Opinion & Analysis
Is Tiger really tired, or just tired of his swing problems?
I am happy to be back to the world of golf after a lengthy medical hiatus in the city of Brotherly love! I spent the month of September in Philadelphia where I received the finest medical care imaginable. Anyway back to the game of golf.
After Round 2 of the PGA Tour’s season-ending Tour Championship, Tiger Woods told the media that he was tired. He had just shot 32-41 at East Lake, an implosion that seemed to support Woods’ claim of fatigue.
“I put everything I had into that start and didn’t have much at the end,” Woods said. “Just ran out of gas.”
Woods went on to say that his “legs were just tired,” which caused him problems rotating through shots on the back nine. That’s why so many of his shots “turned over,” or moved right to left, a ball flight that led to a double bogey on No. 14.
I agree with Woods that PGA Tour players are playing longer seasons than ever before, and the travel and media scrutiny can take its toll on even the best of players. But Woods is one of the fittest golfers on the PGA Tour, and plays less events than nearly any other world-class golfer. So what I’m wondering is why golfers like Boo Weekly and Jason Dufner don’t seem to be tired, but Tiger Woods does?
What I’m even more shocked by is that Tiger decided to blame his errant shots on fatigue.He has been fighting his driver for his entire career, and while his driving statistics have improved under swing coach Sean Foley, he’s still nowhere near as good with the driver as he could be.
The truth is that Tiger’s driving ability suffers not because of his lack of conditioning, but because of a swing flaw. It’s the same one he has battled his whole career — his downswing path comes too far from the inside and he gets “stuck,” as he termed it.
When Tiger first started working on Trackman, his path was as much as 8 degrees from in-to-out. The work he has done with Sean Foley has been focused on getting the path more from the “outside,” or at least straighter into the golf ball. And it’s obvious that’s he’s been working on this throughout 2013 when you watch his practice swings, where he practices an exaggerated over-the-top move with the club swinging well left of the target line.
When Woods played his best this year, he was able to work the ball both ways. But when he sets up for his current bread-and-butter shot, a fade, and drops the club too far to the inside, he hits hooks or blocks. We saw both at East Lake.
The lesson is this: Golfers cannot get the golf club to work more outside simply with a greater rotation of the hips (which is why Tiger’s claim of fatigue affecting his swing is bogus by the way). I teach plenty of talented golfers who open their body and still drop the club way inside and under the plane. When that happens, golfers hit the same bad shots as Tiger: hooks if the face is closed to the path and blocks if the face is square or open to the path.
Again, the correction for this is not necessarily more lower body rotation. And if it was, it would be more of a focus on upper body rotation to allow the club to get more to the outside.
Here’s what golfers have to remember: The ONLY thing that causes the ball to curve in flight is the relationship of the club face to the PATH of the swing, not the target line. If Tiger wants to improve his driving, he needs to get the golf club more out of front of him. He needs to be sure he can “cut across the ball” if he is going to play his coveted fade.
Woods shot 69-67 on the weekend because he’s Tiger Woods, and he’s the best golfer who ever lived at getting the ball into the hole. But his golf swing is still a work in progress. Until a more outside-in path becomes more habitual, he is going to struggle, particularly with the tee ball.
As always, feel free to send a swing video to my Facebook page and I will do my best to give you my feedback.
Opinion & Analysis
Brandel Chamblee PGA Championship Q&A: Rose’s huge McLaren risk, distracted LIV pros and why Aronimink suits the bombers
PGA Championship week is here, and Brandel Chamblee did not hold back in our latest discussion ahead of the season’s second major.
In our 2026 PGA Championship Q&A, golf’s leading analyst made the case that PIF pulling LIV’s funding has left its players competing in a state of confusion, called Justin Rose’s mid-season equipment switch a huge risk at 45, and explained why Aronimink will be a bombers’ delight this week.
Check out the full Q&A below.
Gianni: With the PIF confirming that they’re pulling funding from LIV at the end of the season, what impact do you expect that to have on the LIV players competing at the PGA Championship?
Brandel: I would imagine that they have all been thrown into a state of confusion, and will be distracted, not knowing where they are going to play next year and not knowing exactly their road back to either the DP World Tour or the PGA Tour. Or in Rahm’s case, being tied to a sinking ship for the next few years, likely playing for pennies on the dollar in events that no one cares about or watches.
I doubt this would put him in the best frame of mind to compete at his highest level. Keeping in mind, however, that majors are the only time that LIV disciples get to play in events that matter, so never disregard the motivation they have to prove to the world they are still relevant.
