Tiger Passing On Bay Hill, Still Dangling Masters Possibility

[mvmac]

Tiger writes:

Quote:

I spoke to Arnold today and told him that I will not play in his tournament this year. I'm sorry I won't be in Orlando next week, but I know it will be a really successful event.

I've put in a lot of time and work on my game and I'm making strides, but like I've said, I won't return to the PGA TOUR until my game is tournament ready and I can compete at the highest level.

I hope to be ready for the Masters, and I will continue to work hard preparing for Augusta.

I want to thank everyone again for their support.

[Zeph]

Should he be healthy for Augusta, I wouldn't expect good results. Maybe a few shots here and there, rounds if he's lucky, but not four of them.

[Shindig]

I really hope he'll be ready for Augusta. There's nothing I'd like to see more in April than Tiger trying on his next green jacket.

[mmoan2]

If I were a betting man, I'd bet my house that Tiger plays in the Masters, and double down that he gets a WD with a back injury. Really too bad.

[tmac20]

I don't think he'll play at Augusta. I think his first tournament back will be the Open Championship at St. Andrews.

[nevets88]

This is eerily resembling The Dan Plan. What is he doing? Details shrouded in secrecy. When is he going to play a tournament? Lots of positive vibes, not really much happening.

[MSDOGS1976]

I don't see how anyone can predict when he will be back. No one knows how his game is really coming along. Skipping Arnold's tourney is not a good sign to me.

[rkim291968]

Forget about it (with heavy Italian American accent).

It could be a long time before Tiger can play at the highest level.  And it may never happen.

[beachbreak]

Is it possible Tiger has lost the desire to be great again?

Postponing the inevitable announcement as long as possible?

This whole thing is very strange.

[Abu3baid]

If I were a betting man, I'd bet my house that Tiger plays in the Masters, and double down that he gets a WD with a back injury. Really too bad.

WD with a lack of Glute activation.. There fixed it for you

[mmoan2]

WD with a lack of Glute activation..

There fixed it for you

True, though who knows what his ailments are now. The lead story on ESPN Golf might be about how Tiger Woods has sternocleidomastoid displacement syndrome the Monday after the Masters is over.

[Patch]

If the local race book had a money line bet that Woody would play in the Masters, but not finish due to injury, I would place a bet on that happening. I thought he might return for the US Open, but it might be too cold and damp at Chambers Bay for his suspect back. It might not be warm enough to fire off those glutes again.  Heck, the preliminary weather forecast for Augusta are 70/40*F for that week, which is about the same for the US Open.

He needs to get a regular  tournament in before he starts playing in any Majors.

[phillyk]

I thought he might return for the US Open, but it might be too cold and damp at Chambers Bay for his suspect back. It might not be warm enough to fire off those glutes again.  Heck, the preliminary weather forecast for Augusta are 70/40*F for that week, which is about the same for the US Open.

Woah! Damp out here?! Not a chance, we are in a drought this year and predicted to stay so through summer.  Chambers will play dry and windy.  It could very well be 80° all week too, definitely at least 70°.

But back to topic... I think Tiger should hold off for the year.  Get back into shape and form, and most of all give time to get over the injury.  It could feel good, but getting over the mental block holding you back takes a lot longer to get over.  I think he should definitely go to the Masters as spectator, but I know that wouldn't happen.

In the end, I'll support whatever decision he makes, because he's a great golfer any day.

[Zeph]

Is it possible Tiger has lost the desire to be great again?

Postponing the inevitable announcement as long as possible?

This whole thing is very strange.

I don't think so. In fact, being great and beating Jack might be the thing that keeps him going after many years of injuries.

He's not healthy and his game is nowhere near where it has to be. That's pretty much the short version of it. I'm not surprised or find it strange at all that his game has suffered after long periods of injury.

I think he can get his game together, the problem is his body. The number of times we've seen him getting back to tournament play, only to WD with an injury, is getting high. There is always the possiblity that no matter what he does to make his body recover and improve, he might have caused damage to his body that will never be fixed. Or that the combination of strain and age has left him with a body that is not able to do what he wants it to do. I think that could be the inevitability he might be facing at some point, more so than his performance.

[RH31]

I don't think so. In fact, being great and beating Jack might be the thing that keeps him going after many years of injuries.

He's not healthy and his game is nowhere near where it has to be. That's pretty much the short version of it. I'm not surprised or find it strange at all that his game has suffered after long periods of injury.

I think he can get his game together, the problem is his body. The number of times we've seen him getting back to tournament play, only to WD with an injury, is getting high. There is always the possiblity that no matter what he does to make his body recover and improve, he might have caused damage to his body that will never be fixed. Or that the combination of strain and age has left him with a body that is not able to do what he wants it to do. I think that could be the inevitability he might be facing at some point, more so than his performance.

That may be true in regards to his full swing. I don't think physical injury is causing his problems with executing a simple pitch/chip shot though.

[David in FL]

Is it possible Tiger has lost the desire to be great again?

Postponing the inevitable announcement as long as possible?

This whole thing is very strange.

I think that Tiger would LOVE to be great again.  It's possible that he's lost the ability to do so......

Sadly, I don't think he plays The Masters.  If he doesn't play at the Valero, he's out for sure.  No way he's going into Augusta having only played in Houston.

[3putter]

He's not healthy and his game is nowhere near where it has to be. That's pretty much the short version of it. I'm not surprised or find it strange at all that his game has suffered after long periods of injury.

This.

I really don't see a healthy guy when I look at him. This was the player of the year about 18 months ago, could he have suddenly lost all his skills? Maybe, but I doubt it. No way his game just comes back after a back injury, so the best I'll expect from him at his first tournament is making the cut. Certainly don't think it's healthy for him to be trying to regain his stride under the intense scrutiny that he undergoes every time. I'd be happy to see him take an extended break from the game and just enjoy himself.

[cedrictheo]

I would be very surprised if Tiger doesn't play the Masters... He lives for the majors. No idea how his game will be, but I hope he wins! That would be incredible.