Opinion & Analysis
Tiger’s struggles are one for the books
Well, here we go again. This story is about Tiger Woods, so if you’re tired of reading articles about him, you can stop now.
At the Waste Management Phoenix Open, I witnessed a debacle I never thought I’d see. Not just from Tiger Woods, but from ANY tour player EVER! There are members at my club who would not have hit as many poor shots as Tiger hit around the greens. What the heck was I watching? I simply couldn’t believe it.
Related: Tiger misses the cut at the Waste Management Phoenix Open… by a mile
To me, Tiger Woods treated all of us to the greatest golf anyone has ever seen for some 12 years. Yesterday was the 13th missed cut of his professional career. Think about that — 13 missed cuts in nearly 20 years!
This is a guy who once played an Open Championship at St. Andrews without finding a single bunker on the Old Course!
This is the guy who won the U.S. Open by 15 shots, shooting 12-under on a golf course where the next best score was 3-over.
This is a guy who, during one stretch, won 60 percent of the World Golf Championship events in which he competed.
He won 4 straight majors. He went 142 events in a row without missing a cut (that’s 7 years)!
I could go on and on, but you get the point. So I ask this simple question, to which there are a gazillion opinions: WHY?
What could have happened in such a short of a period of time to cause such a monumental collapse? Forget Seve Ballesteros, Ian Baker-Finch, David Duval and all the rest of the very good tour players who have lost their games; this is TIGER WOODS we are talking about!
Remember the chip-ins at Augusta and Muirfield Village, the shot in the dark at Firestone and the 7-iron from the rough on No. 6 at Pebble? Remember the 6-iron at the Canadian Open and the 3-iron from the bunker on No. 18 at Hazeltine? Remember the putts at Medinah? Remember the 8-footer at Torrey Pines that forced a playoff at the 2008 U.S. Open that he won? How could a player who did all that be in this much of a funk?
At TPC Scottsdale, Tiger said he was “caught between patterns.” I can’t imagine Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan or Bobby Jones describing their bad rounds quite like that. For Tiger, to be unable to move the golf ball 10 feet from the edge of the green, is surreal. I don’t care what pattern you’re using, Tiger, it’s a chip shot for goodness sake!
I am/was a run-of-the-mill club pro and I’ve never hit that many poor short shots in a round in my life, and Tiger could beat me left-handed at his best.
But here is the real dilemma. Tiger’s problems are beyond mechanical. Well beyond. His problem around the greens cannot be corrected by a different pattern, a different stance or a different ball position. He is now engaged in the great battle of the mind that has sent player after player to their golfing demise.
Does anyone actually believe — even for a minute — that Tiger Woods doesn’t know how to hit a chip or a pitch? Are we to believe that a man with the greatest short game any of us have ever seen needs a chipping lesson? Seriously?
No, Tiger’s woes, as displayed at TPC Scottsdale (and December’s Hero Challenge, for that matter) are much, much deeper. The greatest player I’ve ever seen is confused and filled with self doubt. He has lost the inner belief that he can play and win at the highest level. He has sunk to such a level that he even doubts his ability to get the golf ball on the green from 10 yards.
Tiger seems to be standing over simple chip shots fearing skulling, chili-dipping and shanking. TIGER WOODS! The man with strongest mental game ever, perhaps! And the worst news is that this may not be temporary. I’ve seen very few cases of temporary yips.
“Once you’ve had em, you’ve got em” Sam Snead once said.
And I’ve seen that affliction become permanent more than a few times. Every chunk, skull or shank leaves a deep, indelible scar!
This is one for the books. It is perhaps the most stirring comment on the mental side of golf I’ve ever seen. If golf can break down the likes of Tiger Woods, it can destroy anyone! And as I write, it appears to have done just that!
Tiger, please, please get it together. Whatever is troubling you, get some help with it. The professional game is rather mundane without you.
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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MasterGeezer
Feb 23, 2015 at 12:16 pm
No. I mean, yes, it can look pretty yippy when you’re working on a different feeling, committed to doing it, trying it out in a tournament and screwing it up.
A golf swing is a lot like a race car. You ‘build’ your car based on some fundamentals and then, hopefully, internalize them to where your subconscious is the car (how you strike the ball) and you can just ‘drive your car’ around the course. Tiger couldn’t get Foley’s method to take hold, subconsciously. We all saw him playing ‘golf swing’ instead of just driving his car. So he’s trying to go back to his ‘original swing,’ probably with a few physiological tweaks, as his new race car.
Its totally unsurprising to see Tiger’s ‘car’ wobbling around on a dirt-track test run like the Phoenix Open.
Golf yappers claim ‘well he can remember how to chip, just do it like he used to’ . . . which is another way of saying, ‘just jump out of the race car you’re testing.’