Gianni: Justin Rose switched to McLaren Golf equipment mid-season while playing some of the best golf of his career. What do you make of the change?
Brandel: I don’t really know what to make of Rose switching equipment. It seems a huge risk on his part, even though it is likely, in my opinion, that the clubs he’s playing are similar, if not the exact grinds, to what he was playing previously, with a McLaren stamp on them.
Having said that, at best, it is a distraction when he seemed to be as dialed in with his game as any 45-year-old could be and trending in the majors to perhaps do something that would definitely put him in the Hall of Fame. At worst, given the possibility that these clubs aren’t just duplicates of his old set stamped with McLaren on them, he’s made an equipment change that would take time, and 45-year-old athletes don’t have the time to do such things.
Gianni: Aronimink has only hosted a handful of professional events since it hosted the 1962 PGA Championship. What kind of test does it present, and does a course with less recent major championship history tend to level the playing field?
Brandel: Even though Aronimink has only hosted a handful of meaningful professional events, it has been fairly discerning in who can win there. When Keegan Bradley won the BMW Championship on the Donald Ross masterpiece in 2018, he was the 2nd best iron player on tour coming into that week. When Nick Watney won the AT&T at Aronimink in 2011, he was 2nd in strokes gained total coming into the week.
In 2020, Aronimink hosted the KPMG Championship, and Sei Young Kim won. On the LPGA that year, she was first in greens in regulation, putts per green in regulation, and scoring average on the way to being the LPGA player of the year. And then there is the 1962 PGA Championship won by Gary Player, who eventually became just one of a few players to win the career grand slam on the way to winning 9 majors. It is a formidable test, and if it’s not softened by rain, it will bring out the best in the upper echelons of the game.
Gianni: Is there a specific hole at Aronimink that you think will do the most to decide the winner?
Brandel: The hardest hole at Aronimink in each of the three tour events that have been played there since 2010 has been the long par-3 8th hole, with the par-4 10th being the second hardest, so most of the carnage will happen around the turn, but with the par-5 16th offering opportunities for bold plays and the tough closing holes at 17 and 18, the finish is likely to be frenetic.
Gianni: The PGA Championship has always sat in the shadow of the other majors. What does the ideal PGA Championship look like in your eyes, and what would it take for it to carve out its own identity?
Brandel: The PGA Championship, to whatever degree it suffers from the comparison to the other three majors, is still counted just as much when adding them up at the end of one’s career. Almost 1/3 of Nicklaus’ major wins were the five PGA Championships he won. Walter Hagen won 11 majors, five of which were PGA Championships.
Tiger Woods twice in his career won back-to-back PGA Championships, and those four majors count just as much as the other 11 he won. The PGA may not have the prestige of the other three, but it carries the same weight. Having said that, I preferred the identity that it had as the last major of the year.
Gianni: You nailed your Masters picks. Rory won, Scottie finished solo second, and Morikawa surged to a tie for seventh. Who are your top 3 picks for the PGA Championship and why?
Brandel: I am not a huge fan of majors played on golf courses that have been shorn of most of the trees, although I understand some of the agronomic reasons for doing so and of course the ease with which it allows members to play after errant drives. However, at the highest level, it all but eliminates any strategy off the tee and turns professional golf into an even bigger slugfest. That means that it will likely be a bomber’s delight this week, but fortunately, Scottie Scheffler is long enough to play that game and straight enough to play it better than anyone else.
The major championships give us very few surprises anymore, going back to the beginning of 2012, so the last 57 majors played, the average world rank of the winners has been better than 15th in the world. So look at the highest ranked and longest drivers who are on form coming into the PGA Championship who also have great short games as the surrounds at Aronimink are very challenging. That’s Scottie Scheffler by a mile and then McIlroy and Cameron Young with a far bigger nod towards DeChambeau than I gave him at the Masters.
In this episode of the Club Junkie Podcast, we dive into one of the most interesting flatstick releases of the year with a full review of the new TaylorMade SYSTM 2 putters. After spending time on the greens, I break down what makes this design stand out, where it performs, and why it has me completely torn between loving it and fighting it. If you are into feel, alignment, and consistency, this is one you will want to hear about.
We also take a look at some of the putters in play on the PGA Tour last week. From familiar favorites to a few surprising setups, there is always something to learn from what the best players in the world are rolling with under pressure.
