A Map for Tiger Woods: Jack Nicklaus’s Late Career [NYT]

[ChrisP]

If I was Tiger, I'd ask to sit down with Jack and get some advice.  Jack's been there, he knows how tough it is when your game disappears and how to get it back.  I doubt Butch would ever take Tiger back, but I think that would help Tiger if they could mend fences.

I'd actually rather see him go back to Hank than Butch if he is going to go back to an instructor. Now the bridges are burned pretty bad with both of them so I doubt that will happen, but I actually think Hank would keep it more simple with him and get him back to playing with his instincts. That's one of the reasons Hank dropped Tiger was because he said Tiger shouldn't need a coach going forward...he should be able to do it on his own.

[newtogolf]

I'd actually rather see him go back to Hank than Butch if he is going to go back to an instructor. Now the bridges are burned pretty bad with both of them so I doubt that will happen, but I actually think Hank would keep it more simple with him and get him back to playing with his instincts. That's one of the reasons Hank dropped Tiger was because he said Tiger shouldn't need a coach going forward...he should be able to do it on his own.

I don't think Tiger has trusted Hank since Hank wrote the book about him and used Tigers name for his personal gain.  I think Butch had a bigger issue with Tiger than Tiger did with Butch so if Tiger wanted to, he could probably patch up that relationship.

Hank is more of a father figure and even at almost 40 I think Tiger could use someone to help fill the void.

[ChrisP]

I don't think Tiger has trusted Hank since Hank wrote the book about him and used Tigers name for his personal gain.  I think Butch had a bigger issue with Tiger than Tiger did with Butch so if Tiger wanted to, he could probably patch up that relationship.

Hank is more of a father figure and even at almost 40 I think Tiger could use someone to help fill the void.

Yeah, I agree. The bridges have been burned with both of them but moreso with Hank. I would like to see Tiger go back to Stevie as well (although I know that's a 1 million-to-one chance). I've said many times I think Tiger made a mistake changing caddies, but that's another relationship that's definitely been forever damaged. I think Stevie was in shock Tiger dropped him and angry and took the frustration out on him and went too far with some of his comments. But I don't think Tiger should have ever gotten rid of him in the first place. I think Stevie was good for Tiger.

[Phil McGleno]

That's one of the reasons Hank dropped Tiger was because he said Tiger shouldn't need a coach going forward...he should be able to do it on his own.

Let us be real about that. Haney dropped Tiger because he was going to get dropped soon anyway. The line about not needing a new instructor is just self-serving stuff to say that he got Tiger to the peak and so nobody could top him but the truth is very different IMO. Tiger was a bit of a wreck at the end of the Haney time and had no confidence in his driver then. I remember Yang out driving him many times including the first three holes or so at the PGA.

[newtogolf]

Let us be real about that. Haney dropped Tiger because he was going to get dropped soon anyway. The line about not needing a new instructor is just self-serving stuff to say that he got Tiger to the peak and so nobody could top him but the truth is very different IMO. Tiger was a bit of a wreck at the end of the Haney time and had no confidence in his driver then. I remember Yang out driving him many times including the first three holes or so at the PGA.

@Phil McGleno , what do you think about Tiger getting back with Butch or Claude?  Does it make any sense and is there any chance it could happen?

[Phil McGleno]

@Phil McGleno , what do you think about Tiger getting back with Butch or Claude?  Does it make any sense and is there any chance it could happen?

No chance-I think Tiger thinks he is doing the right thing and does not want to admit he was wrong-if he even was.

[Gunther]

I'd like to know how one gets a blood blister swinging a golf club. I didn't play for awhile and got a blister at the base of my right forefinger, which was normal, callus went away, no issue. But a blood blister is caused from pinching, like with a pair of pliers. It fills with blood so the blister itself looks blue where a regular blister is just skin colored. Has anyone ever gotten a blood blister from swinging a golf club? Perhaps the semantics were incorrect? I just find that hard to imagine.

[newtogolf]

I'd like to know how one gets a blood blister swinging a golf club. I didn't play for awhile and got a blister at the base of my right forefinger, which was normal, callus went away, no issue.

But a blood blister is caused from pinching, like with a pair of pliers. It fills with blood so the blister itself looks blue where a regular blister is just skin colored. Has anyone ever gotten a blood blister from swinging a golf club? Perhaps the semantics were incorrect? I just find that hard to imagine.

