Will Tiger Play in the 2015 Masters? YES!

[mvmac]

Well.... what do you think? Will he or won't he?

http://www.geoffshackelford.com/homepage/2015/3/14/tiger-roundup-and-poll-will-he-play-the-masters.html

And while I know some are tired of Tiger talk, this bizarro will-he-or-won't-he drama appears unprecedented in the annals of All Time Greats. (Well, unless you count when he was in rehab and reappeared at the 2010 Masters).

[Huddo]

I think he will play, even if his game is not where he wants it to be. Whether that's through his belief and desire or financial commitments......well, only Tiger knows that. His short game seems to be a major concern and he will need that to be firing at Augusta to even make an impression.

[Patch]

Maybe, or maybe not. I think there is some drama being laid on us, and his decision to wait as long as he can to give others hope that he will  play, to make their decisions  If he plays in the next couple of weeks, then chances are he will. If he just plays the Masters, I doubt he has much chance of winning it.

Do I think he should play, based on his past few months of play? No. I would have to think that he is taking a spot of a more deserving player. However, he is a cash cow, so other, deserving players don't count. I voted "Yes"  because of sponsors, and his other handlers. He could show up, play a few holes, and then WD for physical reasons, which would satisfy the masses.

The only other thing I can think of is that he may know his future in pro golf is definitely limited due to failing, physical health. That his body does not have that many more pro tournaments, and/or majors left in it.. That could be a (poor) incentive for him to play quicker, to try and get those records he so  badly wants.

[ScouseJohnny]

Do I think he should play, based on his past few months of play? No. I would have to think that he is taking a spot of a more deserving player.

Pair him with Woosie or Sandy Lyle. Part of the charm of the Masters field. Past champions who don't really stand much chance of troubling the leaderboard, but its fun to seem them turn out to play.

[MrDC]

I think he plays, he's OK physically and this notion that it will take years to get the rust off is silly, it certainly takes time but he's had time, he could play the Masters as his first event and be just fine, if his game is on in practice, the only question is- is he practicing? if not then yes, the guy should skip it, but if he's not on a golf course frequently right now he should be forgetting about the Masters and putting in for retirement.

[Rick Martin]

Tight lies around the greens at Augusta National will cause him nightmares. Yips are a bad malady - he's got 'em and it'll take hypnosis to get rid of them - I say he passes.

[Yukari]

I seriously doubt he will. But I am hoping he will

[Wally Fairway]

I would have chosen option #3, were it available.

He will start at the Masters but somewhere along the way, after ugly numbers on a few holes, he will have to withdraw due to (back, glutes, neck, ???). Can you imagine trying to chip onto some of those greens with a case of the chip-yips?

Of the choices available, I picked he will play.

[tmac20]

I voted no. Augusta won't exactly help out with his confidence if he's chipping like a 22 handicapper. Wouldn't surprise me at all if he didn't play until the Open at St. Andrews.

[ghalfaire]

I vote no.  He said he would not play again until his A game is back I'm paraphrasing.  I believe him and don't think his A game will be back by Master's time.  Sad for golf but that's the way I see it.

[David in FL]

I hope so, and I still think the answer lies in whether or not he starts at the Valero, but since you're asking today, I'm going to say no.

[Gunther]

He won't let an opportunity for another major slip by and while he hasn't won there in many years, he does play well there and may believe that tournament will kick start the next leg of his journey to 19.

[GolfLug]

Yes he will. Honestly it is a 50.1 to 49.9 for me and that's only because he is saying he might.

[Natural Patrick]

I think he plays and continues to look bad. Weather he shoots 80 in the 1st or second round. He will not finish and, start grabbing his back after every bad shot. Why does he never wince in pain after he hits a good shot? I guess only the bad shot's hurt his back?

[iacas]

I hope so, and I still think the answer lies in whether or not he starts at the Valero, but since you're asking today, I'm going to say no.

I still don't think the Valero matters at all to Tiger's Augusta plans, and I don't know what you've been watching the last 15 or so years to think it does.

[ChrisP]

I think he plays only because it's a major, and more importantly it's Augusta, and there's a chance at lightning in a bottle like 2010 when he came back from not playing in 6 months and nearly won. But I don't think he'll do well and I think he'll take another big break from the game and return closer to one of the Opens, more likely the British.

That being said, I don't know what the state of his game is, the state of his confidence and the state of his back. None of us know, and until we do, it's a pure guess.

[David in FL]

I still don't think the Valero matters at all to Tiger's Augusta plans, and I don't know what you've been watching the last 15 or so years to think it does.

I don't think the last 15 years has anything to do with his mental status today. He's in completely uncharted territory for him mentally. I really think that as badly as he wants to play in Augusta, he's just as afraid of blowing it out his butt there, and won't take that chance without a couple of relatively successful starts under his belt beforehand. I hope I'm wrong, because I'd love to see his short game in action at Augusta.

[jamo]

I voted yes, but if you put the over/under of how many rounds he'll play at 2.5, I'd take the under. [quote name="iacas" url="/t/80831/will-tiger-play-in-the-2015-masters/0_30#post_1116521"] I still don't think the Valero matters at all to Tiger's Augusta plans, and I don't know what you've been watching the last 15 or so years to think it does. [/quote] I second this. I don't think Tiger's given the Valero the first thought.