To wrap things up, I walk through the process of building a set of JP Golf Prime irons paired with Baddazz Gold Series shafts. From component selection to performance goals, this is a deep dive into what goes into creating a unique custom set and why this combo has been so intriguing.
This year my 50th birthday. Gosh, where has the time gone?
As a teenager in rural Missouri, some of my junior high and high school years felt interminable. Graduation seemed light years away. But the older I get, the faster life seems to fly by.
I’m also increasingly aware of my mortality. My dad died recently. Earlier this year, a friend and fellow PGA of America professional and I were texting about our next catch-up. The next message I received was news of his unexpected passing at 48. Shortly after, a woman I dated in college succumbed to cancer at 51.
Certainly, one can share perspective at any age. Seniors help freshmen, veterans guide rookies. But reaching this milestone feels like as good a time as any to do one of those “what would I tell my younger self?” articles.
I’ve had a uniquely varied career in golf. I started as a 27-year-old, average-length-hitting, 14-handicap computer engineer and somehow managed to turn pro before running out of money, constantly bootstrapping my way forward. I’ve won qualifiers and set venue records in the World Long Drive Championships, finished fifth at the Speedgolf World Championships, coached all skill levels as a PGA of America professional, built industry-leading swing speed training programs for Swing Man Golf, helped advance the single-length iron market with Sterling Irons®, caddied on the PGA TOUR and PGA TOUR Champions, and played about 300 courses across 32 countries.
It’s been a ride, and I’ve gone both deep and wide.
So while I can consult and advise from a lot of angles, let me keep it to a few things I’d tell the average golfer who wants to improve.
1. Think About What You Want
Everyone has their own reason for picking up a golf club.
Oddly, as a professional athlete, I’m not internally driven by competition. That can be challenging, as the industry currently prioritizes and incentivizes competition over the love of the game.
For me, I love walking and being outdoors. Nature helps balance my energy. I prefer courses that are integrated into the natural beauty of their surroundings. I’m comfortable practicing alone. I’m a deep thinker, and I genuinely enjoy investigating the game, using data and intuition to unearth unique, often innovative insights. I’m fortunate to be strong and athletic, so I appreciate the chance to engage with my abilities. Traveling feels adventurous. I could go on.
You don’t have to overthink it like I do. For you, it might be as simple as hitting balls to escape work, hanging out with friends, and playing loosely with the rules and the score.
The point is to give yourself permission to play for your own reasons, and let that be enough.
But if improvement is your goal, thinking about your destination—and when you want to get there—is important, because it dictates the steps you need to take. When I set out to go from a 14-handicap to the PGA TOUR as quickly as possible, the steps I needed were very different from those of a working golfer trying to break 90 in six months. That’s also different from someone who just wants a few peaceful hours outside each week, away from work or family.
None of these goals are better than the others, but each requires a different plan that you can work backward from.
2. There Are Lots of Things That Can Work
One of the challenges of golf is that, although there are rules for playing, there aren’t clear, industry-wide standards for how to best play the game. There’s a lot of gray area.
You might hear a top coach or trainer insist that a certain move is the best way to swing or train. Then you dig a bit deeper and, much to your confusion and frustration, another respected coach or trainer says something completely different. I don’t think anyone is trying to confuse you—at least I hope not. It’s just where the industry is right now.
You have to be careful with advice from tournament pros, too. They might be great at scoring, but they’re also human and sometimes just as susceptible as amateurs to believing things that don’t really move the needle. Tour players might describe what they feel, but that’s not always what they’re actually doing when assessed with technology.
I recently ran a test on my YouTube channel (which connects to my GolfWRX article “How to use your hands in the golf swing for power and accuracy”), and, interestingly, two of the most commonly taught hand actions produced the worst results in the test.
Coaches can certainly help. If you find someone you connect with to help navigate, that’s great. But there are many ways to get the ball in the hole. In the current landscape, you may need to seek multiple opinions, think critically, and use your own intuition to discern what seems true and whose advice resonates with you.
I’d recommend seeking someone who is open-minded and always learning, because things constantly change. Absolutes like “correct” or “proper” should raise a red flag. AI can be useful, but it tends to confidently repeat popular advice, so proceed with caution.
3. Get Custom Fit
If you’re serious about becoming a better player, getting custom fit is hugely important. There’s no sense fighting your equipment if you don’t have to. Most better players get fit these days and, if they don’t, they’re usually skilled enough to work around clubs that aren’t ideal.
