majorchamp

I actually have no clue if I have responded to this thread before or not lol, but I'm too lazy to search so I will just post anyways. I was a part of back to back High School State Championships in 1998 - 1999, being runner up medalist individually in 1998. I got a partial scholarship to a Division 1 school (University of Evansville in Indiana) and played every tournament but 1 in my 4 years there. I had a 4 year avg of 77.4. My low tournament score was a 5 under 67 in which I got 2nd or 4th in that tournament (don't remember). I never had a medalist in my 4 years, but did get a handful of top 5's individually. During my "peak" I was a +2 / +3. I attempted to qualify for multiple U.S. Amateurs and did 2 Sectional U.S. Open qualifiers. I've played many difficult and famous golf courses including PineHurst #2, Kiawah Island Ocean Course, Crooked Stick, and more. These were during tournaments. In fact, the Kiawah Island Tournament had, at the time the #1 junior player in the country Hunter Mahan. He smoked me by 10 shots: http://www.juniorgolfscoreboard.com/smtresultscourse_archive.asp?TID=602 My lowest round, period, was an 8 under 64 (with 2 bogeys) at my local golf course from the tips. I've fired off a few 6 under 65's (one with 3 bogeys) at a different local course (tips). These were during my peak years and the time I would have considered trying to go pro. I didn't. Those scores and such are very impressive IMHO, but I am also realistic enough to know what it takes to truly go Pro. Not "assistant pro" Pro, but a touring pro. I even had an offer on my lap to try out for the mini-tours from people who "believed" I had the skills to perform out there. I know I didn't have the skills. I think I am a damn good golfer, but I am not tour level and people don't realize HOW GOOD those players are. I had trouble beating my fellow peers in college at a tournament level. I had difficulty beating my fellow peers at an Indiana local amateur tournament level. I had difficulty being my fellow peers at a national amateur level. What on gods earth would give me the impression I have the ability to go out against players who shoot 65's on a consistent basis on the mini-tours. For the most part, and this is a general statement, the mini-tour players don't hold a candle to the PGA Tour Players. I just didn't envy nor want the constant traveling year round trying to make qualifiers or struggling to make the cut for a measly paycheck. I realize that practice makes perfect and sure there is always the snowballs chance in hell that if I would have gone on the mini-tour..the constant practicing, focus, drive, etc.. could have ascended me to the next level, but that would have been a long hard road with a ton of sacrifices on the way. I don't regret it at all. I am in a very happy place now and though I would love to play golf more often (married, kids, full time job, etc..), I am content. I would like, however ,to try and qualify for the U.S. Open one day. I still believe I am young enough to have the opportunity if I can put things together. anyways, I just wanted to chime in on this subject.

That is the problem with this whole thing...just seems like in latter years, its all about the money. He needs to get his ass out there and get reps in if he wants to regain his #1 title ever again, let alone just winning some golf tournaments. Hell, he needs to enter some lower level tournaments in general just to play well and get his confidence back up. Screw appearance fees...if you gotta play, go play. I can't imagine, for the life of me, Tiger being in any form of financial "hardship" for the next 3-5 years. If he is, he has invested very poorly and has squandered all his money, which most prominent and rich celebrities tend to do. Pretty pathetic and sad. I am glad I read that Fred Couples basically said, for him to be an option for the Presidents cup, he needs to play another event prior to the Australian Open.

Yea, but as the above poster mentioned "They are in a high pressure situation and not 12 over par without a care in the world " Yea, all pro's hit bad shots, even 60 yard hooks...or 106 yard drives, or chunks, or skulls, etc... it happens. Being a collegiate player myself, I know how quickly a hot round can be obliterated in a millisecond from a bad shot. Yes, mental toughness is required and you have to get through it and turn it around, but sometimes that bad shot really does start a domino effect you simply can't stop. I once rounded off 4 birdies in a row, followed by a quadrupal bogey, followed by 2 more birdies, LOL

I said holes...not ho's bada bing...I will be here all night, tip your waitress...crap Tiger already did. Bing!