RG
Feb 13, 2015 at 12:43 am
Dennis I told you when I watched him I could see the fearin his eyes. He has never known fear and its ways and he is ill prepared to deal with it. Somehow he has to find the joy in playing again.Forget about 18 majors and crashed cars and go out there and make shots because it feels good. If he cannot find his joy we will never see him again.
WarrenPeace
Feb 2, 2015 at 5:19 pm
I’ve had the chipping yips before and with a lot of practice and I mean a lot or reps, one gains back lost confidence- who knows why it happens except when it does happen in a tournament- it leaves a scar especially if you are playing well. Then the doubt creeps in over every little shot- will I fat it, chunk it, skull it, or even the dreaded double hit- it comes from hesitating at impact and that is in your head- not found in a technical pattern. Next thing you do is start hybriding and hitting low punch shots from the fringe and beyond- just to get it on the green- forget about the flag. It’s awful to say the least when everyone you play with tightens up when you pull a lofted club to chip! He will work through it and become a fantastic short game wizard because Tiger won’t let this beat him- in fact it will challenge him. I’ll be out at Torrey Pines next week for the Farmers watching to see if he is still flinching. That wire grass will eat him alive if he doesn’t use some bounce. No bump and runs this week allowed and he knows that at Torrey.
Steve
Feb 2, 2015 at 4:40 pm
Like I posted in another forum. He can’t find the bottom of his swing? Is he serious? In ten minutes of short game practice he can’t figure it out, if he can’t he is completely lost. Hitting 4 iron bump and runs, because he has no confidence chipping no pitching. He is mentality done, atleast right now. Worrying about swing positions, instead of shot shape. I remember at his best he was a range rat, hitting shots high low left right. Maybe he should just go back to his 9 full shots in golf.
suye
Feb 2, 2015 at 3:02 pm
Dennis, I think it’s a mind issues and I long for the return of the exciting shots and rounds from Tiger. Incidentally I read an article yesterday. http://www.espncricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/825651.html
I was wondering after reading these two articles if the intensity has caused mental exhaustion which causes this kind of play outcomes? Just an observation on my part and I have not had chance to know such great sports players. Would like to hear your comments?
Scott
Feb 2, 2015 at 1:09 pm
I don’t believe there has been anyone in golf with greater will power than Woods. Maybe Hogan and a few others were his equal there, maybe not. So, if he does have the yips we are going to see whether or not anyone can overcome them through sheer determination. Maybe Snead was right, maybe not.
Bb
Feb 2, 2015 at 1:07 pm
This is what happens when tiger comes to WRX and reads all of that BS that Monte posts . Guy knows nothing about the swing
snowman
Feb 2, 2015 at 1:00 pm
Agree that it has Got to be Mental now…. statement is correct re: I don’t care what pattern (or technique) is used.. its a damn chip shot and he is Tiger Woods. Tiger will probably suppress the chipping yips and come back and play good golf, but now that he “has ’em” they will probably always be lurking and show up at unfortunate moments (once you got ’em you got ’em).. Pressure will expose this as a weakness in his game… I’ll be surprised if he is ever again Houdini around the greens like he once was. Sad really unless you are a Tiger hater.
Pat Barry
Feb 2, 2015 at 12:05 pm
The quotation I came across is “Once you’ve got em, you always have them” and it came from the heading on a Chapter in a book by Julius Boros, winner of three majors in the 50’s and 60’s and many other tournaments. A friend gave me a photocopy of the chapter when he heard I had the same affliction over 20 years ago. I still have them on the greens but Matt Kuchar’s putting technique (and putter) has made a huge difference over the past six months.
Bob
Feb 2, 2015 at 11:58 am
I’m reminded of Steve Blass, pitcher for the Pittsburgh Pirates in the early 1970s. He pitched two complete games in the 1971 World Series, winning both, and went 19-8 in 1972. But in 1973 he couldn’t find the plate, going to 3-9 and dropping from 249 innings pitched to 88. In 1974, he pitched one game. He went five innings, gave up five hits, two of them home runs, walked seven, and threw one wild pitch. That was the last time he pitched in the big leagues. He was not injured, there was nothing wrong with his mechanics, he just lost it.
Chuck Noblauch late in his career suddenly not being able to hit the first baseman with his throw from second comes to mind, too.
Derrick
Feb 2, 2015 at 10:21 am
I don’t understand the thought process of the people here who feel insulted or angry at the fact Tiger is stating he’s in between patterns. It’s obvious what is going on with this game.
If Tiger came right out post-round and just said something to the effect of, “Yea it’s pretty obvious I’m dealing with the yips right now…”
No one reporting on the event would even know what to say. He’s trying to put his game back together plain and simple. He doesn’t owe ANYONE an explanation.