If you plan to play for a long time, it’s worth spending a little more upfront to get something that truly fits you and your game, rather than continually buying and discarding equipment.
Equipment rules haven’t really changed significantly since the early 2000s. To stay in business, manufacturers keep pushing those limits. If you pull a bunch of clubs and balls off the rack and test them, you’ll find differences. I’ve tested two new drivers and seen a 30-yard total distance gap. Usually, the issue isn’t bad equipment; it’s that the combination of components simply isn’t the best fit.
It’s like wearing a new pair of floppy clown shoes. Sure, they’re shoes—but you won’t sprint your best in them compared to track shoes that fit perfectly.
Be wary of what’s called custom fitting, too. Sometimes the term is used as a marketing strategy rather than an actual fitting. In some retail settings, fitters may be incentivized to steer you toward higher-priced components. That doesn’t automatically mean it’s not the best fit, but you should be aware of potential biases.
I learned a version of this lesson outside of golf. Years ago, I bought a tennis racquet at a big box store from a seemingly knowledgeable employee who thought it would suit me best. The racquet gave me tennis elbow, and I spent months recovering with rest and acupuncture. The next season, I invested more time and money to find what actually fit me, and I walked away with something amazing that I still play with years later.
So if you’re going to get fit, be smart about it.
Find someone you believe has deep knowledge—possibly with certifications, but not necessarily. Make sure there’s a wide inventory across many brands. Check recent reviews for the individual fitter if possible. Make sure you trust that the fitter has your best interests at heart. If they’re wearing a hat or shirt with a specific brand’s logo, proceed with caution. Unless you specifically want a certain brand or look, be wary of upsells, especially if two options perform nearly the same.
Also, while golf is called a sport of integrity, there’s a thread of manipulation in the industry. I once drafted an equipment article for an industry magazine, structured just like one of their previous popular stories, with matching word count and great photos. The assistant editor loved it; it was useful to readers and required little work on his part. But the editor-in-chief nixed the story. When I asked why, I was told it was because I wasn’t an advertiser. It turned out the article I’d modeled mine after was a paid ad cleverly disguised as editorial content.
I really dislike games, clickbait, and fear-based manipulation. I hope this changes, but golfers deserve to know it exists.
4. Distance and Strategy Matter
There’s a real relationship between how far you hit the ball and your scoring average, even at the PGA TOUR level.
I experienced this early in my pro career. I started as a power hitter, swinging in the high 120s and breaking 200 mph ball speed with a stock driver.
Back then, some instructors advised swinging at 80%, so I tried slowing down for more accuracy. That worked fine on shorter, tighter courses. But on longer setups, I was coming into greens with too much club, and par 5s stopped being
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Irishechoes
Oct 2, 2013 at 7:32 pm
Dennis, I really appreciated the article. Can you explain how a golfer can implement the mechanics to “get the club club more out in front of him.” What’s the secret to accomplishing this and avoiding the “stuck” that causes blocks and hooks?
Dennis Clark
Oct 3, 2013 at 8:29 am
Sure I have an article coming out soon that details this but briefly…The ARMS swing the club, not the body. The arms hang from the soldiers, so UPPER body rotation in the downswing is critical. Thinking of the hips and core only will not automatically swing the golf club back out in front of you. Also the torqueing of the club by rotating the arms is important. Dragging the handle (trying to “lag” the club) gets it stuck behind and under. I hope that helps.
christian
Oct 14, 2013 at 10:12 am
make sure you start the downswing with your arms, and not from the ground up = not stuck anymore. Especially important if you have fast hips.
Corrie-Lynn's dad
Sep 26, 2013 at 9:28 pm
I love how people are pretty much attacking Clark. Just a simple column, addressing a player attempting to correct his swing flaw, with what he determined through his experience in teaching, incorrectly.
I think tiger just jumps on the throttle a little too hard. His failed attempts to break the habit of in to out, I’m sure it’s not for the lack of practice, could be the one and only thing that is bigger than him.
nik
Sep 26, 2013 at 11:01 pm
Critique comes with the privilege of writing articles for WRX. As a master instructor with over 40000 lessons under his belt, I think he can handle it.