You and I both know that isn't realistic and in the world we are in now, plus the desire to see Tiger still make a comback...won't ever happen. People like talking about him too much, whether its bad or good. I even said to my father during the PGA Championship, "Tiger sure does know how to keep us talking". Whether he is playing good or bad, there is always a reason to talk about him.

Agreed Deron. Now granted, Tiger might just walk away from the game one day if ppl don't stop giving him sh*t :), though he kind of brings it on himself. I was thinking about this the other day. People want to see him be a "changed" person and he said he would change and be a better father, better player, better role model etc.. and many will claim he has "not" done that since his famous press conference. But he hasn't been lighting up scoreboards either or giving himself or his fans a ton of confidence in the tournaments he has played since that time. I reckon (wow I went hick there), once he starts playing consistently and actually meeting a criteria level he is satisfied with, we "will" see a brighter side of Tiger from a persona standpoint. It's hard to be friendly, super nice, etc.. (when that is NOT your normal public persona) while your playing horrible by your standards, and really the PGA Tour standards. I say give him this fall/winter, and see how he fares come next Spring with hopefully a still healed knee and more focused practice time.

Regarding this statement...again I am referring to his Bangkok practice session swing, but his spine angle in those swings is gorgeous and not even remotely close to what he has done under Haney and Foley. For a real world shot of his around that same time frame, again Tiger's spine angle looks fantastic and he retains it through the downswing

Thanks Erik, those are all valid responses.

See I am not sure I can agree about Butch's swing or Haney's swing methods are the cause for tearing up Tiger's knee. I mean honestly if that is case, Tiger Woods is absolutely screwed for his future. I just don't see "how" their particular swings are the cause of his knee issues, and how Foley's swing methods are so "different" from the motion and torque of the body that is doesn't affect his left knee anymore. My father, who knows nothing of the S&T; methods, made an interesting comment about Tiger's post 1st round comments. He said the termniology Tiger kept referring to made it sound like he was in a cult or something, LMAO. I went on to explain to him that there is a community that follows the S&T; methodologies and that many traditional golf analytics don't agree or respect it, but that the terms he is using refers to items related to S&T.;

Also I know the forum members here tend to fall on the side of the "stack and tilt" argument, but I really don't think the stack and tilt swing, as its marketing or even how Sean Foley is doing it is going to take Tiger to where he used to be, period. I think those principles as a package are great for taking a decent player to a good player, but I don't think it will take a good player to a great player or even a super star. Tiger's swing in the Butch era, as flawed as it was by some peoples standards, was by far the most consistent and successful swing we have seen in the last 15 years of watching golf. I still don't quite understand, watching Tiger's old swing such as this video...."tears up his knee" I am obviously not a medical doctor, I just don't see what he does now (with haney or foley) is different to his knee then what he did under Butch. Is he not able to swing like he did under Butch's direction with less force? Wasn't it the "power" he was trying to put into his swing and torque that was ripping his knee apart? I just question whether that "type" of swing is "really" the core issue of his knee problems. I sent a text message to my father after Tiger's 1st day of the PGA. It was "Tiger's new book...Sean Foley helped me dominate the Champions Tour" since that is how long it will take for this swing to "click' with Tiger. Also, can anyone explain to me "why" Foley hasn't fixed Tiger's compression on the downswing problem. His spine angle compressed toward the ball on his downswing and he has done this for hte last several years. I'm not sure if that was a Haney thing or what, but its part of the problem why he blocks his drives all the time. I know Chamblee isn't a favorite on this forum, but he pointed it out in one of the TGC segments and I thought it was a very valid point.

I really have no clue about Tiger anymore. What does frustrate me is the amount of negatively that seems to come from the media and golf community when you have a "no-name" player in the hunt at a big tournament. It's almost like an assumption they will choke and fall apart. I think we are in a new era of golf where the players are so much better then they were 10 years ago, that no-namers have much more confidence, strength, and focus when in the hunt they are able to pull off the unthinkable. Whether its YE-Yang, Bradley, or whomever. I know these players don't earn the networks much money compared to the Phils, Tigers, or what not..but damnit if they aren't solid friggin players. I mean the shots I see the no-namers hit in these tournaments are friggin darts at the flags constantly, incredible putting and more. Instead we see pros like Tiger and such giving themselves 25 footers for birdies all day. Here is what I have never understood about PGA Tour players. These guys, on the range, can be as consistent as can be. They can hit shots at any flat on the range, at any target, and do it over and over again. Yet when they get on the course, they make decisions like bailing out to the right or left, leaving themselves easy 2 putts from 45 feet, and such. I sit there watching on television like "Seriously...you guys are 160 yards away...I don't care if that flag is on the left side of the green..don't you have the pure talent and ability to aim 5 yards right and keep it on line?

