said:

I hadn't heard that. How in the _____ do you miss a private jet?!!!!

I guess Poulter took off without him.  What a d!@#

[colin007]

Can you guys imagine if I sat down for my JetBlue flight and Tigs was there in the middle seat next to me? I'd die...

[HitAndGiggle]

49 minutes ago, colin007 said:

Can you guys imagine if I sat down for my JetBlue flight and Tigs was there in the middle seat next to me? I'd die...

He's playing like a guy who would be in the middle seat between you and me.

[Pendragon]

1 hour ago, CarlSpackler said:

 

I hadn't heard that. How in the _____ do you miss a private jet?!!!!

I thought that, too. How in hell do you miss a private jet?  I also thought he had his own plane...maybe he doesn't.

[Wally Fairway]

An ode to Tiger


A long long time ago
I can still remember how
He used to make me smile
And I knew if he had a chance
That he could make those people dance
And maybe they'd be happy for a while

But February made me shiver
With every shot that he'd deliver
Bad news on the backswing
He couldn't take one more swing

I can't remember if I cried
When I read about his withdrawal
Something touched me deep inside
The day that golfing died

So Bye, bye Mister Tiger Guy
Drove my Nike to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Swingin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die

Did you write the book of love
And do you have faith in God above
If the Bible tells you so?
Do you believe in rock and roll?
Can golfing save your mortal soul?
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?

Well, I know that you're in love with him
'Cause I saw you dancin' in the gym
You both kicked off your shoes
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues

I was a lonely teenage broncin' buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck
But I knew I was out of luck
The day that golfing died
I started swingin'

Bye, bye Mister Tiger guy
Drove my Nike to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Singin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die

Now, for eight years he's been on his own
And moss grows fat on a rolling stone
But, that's not how it used to be

When Bubba sang for phil and the clones
In a coat he borrowed from Bobby Jones
And a voice that came from you and me

Oh and while the king was looking down
The jester stole his thorny crown
The courtroom was adjourned
No verdict was returned

And while Dustin read a book about clean
The foursome practiced on the green
And we swang dirges feeling mean
The day that golfing died
We were swingin'

Bye, bye Mister Tiger guy
Drove my Nike to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
And swingin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die

Helter skelter in a summer swelter
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter
Eight miles high and falling fast

It landed foul off the tee
The players tried for another birdie
With the Rory on the sidelines in a cast

Now the halfway house was sweet perfume
While sergeants played a marching tune
We all got up to swing
Oh, but we never got the chance

'Cause the golfers tried to take the tee
The announcers refused to flee

Do you recall what was revealed
The day that golfing died?
We started swingin'

Bye, bye Mister Tiger guy
Drove my nike to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
And swingin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die

Oh, and there we were all in one place
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again

So come on Jason be nimble, Jordan be quick
Rory sat on a candlestick
'Cause fire is the devil's only friend

Oh and as I watched him in the rain
His back was clenched in fits of pain

No angel born in Hell
Could break that Satan's spell

And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite
I saw Satan laughing with delight
The day that golfing died

He was swingin'
Bye, bye Mister Tiger guy
Drove my nike to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Swingin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die

I met a girl who swang the from blues
And I asked her for some happy news
But she just smiled and turned away

I went down to the golfing store
Where I'd seen the Nikes years before
But the man there said that golfers couldn't play

And in the streets the children screamed
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed
But not a word was spoken
The church bells all were broken

And the three men I admire more
The Jack, Arnie and the Holy Ghost
They caught the last plane for the coast

The day that golfing died
And they were swinging

Bye, bye Mister Tiger guy
Drove my Nike to the levee but the levee was dry
And them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye

Swingin' this'll be the day that I die
This'll be the day that I die

They were swinging
Bye, bye Mister Tiger guy
Drove my Nike to the levee but the levee was dry
Them good ole boys were drinking whiskey and rye
Swingin' this'll be the day that I die

[colin007]

1 hour ago, HitAndGiggle said:

He's playing like a guy who would be in the middle seat between you and me.

Lol yes he is....

[mvmac]

14 hours ago, k-troop said:

Totally agree--they have always been that way.  Do you think it serves a purpose?

Like I said they try to put a positive spin on things. I think if Tiger really felt crappy he wouldn't play. 

14 hours ago, k-troop said:

I'm not sure I necessarily buy this.  What's so different about a tournament that he couldn't replicate in practice?  Hitting a few hundred balls on the range, putting drills for an hour, walking 18, and getting in a light-to-moderate conditioning session...I'm guessing this is what a typical full day of "practice" or "training" would consist of if he's healthy.  How is a tournament going to feel different to his spine?

There aren't any big reasons other than you have to do it in competition to prove it to yourself. Tiger talks about this all the time when making swing changes, the final "test" is doing it in a tournament situation (actually he's said final test is doing on the back nine when he's in the hunt on Sunday). 

I think there's a certain level of intensity that you can't replicate in practice. There is a practice or range rhythm and then there's a tournament swing rhythm (or tempo). Especially when it comes to Tiger. On the range his swing is more balanced and the swing looks "smoother". Also I could be wrong but I'd guess he doesn't hit many of those "swashbuckling" shots at home practicing. 

Then there are the other things that @iacas brought up, traveling, pace of play, weather. I'll add that the rough is going to be deeper on tour and he may have to deal with deeper bunkers and more undulated lies than at home.

[Zeph]

Disappointing. Really sad if the last 10+ years of his career are nothing but injuries. If he tweaked a foot would be one thing, but when it's back related, I always fear the worst, whatever they blame it on.

[colin007]

9 hours ago, Zeph said:

Disappointing. Really sad if the last 10+ years of his career are nothing but injuries. If he tweaked a foot would be one thing, but when it's back related, I always fear the worst, whatever they blame it on.

It's really stunning to see that written out, all those injuries, and that next year will be ten years since his last major.

[1badbadger]

On 2/3/2017 at 0:10 PM, nevets88 said:

He missed his private jet to Dubai, took a commercial flight, so definitely tighter (no pun intended) quarters traveling this time around.

 

On 2/3/2017 at 1:31 PM, Pendragon said:

I thought that, too. How in hell do you miss a private jet?  I also thought he had his own plane...maybe he doesn't.

He does have his own plane and actually used it to fly from San Diego to L.A. after missing the cut at Torrey Pines.  He had planned on flying commercial (not sure why) but almost missed that flight due to the airport being flooded with protesters condemning Trump for signing an executive order that bars travelers from seven Muslim-majority countries from entering the United States.