Ted McIntyre
Oct 2, 2013 at 3:03 pm
I agree with the “jumping on the throttle” suggestion. Tiger’s most violent swings are invariably his biggest misses; whereas his smoothest passes at the ball reflect the advantages of his swing changes. I can usually tell where the ball is going as quickly as he can simply by the nature of the swing leading to impact. I swear if he took a valium every nine holes, he would have won 12 times this year.
sam
Sep 26, 2013 at 5:27 pm
Glad to see you back Dennis and hope you are feeling well. Keep up the great contributions!!
nb1062
Sep 26, 2013 at 12:27 pm
I have to laugh at some of the comments on here. I think that Dennis may very well have something here but those of you who are Tiger apologists won’t see it because you perceive it as a personal attack on him. I’m a big Phil fan, but it’s plain to see that Phil has swing flaws and sometimes he just plain chokes. Phil more than readily admits those things. Tiger is human and he’s not perfect, do I think that being tired on top of his swing flaws is feasible? Yes. It can be one or the other at different times and both at the same time as well.
Alan
Sep 26, 2013 at 12:55 am
Dennis, after reading this article I had to post a comment or a little more than that. I find that what you wrote is purely based on your opinion and maybe even to stir some conversation which it has. I do believe Tiger when he says that he is tired and that is the reason why he plain out sucked. His explanation of why he was hitting left is his own and what he believes was causing his bad play. If you have ever played any other sports other then golf then you know that when your legs go everything else goes. When a NBA team plays back to back nights the 2nd night they usually look sluggish and miss shots. You can say their form is bad, but what is causing it? Oh what, fatigue? We all know Tiger is not great at driving the ball, but to say its because he is “stuck” or a couple of degrees closed open what ever is just silly. That is just stuff they see on a launch monitor but has no bearing in a real game because conditions are different, ball placement may be different or body position. When he has to drive it straight in the clutch you will see him come thru because that’s just sports. Jason Dufner comparison? Just silly. Duff man has just been on the scene for 2 years in the spot light and before that I dont think he was doing many interviews or had as many obligations as Tiger. Even tho they are similar in age, Tiger has had a lifetime of golf compared to Dufner on a whole different level. At the end of the season it can get tiring and it showed in the fedex tourney that’s it. Im pretty sure he will still win many tournaments next year with his “stuck” swing.
Dennis Clark
Sep 26, 2013 at 11:05 am
Actually much of what I said is based on observation. I have taught golf for 32 years to some 40,000+ players and when I see blocks and hooks, I don’t need radar to tell me the cause. Tiger played 16 events on the PGA Tour this year; many of the other top 10 players played over 20, so I’m surprised that the guys who played well in the end were not also tired? And as I mentioned, you are preaching to the choir. I’m a huge Tiger fan, happy to be alive during his prime. He is the best ever. He would be even better if he could get the ball in play more off the tee. That’s all I have said
Martin Chuck
Sep 25, 2013 at 11:08 pm
Dennis, glad you are feeling better. Good article and thanks for the contribution.
Dennis Clark
Sep 26, 2013 at 10:58 am
Thanks Martin; open heart surgery is NO fun!
Chris
Sep 25, 2013 at 9:42 pm
I do not know why people are busting this guys Balls. TW fanatics cannot stand anything critical about their man. This is not North Korea, you can be critical about the Dear Leader.
Ted Cole
Sep 27, 2013 at 8:16 am
Chris… I happen to believe you are correct. This Tiger-mania is ridiculous. Tiger wins on the same 7 courses every year. He might win 2 tourneys or 5 tourneys but they are all won at the same place. This is not a bad thing but it does require some examination. He hasn’t won a major in 5 years because his swing is just not up to snuff. Dufner handled himself the way I would love to be able to do under the extreme pressure of a major championship. His swing was honed and he was mentally prepared. Listen… if I were competing in a tournament that was being held at my home course I would be well-favored to win. Tiger is a great golfer… possibly the best ever. But all these sycophants that defend every little criticism seems ridiculous to me. Tiger has swing faults just like you and me… not as exaggerated but he has them. And I don’t think he is done winning major championships… but I think the point of the article is that Tiger’s issues relate more to a swing fault and less to being fatigued… and I think that is right on point.