Rich
Feb 2, 2015 at 8:36 am
He’s done. Let’s put him out to pasture or better still, let’s hang his head on the wall behind someone’s bar cause that’s all it’s good for now. Actually, it’s no good for that either!
Booger
Feb 1, 2015 at 11:54 pm
Blah,blah,blah. Enough with the tiger articles!
Anon
Feb 1, 2015 at 10:44 pm
And here come the armchair quarterbacks saying what they think Tiger should do. Go back to shooting in the 80’s you hacks.
Keith
Feb 2, 2015 at 9:45 am
Kind of like Tiger?
SBoss
Feb 1, 2015 at 9:33 pm
Smizzle, you honestly believe that somebody needs scientific proof to say that Tiger Woods was the best and toughest mentally?
Were you in hibernation between 1997-2008? New to golf?
Does somebody need proof to say that Rosie O’Donnell is a pig? Nope.
Some things are self evident. OK?
Jm
Feb 1, 2015 at 8:45 pm
Just remember how much he struggled with his short game the first year with foley. Obviously not nearly as bad as this but it was not pretty with some chunks and bad bunker play. It took him a year to get used to the foley “pattern”. I imagine considering his health it will take 9-18 months before we see what will happen under como.
Also you have to remember tiger is almost always fully committed to what he is trying to change. Just because he struggles in the beginning he is not the type to revert back to something that has worked in the past just to get through a round at the Phoenix open. He is just not wired that way. It has been one of his greatest strengths but also a source of weakness as well. If he believes the end result will be there he will keep at it at all costs. Not saying foley swing was perfect but once he got it he had a five win season. Not too may golfers ever can say that especially in the last 40 years.
He will come back, tourneys like this only push him harder. I give it until the end of the year before we see what the true potential of the rest of his career may be. I still believe he will get 16 more wins and a couple more majors
Wes
Feb 1, 2015 at 7:47 pm
What do you mean by beware?
Seems like this could happen to anyone so what could you do to prevent it?
Tee Jay In
Feb 1, 2015 at 6:59 pm
I don’t remeber Sam Snead’s quote exactly about the yips but he said something like
once you’ve had em, you’ve got em
This may apply to Tiger’s short game problem
Dennis clark
Feb 1, 2015 at 7:02 pm
Yea it’s in the article.
Zachary Smith
Feb 2, 2015 at 11:53 am
I will admit that I have always wanted Tiger’s short game. I’m pretty sure he didn’t want mine.
Gloover
Feb 1, 2015 at 5:07 pm
I think he’s fooled himself into thinking his short game woes are technique-related. He is so committed to his new swing (he must be a proponent of the short game swing mirroring the long game one) that he will stubbornly play his chips and pitches the way he thinks they should be played rather than just hitting it. He is bull-headed to a fault and will only play the game how he sees fit, even if that includes looking like he has the yips.
Dennis clark
Feb 1, 2015 at 6:06 pm
Agree totally. He can’t let himself believe otherwise.
Dennis Clark
Feb 1, 2015 at 4:57 pm
remember guys, this is about more than Tiger! You have to see the lesson here…the game has gotten to one of the strongest minds ever to play it. It’s a fascinating dynamic! If golf can get to Tiger, the rest of better BEWARE!!! 🙂
Dennis clark
Feb 1, 2015 at 6:05 pm
Golf, read above.
TR1PTIK
Feb 2, 2015 at 8:26 am
I’ve been listening to some of Dr. Rotella’s audio books and I would absolutely agree that it’s all in Tiger’s mind at this point. He’s lost confidence in his game and there’s nothing he can do physically to fix that. It’s all internal. Lessons from the world’s best coaches won’t matter unless he has absolute confidence in himself.
“Victories are won in the hearts and minds of men.” – Vince Lombardi (as quoted by Dr. Bob Rotella)
farmer
Feb 1, 2015 at 4:40 pm
Lost in the mix is how poorly Tiger played from tee to around the greens. Drove it everywhere, irons not sharp when he had a play, and his putting was not good. He said he was stuck between patterns, but which patterns? The Anselmo? Butch? Haney? Foley or Como? Years from now, when Tiger’s career can be examined dispassionately, the meme may be “What might have been.”.
Dennis clark
Feb 1, 2015 at 6:08 pm
Agree farmer. But he’s hit it like that before and shot 70. His ability to scramble was the BEST.
Javier
Feb 1, 2015 at 4:15 pm
Excelente article Dennis
Tig Woods
Feb 1, 2015 at 4:08 pm
Atleast this didn’t mention my philandering ways. Monies quiet the honies!