I have, right on the pad below my pinky on my glove hand.  I hit a shot really fat that caused the grip to pinch the pad under my pinky and it formed a blood blister.

[Gunther]

I have, right on the pad below my pinky on my glove hand.  I hit a shot really fat that caused the grip to pinch the pad under my pinky and it formed a blood blister.

OK, that makes sense, a one-time quick pinch that creates a blood blister vs. repetitive swings that can create regular blisters. Not indicative of beating a thousand balls which it sounds like that reporter was trying to convey.

[natureboy]

Tiger has always cared about the mechanical side of his swing.-He told Butch he hated being laid off while winning the Masters by 12 in his major pro debut fer cryin out loud.

When he GETS the mechanics you see the artistry-But he has ALWAYS cared about the mechanics.

I thought I heard Butch say in an interview that Tiger didn't like the look of his club being across the line at the top?

[CraiginKSA]

I'd like to know how one gets a blood blister swinging a golf club. I didn't play for awhile and got a blister at the base of my right forefinger, which was normal, callus went away, no issue.

But a blood blister is caused from pinching, like with a pair of pliers. It fills with blood so the blister itself looks blue where a regular blister is just skin colored. Has anyone ever gotten a blood blister from swinging a golf club? Perhaps the semantics were incorrect? I just find that hard to imagine.

I was thinking the same thing, but apparently (from Wikipedia):

Causes

Blood blisters are commonly caused by accidents in which the skin is pinched by a tool, mechanism, or heavy weight without protective gear. Blood blisters can also arise from forcible human contact, including grappling.

Blood blisters also may occur with constant rubbing back and forth. Because of this, baseball pitchers and drummers often contract blood blisters on the fingers . They also form as a result of frostbite .

[Phil McGleno]

I thought I heard Butch say in an interview that Tiger didn't like the look of his club being across the line at the top?

Whatever it was the the point was he did not like the mechanics and wanted to change them and that happened long before Foley or Como or the next guy.

[RFKFREAK]

Not to the degree that Foley and Como have him focused. These guys have really screwed him up but, as Chamblee (I know, the evil one) has said, it is really Tiger's fault for listening to them and their approach. The short game in particular is a result of their intrusion into his head. I'm a double digit handicap but I am always able to improve my short game just by going to the short game range and getting my "feel" back.

I really don't think that those of us that are high handicappers should be in a position to say that someone of Tiger's caliber should do what we do to get improve a certain aspect of their game.

[MEfree]

I really don't think that those of us that are high handicappers should be in a position to say that someone of Tiger's caliber should do what we do to get improve a certain aspect of their game.

You're right, but if none of us hacks offered up our opinions, this site would be pretty boring.

[RFKFREAK]

You're right, but if none of us hacks offered up our opinions, this site would be pretty boring.

Maybe, haha.

By no means am I saying that because we're high handicappers our opinions can't be good ones, I'm just saying that what works for a high handicapper probably won't work for someone like Tiger because he's so much more advanced and a better player.

[Jakester23]

Maybe, haha. By no means am I saying that because we're high handicappers our opinions can't be good ones, I'm just saying that what works for a high handicapper probably won't work for someone like Tiger because he's so much more advanced and a better player.

Not to mention most of us haven't played under any real pressure. I'd say no one has ever had to play with as much pressure as Tiger.

[MEfree]

Not to mention most of us haven't played under any real pressure. I'd say no one has ever had to play with as much pressure as Tiger.

Certainly nobody has had to play with as much constant scrutiny as Tiger, but I think it is hard to say whether there is more pressure on a guy at Q school who has promised his wife he will get a real job if he doesn't make it or a guy looking to win his 15th major or even a guy looking to make his HS team.

[Gunther]

Certainly nobody has had to play with as much constant scrutiny as Tiger, but I think it is hard to say whether there is more pressure on a guy at Q school who has promised his wife he will get a real job if he doesn't make it or a guy looking to win his 15th major or even a guy looking to make his HS team.

That's actually a good point. I took the original post at face value and thought, yeah, that makes sense. But the truth is, for many years now, Tiger has played without much pressure other than what he places on himself to solidify a legacy. The guy at Q school is under far more pressure. Good post.