Tiger Woods Safeway Open Prediction Poll

[nevets88]

How do you think Tiger Woods will perform this week? Inquiring minds want to know!

[David in FL]

No idea.  Anything is possible and the only thing that would really surprise me is not finishing 36 holes.

Whatever happens, it's gonna be entertaining though!

[nevets88]

Oy vey. I post this and then this happens:

According to Rosaforte and Begay he's out. Let's wait for an official press release to be sure.

http://golfweek.com/2016/10/10/tiger-woods-reportedly-to-withdraw-from-safeway-open-return-pga-tour/

[Gunther]

I changed my vote, lol.

[Club Rat]

Damn, I was hoping to see him play...

[Wally Fairway]

Bowditch has won me over with his tweets - including this

 

[CarlSpackler]

I guessed Contends or Wins. Not that I would put money down on that...

[ZappyAd]

Looks like he has pulled out !!

[jamo]

It's official:

http://www.pgatour.com/news/2016/10/10/tiger-woods-withdraws-safeway-open.html

[David in FL]

Good grief.  So much for "striping it on the range".

Too bad they don't play the BC Open any more.  That might have been a tournament that he could feel a little more confident playing in....

[Golfingdad]

I wonder if he thought his game was up to snuff while practicing at home but then when he got to Hazeltine he was reminded up close what the top players are currently doing, and that's what caused the re-evaluation?

[natureboy]

8 minutes ago, Golfingdad said:

I wonder if he thought his game was up to snuff while practicing at home but then when he got to Hazeltine he was reminded up close what the top players are currently doing, and that's what caused the re-evaluation?

His release mentioned playing in California. Maybe he got out early on the course and had a hard time shooting a target score?

[newtogolf]

8 minutes ago, Golfingdad said:

I wonder if he thought his game was up to snuff while practicing at home but then when he got to Hazeltine he was reminded up close what the top players are currently doing, and that's what caused the re-evaluation?

Part of the reason baseball players usually get assigned to the minor leagues after a long recovery from injury is to ease them back to the game with minimal scrutiny and pressure.  I'm sure two months out this seemed like a reasonable timeline and his game is probably pretty good but he has to have some anxiety and the pairing with Phil might have pushed him over the edge.  

[GolfLug]

13 minutes ago, Golfingdad said:

I wonder if he thought his game was up to snuff while practicing at home but then when he got to Hazeltine he was reminded up close what the top players are currently doing, and that's what caused the re-evaluation?

If so I don't think he would have committed last Friday. The only reason I can think of is he must have a bad range session or a bad prep round. I am sure confidence is low already and wouldn't take much to lose it all together.

Honest enough to say his game is not up to snuff. I believe it.

[Gunther]

12 minutes ago, newtogolf said:

Part of the reason baseball players usually get assigned to the minor leagues after a long recovery from injury is to ease them back to the game with minimal scrutiny and pressure.  I'm sure two months out this seemed like a reasonable timeline and his game is probably pretty good but he has to have some anxiety and the pairing with Phil might have pushed him over the edge.  

I didn't know he was going to play with Phil, fresh off a 10-birdie performance in the most pressure-packed environment possible.  I think you're right, the idea of Phil kicking his ass around for 2 days was too much to bear.  Also tells me his head is messed up.  To pull out a couple days after committing is indicative of a lot of internal questions going on in his mind. I don't think he'll ever overcome this mental hurdle.

[Golfingdad]

1 minute ago, Gunther said:

I didn't know he was going to play with Phil, fresh off a 10-birdie performance in the most pressure-packed environment possible.  I think you're right, the idea of Phil kicking his ass around for 2 days was too much to bear.  Also tells me his head is messed up.  To pull out a couple days after committing is indicative of a lot of internal questions going on in his mind. I don't think he'll ever overcome this mental hurdle.

This is kind of what struck me as unusual as well.  It's barely been 72 hours since it was made official, he must've been questioning himself already.

[Wally Fairway]

44 minutes ago, David in FL said:

Good grief.  So much for "striping it on the range".

Too bad they don't play the BC Open any more.  That might have been a tournament that he could feel a little more confident playing in....

Couple of chances to play in something like that:
- Sanderson Farms Championship (opposite the WGC - HSBC Championship)
- Puerto Rico Open (opposite the WGC Match Play in Austin)

But I don't think he is worried about the competition, as he has to get over worrying about his own game before worrying about beating others.