I see no reason Tiger should be picked for the Presidents cup other then more of a "wow" factor and what he brings in terms of media attention. His pathetic performance at the PGA speaks volumes. I know he pulled it through at the Ryder Cup when he was picked, but who knows if he can do it again at the Presidents cup.

this is driving me bonkers because I remember seeing the stats at some point years ago, but I can't find them haha. basically, in the 2000-2002 era, I remember seeing a stat where Tiger went "xxx" holes without a bogey. I think it was some stupid number like 170 or something. Then there is another stats where Tiger's combined under par score during a particular time period was another stupid number like 130 under par. Can someone assist in finding these stats...it's just fascinating to me. Thanks

I think tiger suprises us all :)

IMHO, I think this shows one good reason we might see a "W" out of Tiger. I know I know....big expectations, but I think that photo has less to do with worrying about the media, and more about the fact he feels healthy, he WANTS to practice, getting the extra reps in, and kick some ass this week.

I wouldn't call it a stupid question. Do you think Stephen Ames would have been stomped 9 and 7 or whatever it was years ago had Tiger not been a bit peeved at his comments in the press? Yes of course he will play and grind hard, but certain things cause us to get more fired up then others, and some things in our lives straight up piss us off or infuriate us. Tiger is used to people dogging him or writing him off at this current time in his career...he lets that stuff brush off his shoulders, but when your former caddie says what he does, as a form of pure humiliation, that is the stuff that eats at your insides and makes you want to prove people like that wrong. I stand by my "stupid" question.

I am asking this question because Tiger has had motivation of all sorts in the last few years. The media attacks him, his life falls apart, etc.. so he has ALL the motivation in the world to try and get back on top. This has gone on since the early 2000's as well, but it seems like when the attacks are personal, when they come from people that actually mean something to him...like his fellow touring peers or as we now know, his ex-caddie....he takes it much more personal and it seems to fuel his fire a bit "deeper" then the standard motivation he might have. We all know this from people like Rory Sabatini, Colin Montogomry , Stephen Ames, and others who have said something publically, whether it was meant as a jab or not, but was taken the wrong way and Tiger used it as fuel to stomp them in the ground. So even though Tiger only has 1 tournament rep under his belt since his layoff, I kind of wonder if we will see a bit more intense and focused Tiger at the PGA this week then we would have had Stevie not said anything in that post conference interview. I am kind of wondering if those statements are the "type" of motivation Tiger might have needed, kind of like a kick in the ass, to churn up the meter a couple notches and see what he is truly made of now that he is healthy. I'm really excited for this weekend.

I agree with this. People are friggin babies nowadays about everything. Everyone has their own level of what is considered their "A" game, and while I agree to a point you can be "humble" in your victory post conference interviews, I don't think saying "Thanks Bob, there were some issues I recognized today as problems and I didn't have it all, but I was able to get a W with what I brought to the course today", that isn't disrespectful. He doesn't come out and say "Wow, I sucked today, but damn it it was better then all these losers who don't have a 1/10th of the ability I do in my pinky" Tiger is hard on himself and he expects perfection of himself, and often times that gets read the wrong way from the media as he is a sore loser, or a sore winner, or whatever.

I know various things will often cause Tiger to get a fire lit under his ass...usually its very personal attacks against him versus a general "Tiger is mediocre"...like a player saying he is "beatable" etc... and now you have a VERY personal attack from his old employee....I "think" this is the type of thing that will get Tiger laser focused for next week. At least I hope so.