Bob Zinna
Sep 25, 2013 at 8:17 pm
To be fair to Dennis even Hank Haney alluded to the fact that he thought Tiger had a case of the “driver yips.” That statement is really a pretty amazing statement though. Tiger on the range according to Hank is capable of streaks where he can do anything he wants for hours on end but Tiger shocked Hank when he took a 3-wood on a hole Tiger dominated with driver at his home course where the Tavistock Cup was being played. In other words even Tiger Woods like many of the greatest actors of the past is capable of “stage fright.” What left me cold was the way the article simply closed with the usual throw off line about Tiger going on to shoot two closing rounds in the 60s despite a “disappointing” week. The thing of it is players, even Tiger don’t shoot 60s by accident and nevertheless these players who shoot 60s are still human with all of the flaws that entails. The driver is different, hit with a peg and I have no doubt Tiger could dominate on tour hitting driver off the deck instead of teeing it up! The real criticism of Woods that hits home the most is not the technical criticism such as from Dennis here, it’s the fact that Tiger really should not be overdoing the analysis, as he along with Couples and Sam Snead were the greatest artistic golfers around. When you have that sort of artistic talent why ruin it by becoming robotic and mechanical.
Dennis Clark
Sep 27, 2013 at 9:25 pm
Thats an interesting Hank observation-From one who admittedly had driver yips so bad he had to focus on looking at the bill of his cap in the downswing! But I think I agree to some extent. Its difficult to hit up a ball from your left side! Thx, DC
nik
Sep 25, 2013 at 7:05 pm
You Tiger fans are something else.
The whole thing of him being gassed rang untrue to me as well. And, if he is indeed tired, whose fault is that? HIS OWN. He should be managing his time differently. Excuses, excuses.
And sorry, Dennis, but you giving tips to Tiger is like Sussmayr giving lessons to Mozart.
Jack
Sep 26, 2013 at 5:14 am
I think it’s more that they have played 4 out of 5 weeks or something like that. I don’t know about you, but that’s alot of rounds. 16 rounds in 5 weeks. Along with practice sessions etc. And he’s 36 or 37. How many other golfers his age are contending? Stricker and Furyk? I think Tiger could use some of that 5hr energy.
Peep
Sep 26, 2013 at 5:17 pm
Jim Furyk averages 33 events a year.
Tiger only plays an average of 17.
Do the maths. If he’s gassed, it’s not from golf.
Dennis Clark
Sep 26, 2013 at 11:40 am
SO Tiger is a better golfer than I so I should not offer him suggestions? Continuing that line of thinking, neither should Foley, Haney or anybody else on planet earth. But he’s had a coach his whole life. Hmmm…As a PGA Master Instructor with some 40,000 lessons experience, I feel confident offering suggestions to anyone. Thx
nik
Sep 26, 2013 at 10:58 pm
This is what I’m saying, yes. Tiger’s golf IQ is sooooo far above even exemplary instructors (such as yourself). We are talking about the best ever, are we not? The guy is a golfing supergenius, and I’m not sure what you’d have to offer him that he doesn’t already know.
Would you give Seve a short game lesson too?
Dennis Clark
Sep 27, 2013 at 4:37 pm
What Im saying is this: Regardless of Tiger’s skill level, which is obvious, he has a fundamental flaw that may keep him from jack’s record. I offered my opinion as to what that flaw is and what he might do to correct it. It matters not that he is Tiger Woods-swing flaws are swing flaws and EVERYONE has one. Would I give Seve a short game lesson? No because i don’t believe he ever struggled with that part of the game. God knows he needed a driver lesson! At the ebd of his brilliant career he couldn’t drive it in the ocean from the beach. But short game? Why mess with perfection? Just learn from it! I work with several people who could beat me 7 days a week (especially at 65 years old) but I help them and they keep coming back. You cannot confuse teaching with playing ability. If Tiger only took lessons from people his skill level, there would be no one on earth who could teach him. Could Jack Grout beat jack Nicklaus? Could Harvey Penick beat Tom Kite? As a player I was a middle of the pack club pro, as a teacher I am Master level instructor. That is why the best players in the world seek trained eyes on their swing. I appreciate your comments though and I always welcome other thoughts. DC
nik
Sep 27, 2013 at 7:49 pm
Seve most likely did struggle with his short game while learning to play. Left to his own devices he became the guru we all knew him to be. And that’s my point- Tiger has never truly needed a teacher. His OCD with technique and seeking out new instructors may very well be what keeps him from 19 majors.
nik
Sep 27, 2013 at 7:58 pm
And to further my Mozart analogy- he went from a child prodigy (much like Mr Woods) to a composer who wrote music that the best minds in the field had not yet conceived. Tiger could have done the same thing for golf if he could have left himself alone.
WES
Sep 25, 2013 at 6:46 pm
I liked it, good article. Tiger should never be physically tired with how hard he works at fitness, unless he’s hiding another injury (which he’s been known to do.)
