I'm beginning to think he is finished. His body is breaking down frequently and his swing has been tinkered with so much that I don't think he would recognize his original swing if he found it. His accuracy is gone and his putting is really sketchy. But more than anything, he really does not seem to like anything about the game any more. He looks like he has a constant black cloud over his head and has scraps with anyone who gets near him. He has completely lost his game. Lots of golfers on here.... what do you think? http://newyork.cbslocal.com/2014/08/04/tiger-woods-faces-uncertain-future-after-reinjuring-back/
I read something that said that the swing that Sean Foley has him in right now is a proven back killer. He needs to swallow his pride and make the call to Butch Harmon. I don't think he win another major, but I do think that like last year when he won 5 tournaments, he can win out on the tour even with all the physical problems. He just has to have the mental resolve to do it and he might have to start playing some of the tour events in places like Des Moines where the field is not so tough. McElroy looked pretty freaking Tigerlike this past week didn't he, and Sergio looked like ...well Sergio.
Take 2 weeks off, then quit. When he got busted, I was taking a writing class in MO at the time, and got a chance to do my project about Tiger. In that paper from 2008, I wrote that the mental side of his golf game would suffer the worst. Here was Americas darling, at the top of his game, popularity, etc., then there was Tiger having to go before the WORLD to apologize. Who does that? Who has to do that? Everything Earl did to get him to his success plateau, blew up in his face. I said that the stigma from this event would be the hardest thing to overcome. We know how mental golf can be, and before Tiger had no worries whatsoever...all he had to do was play golf, and not worry about what people thought, said, etc., because he was that focused....not so much anymore. Physically, he can rebound; he's still in his 30's...but even with that, he'll have that doubt in his mind that didn't exist before. It's in your head Eldrick.
Pro I know (well he's a poster on NDNation) who lives close to Vahalla said Tigers caddy was walking the course today. Maybe Tiger just needed to get out of Akron for his back to feel better!
His fans have forgotten the nonsense. He has never been comfortable with the public, though. Scowling, spitting cursing. Won't sign an autograph or pose with fan. Maybe he should just lighten up and try to have some fun. Breathe some enjoyment into his game again. The fans and the PGA are waiting for him. Being a prick isn't working out there.
Last year Tiger won 5 times including the Bridgestone. He had pretty major back surgery and returned to the tour a month ago. I'm not ready to write him off yet. Guys like Ben Curtis and Michael Cambell have won majors. He has more game than they ever did. The big problem he has is dealing with pressure. In my mind pressure is thinking that you may not have that opportunity again. (Scott Hoch come to mind.) When he was young and had many years ahead of him, he knew he would be in contention many times in the future. Now the clock is running and every major is a source of pressure. As someone said, it's in his head.
A little OT but PGA related...there's a 9 hole muni less than a mile from my house that I've played hundreds of times. 2 of my kids have worked there in the summer. It's just like hundreds if not thousands of half course munis all over the country. However Lincoln Hills this year is special. Check this out. http://www.detroitnews.com/article/20140806/SPORTS04/308060024/Lincoln-Hills-pro-eager-play-big-kids-PGA-Championship?odyssey=tab|topnews|text|Sports
That is a good story. The PGA Club Pro's have their own tourney and I knew the winner got a spot, didn't know how many others got a slot, but good for him. I hope he does well.
Also off topic...sort of Tiger related. I played behind Fluff last Wednesday. He came down with a buddy to play our club in the afternoon. Did 27 holes. No, I didn't meet him. Figure the guys deserve to be let alone on their off hours. I did wave to them and said "Hi guys!" as if we didn't know who he was when we were driving up to 7th green and they were coming down off 8th tee. He hit the ball pretty well. Very short backswing. His buddy was godawful...all over the course. They weren't very fast...we waited a lot but mostly cuz they were looking for his buddies ball a lot. They seemed to end up in every trap on the course. Raked 'em like pros.
Fluff is supposed to be a pretty good player, a member at Congressional I believe. BTW: Yesterday Louis Oosterhausen won the long drive contest with a hit of 340 yds. Using today's hi tech drivers, shaft and golf ball. The paper reported that for comparison that Jack Nicklaus with a Persimon driver a steel shaft and a wound golf ball won the long drive in 1968 (I think) with a hit of 343 yds. Think about it.
I've still got my Arnie Palmer Persimmon Head driver....headed out to the range this afternoon.....full report later......
I still have a persimmon 7 wood in my bag from an old set. It serves me well at times. It certainly evokes conversation aka needling when I pull it out of my golf bag.
http://www.pga.com/pgachampionship/news/louis-oosthuizen-wins-pga-long-drive-competition-against-rory-mcilroy-field