I don't really have any "jerk" stories unfortunately, I have a couple light hearted ones though. At the 1991 PGA Championship at Crooked Stick, in Carmel, IN my father got to be a marshal on the 16th hole, so I would hang around the 15th green during the practice round and as players came off I would get autographs. I collected 69 autographs that day, with the likes of Fred Couples, Jack Nicklaus, Greg Norman, etc... Didn't get Daly's though! As a 10 year old at the time, I didn't encounter any jerks that I can remember. Years ago, Jack Nicklaus designed a golf course close to where I live called Sagamore Country Club. While it was in the construction phases, we got to go out and check it out, walk around with Mr. Nicklaus (with like 70 other people), hear him talk about the course, his visions, etc... it was pretty cool. Afterward, my father approached him with some photographs he had found in his father's house recently because the film was never developed. It was black and white pictures of Jack and Arnie at the 1965 Masters or something. Pretty cool stuff. Jack was pretty shocked at the pictures as if he was reliving the moment. My father sent Jack copies of the photos with a note asking if he could sign another set of the photos he also sent. About 1-2 months later, my father received signed pictures back with a note from "Golden Bear Incorporated" or something and it was a hand written note from Jack. pretty cool stuff if you ask me.

I understand and maybe we are all making excuses for him...but I guess I'd would expect the same performance (or worse) from ANY other tour player who had the same physical knee / achillies heel problems. Many people just keep expecting him to come out like a bat out of hell, shooting 20 under, breaking records and showing all of us Tiger is "back" and everyone should be in awe of him, but it's just not realistic. I wrote on my golf blog this morning about this very topic. I truly believe the quality of tour golfers has risen and if you took the Tiger from 2000-2002 and stuck him dead center with today's golfers, I think we would have seem some form of dominance because his performance during those years were God like, but I don't think he would have had as much dominance and even wins against today's players. Maybe Tiger is trying to be humble, but even in interviews in the last handful of years he has been in awe at the younger talent coming through, just like he was about Ryu yesterday. He is very respectful of the younger players in my opinion. Are any of these young players, like Rory and Ryu AS good or better then Tiger was when he turned pro (regardless of the tournaments Tiger has won), or is the gap in years blurring the line as to what was considered great and what is considered great?

Tiger enters these tournaments to win as he says, but realistically he knew he couldn't win given his layoff and act of playing...but I certainly don't think Tiger "sucked" this week given the physical problems and lack of play. here is of players who also "sucked" this week: Ernier Els (Major winner) Louis Oosthuizen (Major winer) Hunter Mahan Stewart Cink (Major Winner) Rory Sabbatini Robert Allenby Dustin Johnson Phil Mickelson (Major Winner) Y.E. Yang (Major Winner) Sergio Garcia Sean O'Hair Darren Clarke (Major Winner) Graeme McDowell (Major Winner) Just sayin.

I agree and have wondered the same thing. All that is happening with Steve's public comments is probably making him less employable for future players. then again, other player might not give a crap if they are winning with Steve on their bag. Who knows. I am sure every caddie knows plenty of "facts and stories" about the players they caddie for, but isn't there somewhat of a bond and trust between a player and caddie you don't expect to go public, whether your together or separate? As I have mentioned before, I don't know of a single ill comment Tiger has made about Steve in the press, in all their years together. I don't know of a single ill comment Tiger has made about another player. You can hate him personally, but professionally he does carry himself like a gentleman when it comes to his peers, in victory or defeat.

So in the post round conference with Tiger yesterday, he mentioned how he is struggling to shape his shots now that he is hitting it straighter due to compressing the ball more and "correctly swinging" as he said, which surprised me given his level of expertise. But since some people on this forum are more experienced with the Stack and Tilt properties, how do his comments of someone transitioning to a stack and tilt based swing sound? Are they spot on?

My guess is both Adam and Tiger will have PC responses. Adam: "Steve is valued to his own opinion and he was caught up in the excitement and moment of the game" Tiger: "I was suprised to hear Steve say that, but he is valued to his own opinion and as I have said many times, I wish him the best of luck with Adam and appreciate everything he did for me" that is about all you will get from either of them. I bet we also hear little from Steve at the PGA in terms of bashing his old boss, etc.. simply because this weeks media attention and blog "smashing" of him (IMHO) as well as Scott possibly talking to him will keep him tight lipped.