La
Sep 25, 2013 at 7:56 pm
Yeah, she’s called Lindsey.
mwmilk123
Sep 25, 2013 at 4:22 pm
Don’t write an article around here lately, especially about tiger. You will hurt feelings. Thanks for taking your own time to contribute Dennis, its appreciated by most. Lets not forget your instruction contributions also, thank you.
Dennis Clark
Sep 25, 2013 at 9:15 pm
Thanks. The thing is I am a big Tiger fan. Met him, played golf with him; he’s a great dude. Just fights his driver now
Mike Riffice
Oct 1, 2013 at 6:20 am
Dennis…i thought the article was well conceived and written. I do not know enough about the technical aspects of the swing to comment, but its fair to see that we see more wayward shots from Tiger than we did before. I will say that the constant scrutiny, from the press to every babba-booey goof ball must be exhausting for Tiger. I realize he gets “paid” and helped generate the interest in him and his golf game, but that scrutiny (just think about getting reviewed by your peers…as well as those who have no real expertise) on a 24/7 basis takes a toll.
Ted McIntyre
Oct 2, 2013 at 2:58 pm
If he was struggling on the driving range and back at his home course in Florida, I’d say he needs to work on further changes, but in my experience he seems to be striping it all day long on the range—including the driver—which suggests to me that it’s in his head, not his swing.
J
Sep 25, 2013 at 4:04 pm
His energy expenditure in bed with Lindsey is what’s making his legs weak.
Jadon
Oct 2, 2013 at 2:09 pm
+1
naflack
Sep 25, 2013 at 2:23 pm
i bet jim hardy could help tiger significantly.
be more active with the upper body and accept the natural draw flight.
Payton
Sep 25, 2013 at 2:15 pm
Its unreal that someone can write something like this. Tiger Woods has more of a demanding golf schedule in general then anyone on tour or in golf. I don’t care if TIger is better off the tee Tigers true strength has always been his short game and ability to make the shots that win which Tiger can still go. Winning 5 times including WGC’s I wouldn’t call that a unsuccessful season by any means. Tiger Woods has many more years of dominant golf left including multiple majors.
naflack
Sep 25, 2013 at 2:25 pm
he wont win another major…
hey
Oct 11, 2013 at 11:28 pm
Yeah, they also said he would never win again.
big meech
Sep 25, 2013 at 1:25 pm
his swing direction is usually left, homie ain’t stuck!
Jack
Sep 26, 2013 at 5:10 am
It’s what I do with my inside out swing. Sometimes I close my clubface too much (and it has to so that the ball curves back) resulting in a hook to the left. Not saying I’m anywhere his level, but same general concept I believe.
Alex
Sep 26, 2013 at 12:57 pm
Bigmeech speaks the truth. His path problem is not from going too far left
Alex
Sep 26, 2013 at 12:57 pm
Sorry meant too far right
Axleinc
Sep 25, 2013 at 12:59 pm
Cause Dennis Clark has all the answers and insight to all of life’s questions…
And weather or not people are tired or not.
Dennis Clark
Sep 25, 2013 at 3:01 pm
Dennis Clark is a golf pro who writes a column for this site. Insight to all of life’s problems is not discussed that I know of. But thanks for your insights.
Cannon
Sep 25, 2013 at 3:27 pm
Hahahah nice comeback.
Scott F
Sep 27, 2013 at 1:24 pm
Tiger talked about getting stuck years ago I remember he was on some Golf Channel show back in late 90s early 2000s with Butch. He talked about that move of getting stuck and its not that hes too inside but more in that his hips are turning so fast his body cant keep up. He fought that his whole life. Interesting though that his misses are more pronounced with his driver but hes one of the best iron players ever. Wouldnt these same flaws show up as much in his iron play?
Frankly I think his problem is same as Phils youre older and still want to keep up distance wise with the young guns so you overswing with the driver. If Tiger and Phil both swung at 75% of effort with driver most if not all the time, Tiger wouldve beat Jack by now and Phil would have prob 10 majors or more. Ego gets in the way. Dont think it has much to do with swing path.