Tee Jay In
Feb 1, 2015 at 4:02 pm
If you’re gonna write an article about Tiger’s problems, you should at least mention his inability to chip or pitch around the greens.
mo
Feb 1, 2015 at 3:55 pm
Time for a Dave Pelz and Dave Stockton intervention.
Richard Grime
Feb 1, 2015 at 3:46 pm
I agree completely with the Stan Utley with the short game. I think that he should give Hank Haney a call though. When he was with Hank he used to open the face on the backswing and close it through the ball, which also works in to your short game. This is my understanding with Stan Utley coaching in the short game. You can work with a shut club face, but can tend to get a bit stabby through the shot unless you keep the body opening through the shot.
Golfraven
Feb 1, 2015 at 2:59 pm
Saying golf without Tiger is mundane is far-fetched. Yes he has a great record and made hell of money but he is not great to watch. Could be that many love someone like Tiger because of his achievements but he is not great to watch, he makes me miserable watching him play. I enjoyed watching majors last years without needing to hear that Tiger will bite again and was pleased to see some rookies getting better coverage.
Gary
Feb 1, 2015 at 2:55 pm
Tiger should get himself a couple of short game lessons with short game Guru Stan Utley.he would get his basics back to where they should be and his confidence would return.
Then he could do worse than get Pete Cowen to give him a long game lesson,not sure his current coach is any good!
He is a long way off doing any good in any competions .
Fore Left
Feb 1, 2015 at 2:26 pm
Tiger’s last two events have been painful to watch. At some point, doesn’t he have to consider going back to picking up waitresses at the local IHOP?
Philip
Feb 1, 2015 at 2:21 pm
I always wondered how tough Tiger’s mind was on the inside. His father helped him brilliantly on shutting out outside distractions, but did he also help him with the inner demons. With Tiger always being the best, able to do anything he set his mind too, able to pull wins from what others thought would be a loss – did he ever have to fight the inner demon of being a failure until very late in his life.
For most of us we take on that demon fairly early (and often) in life, but for someone who is always used to being at the top it can be quite demoralizing when they experience not being the best, especially if they are beat by the underdog.
I’ve remember many young athletics going from local schools to high schools never able to accept no longer being the best as they had no experience at failure. Whereas, others who were never the best were able to persevere through each increase in the talent pool and push on to success in the higher levels of play.
Kevin
Feb 1, 2015 at 2:00 pm
He was in Europe last week watching skiing, not practicing. I’m not sure anyone can say he looked at this week as any more than a tune-up with the Super Bowl afterwards. 18 months ago he was dominating the game. The year before that he looked lost too. He has the greatest short game in the history of golf. The chunks and skulls and yips are odd, but I am not betting against him to be back to form again sooner than later. Though I am enjoying watching his struggles…
Dennis clark
Feb 1, 2015 at 2:07 pm
Funny thing is he didn’t even stay for the bowl!!!
Paul Muehlemeyer
Feb 1, 2015 at 1:55 pm
I don’t think Tiger’s been the same since the blow up in ’08 and he’s older now and may never have the physical skills he once did. That coupled with the mental state he seems to be in makes for a very long road.
Dennis Clark
Feb 1, 2015 at 1:47 pm
Pls understand the comparison to me should read: EVEN I, a lowly club pro, have not struggled like that. Point being how can one so much better than i be in that much trouble? Also note to my readers: I’m a HUGE tiger fan. What he’s done for the game is nothing short of incredible. No one wants him to get back more than I.
Jeffcb
Feb 1, 2015 at 1:22 pm
Dennis – I agree completely. Tiger said in the interview that he’s getting used to ball position with regards to having a shallower angle of attack. Is it that difficult with a pitch? There’s gotta be just a ton of self doubt it seems. I would love too see him come back. Perhaps its too early to write him off. After all how long did it take Kaymer to complete his swing change? Faldo too for that matter. The again, it Kuchar 5 swings to feel what he should be doing. Time will tell I suppose.
Rich
Feb 2, 2015 at 7:43 am
Kaymer didn’t. He went back to hitting his cut like when he was world no.1 and he’s starting to put it together now that he’s got his confidence.
ChrisK
Feb 1, 2015 at 1:14 pm
Good article, Dennis
It’s absolutely asinine for Tiger to say his problems are because he’s ‘in between’ patterns. There’s no reason why his short game would have to be any different than it was when he was the best player in the galaxy. If indeed he was making changes, then he has had enough time to incorporate them enough to take them to the course. If not, don’t play in a tournament. If he keeps going to mechanical teachers, I think he will only get worse. Hope I’m wrong.
Anyone but you
Feb 1, 2015 at 7:47 pm
I can garuantee you’re wrong