Matt
Sep 25, 2013 at 12:31 pm
He admitted in his press conference that he doesn’t play a lot outside of tournaments, but he does love to practice. Surely that’s part of the issue. It’s all well and good doing stuff on the range and gym but you need to be on the course. Until he does that, for me he won’t be ble to attack a course in a major and his game stand up to he pressure
Tim
Sep 25, 2013 at 12:17 pm
If Tiger is struggling so bad, then what the hell is the rest of the Tour doing? Why can’t people realize he’s never going to be Tiger of 2001. Tiger’s getting older and he’s now trying new things to keep winning on a very competitive PGA Tour. Guess what even with all these so called flaws Tiger’s winning again. Maybe he needs a little rest. No other golfer especially players you mentioned like Bo Weekly have half the Media obligation that Tiger has to deal with week in and week out. maybe they would be tired too if they had to deal with so much, maybe he’s mentally tired of answering the same freaking questions day in and day out. Tiger is only good in everyone’s eyes is if he wins every single time he plays, anything less then that requires so kind of ripping!
Dennis Clark
Sep 25, 2013 at 3:04 pm
In my opinion he’s the best player ever. Simple as that. The article does not say otherwise. It states that his driver gives him fits at times and suggests what he might think about to correct it.
BILL ELLIOTT
Sep 25, 2013 at 12:04 pm
While I am inclined to agree with this, he also hits more golf balls than probably most people on tour tryin to fix all these problems. He practices way more than he plays, this packaged with his busy schedule of appearences and children ect. I can see why he is tired.
Fred
Oct 17, 2013 at 1:11 am
Bill: one of the guys on the Golf Channel made an interesting comment the other day that is somewhat related to what you had to say. They said that Tiger no longer hits the driving range after a round of golf during a tournament like he used to. My gut feeling says he’ll win one of the majors next year. I’ve also read more than one statement by a professional that stated Tiger may have very well won the Masters this year if he hadn’t hit that pole.
Dennis Clark
Oct 23, 2013 at 2:29 pm
I agree with that! Cost him 3 or 4 shots really, he’s looking a kick-in for birdie and makes 7, not to mention the mental damage of the uproar by Brandel, the wannabe, Chamblee.
krddurham
Sep 25, 2013 at 11:28 am
He won five times this year…I wouldn’t exactly call that struggling.
Big_5_Hole
Sep 25, 2013 at 11:41 am
Also, who are you to say he’s not tired? I’d suggest that the demands on Tiger Woods far outweigh the demands on Boo Weekley throughout the year; it isn’t a fair comparison. Also, remind me how many surgeries Jason Day (what is he? 25 years old? Were you ever tired at 25?) has had? Again, unfair.
Lastly, if you’ve ever played golf, let alone competitive golf, you know that swing flaws get exaggerated significantly when you’re mentally and physically exhausted.
I’m a long way from a Woods apologist but this is a mediocre at best piece.
Big_5_Hole
Sep 25, 2013 at 11:43 am
When I say “If you’ve ever played golf” it is clearly not directed at a PGA professional; it is more of a “anyone who has played golf” statement. Just to be clear.
naflack
Sep 25, 2013 at 2:12 pm
jason dufner and jason day are 2 completely different people…dufner is roughly the same age as tiger and plays more events.
perry
Sep 26, 2013 at 10:17 pm
Tiger needs to get Brandel Chamblee on board for some swing help. Maybe Johnny Miller could get in there with some helpful tips, too.
Dennis Clark
Sep 25, 2013 at 3:13 pm
I’m just the guy who wrote the article to answer your question. And I’m a big Tiger Woods fan, I happen to think he’s the best player ever. The article merely suggests that regardless of how tired he or any of the tour pros are, swing flaws are not the result of the fatigue, they are bad habits to be dealt with. Tiger is so good he can win driving it crooked, but that doesn’t mean he wouldn’t win more if he drove it better.
Jack
Sep 26, 2013 at 5:07 am
I agree on this. He’s basically just too good in that he swings it so hard. And he can’t seem to get rid of the inside out swing path (which I’ve heard him talk about over and over in clinics on youtube). Funny thing is I have a similar problem. Too bad I’m not even close to being as good at golf. I’ve recently switched to hitting more of a fade on iron shots, and it’s producing some nice controlled fade shots as well as some shanks (killing me). Don’t have the confidence to apply it to driver or fairway wood yet, but I am loving the control (when it’s not shanking off the hosel).
Dennis Clark
Sep 25, 2013 at 3:35 pm
Jason Day? Is he mentioned in the article?
Big_5_Hole
Sep 27, 2013 at 4:27 pm
My bad, mis-read Dufner as Day.
Dennis Clark
Sep 25, 2013 at 3:06 pm
He could win left handed; that’s not the point of the article. I said he struggles off the tee. He is the best 13 club player in the word and has been for some time. He won five times, could have won more with better driving is all I’m saying. Thx