Tour News

Tiger Woods takes defiant tone; hits 3 balls in water at Congressional media day

Published

10 years ago

May 16, 2016

Appearing at a media day at Congressional Country Club for next month’s Quicken Loans National, Tiger Woods again pumped the brakes on any talk of an imminent return, saying, he didn’t know if he’d make his return “next week or a year from now.”

Of course, optimists can focus on the first part of Woods’ statement as evidence that he could return shortly. This fact, however, may give the glass-half-fullers pause: Hitting balls from 100 yards out at Congressional’s 10th hole, Woods found the water three times. USA Today’s Christine Brennan tweeted videos the tournament host’s shots.

HERE’S TIGER’S FIRST OF THREE INTO THE WATER: PIC.TWITTER.COM/Z9FZLVPVPK

— CHRISTINE BRENNAN (@CBRENNANSPORTS) MAY 16, 2016

TIGER’S SECOND INTO THE WATER AT CONGRESSIONAL: PIC.TWITTER.COM/RO7U85YK9H

— CHRISTINE BRENNAN (@CBRENNANSPORTS) MAY 16, 2016

AND THE THIRD IN THE WATER. ALL WITHIN 90 SECONDS. YIKES. PIC.TWITTER.COM/IGDPONUTAY

— CHRISTINE BRENNAN (@CBRENNANSPORTS) MAY 16, 2016

And since this is GolfWRX, we can’t help ourselves from breaking down the mechanics of the 40-year-old golfer’s action on casual 100-yard wedge shots in an exhibition setting.

What do you see, WRXers?

While you’re dissecting, it’s also worth noting: Woods said he thinks he can still surpass Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 majors saying, “I think his…record is certainly still attainable.”

Reading the tea leaves based on three water-ball wedge shots isn’t wise, but it wasn’t convincing stuff from the 14-time major champion.

A final note: The statement about breaking Nicklaus’ record, however, and the following stand in contrast to the “who knows/wait-and-see” angle Team Tiger has been pushing. Woods told the audience at Congressional, “People have written me off; I’m not fertilizer.”

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Ben Alberstadt

Ben Alberstadt is the Editor-in-Chief at GolfWRX, where he’s led editorial direction and gear coverage since 2018. He first joined the site as a freelance writer in 2012 after years spent working in pro shops and bag rooms at both public and private golf courses, experiences that laid the foundation for his deep knowledge of equipment and all facets of this maddening game. Based in Philadelphia, Ben’s byline has also appeared on PGATour.com, Bleacher Report...and across numerous PGA DFS and fantasy golf platforms. Off the course, Ben is a committed cat rescuer and, of course, a passionate Philadelphia sports fan. Follow him on Instagram @benalberstadt.

38 Comments

Tour Pro

Jun 13, 2016 at 5:47 am

If Tiger stuck his 1st shot 3″ from the pin, people would call him all kinds of names.

Reply Report comment
Czshakes

May 20, 2016 at 12:23 pm

Do you think any PGA or even Web.com tour player would swing that slowly and delibrately if they were trying to hit that pin? You can actually see Tiger put the brakes on his downswing right after an early transition. Dumb ass article

Reply Report comment
Bert

May 18, 2016 at 9:18 pm

Leave him alone! Makes since to me nothing he does will be accepted, wrong if he’s right and right if he’s wrong. Tough price to pay but he did make his own bed. I thought he looked like he was still protecting his back. When you’ve been injured the mind will continue to protect.

Reply Report comment
Dick Woodcock

May 18, 2016 at 3:46 pm

Maybe he should get the XE1 wedge…

Reply Report comment
- Adam Crawford
  
  May 18, 2016 at 11:36 pm
  
  Best comment ever. I’m sure Arron Oberholser would sell him one.
  
  Reply Report comment
rhonda

May 18, 2016 at 2:14 pm

I see a poorly written article about a non-topic.

Reply Report comment
B. Parsons

May 18, 2016 at 12:02 pm

As John said below, it was a closest to the pin contest with military vets. He put 3 in the drink cause he was a good sport and wanted to give some vets a great experience and a story to tell.

As for the article… What a piece of written garbage…

Reply Report comment
Dave

May 18, 2016 at 11:57 am

Tiger is his own worst talk show ,once a very respected young man and a great golfer but not good enough had to get better I feel sorry for him he is in a very tough position . Does not matter what he does he will be forever badgered by the MEDIA give it a rest already .find someone else to pick on and write about. This same old same old gets old””…………?………………………

Reply Report comment
Mat

May 18, 2016 at 8:52 am

Has someone done a Tin Cup mashup?

Reply Report comment
Joe

May 17, 2016 at 10:17 pm

I am not convinced that he hit a Pitching wedge. More likely it was a SW or Lob, plus they looked liked they were picked of the ground, did anyone see a divot?

Reply Report comment
Leon

May 17, 2016 at 9:12 pm

“I think his…record is certainly still attainable.”

This is a little strategic saying. He may actually referred to “I think his…record is certainly still attainable. (by someone, but not me)”

Reply Report comment
yan freeman

May 17, 2016 at 5:50 pm

Tiger hit those shots into the water on purpose. It was a kp contest and the Veteran before him barley hit the green. If you think Tiger Woods couldn’t carry a wedge 100 yards then you’re the one that needs some help not him.

Reply Report comment
- Scott
  
  May 18, 2016 at 3:27 pm
  
  Maybe, but are all of these veterans 6 years old? Did they hand out 9th place ribbons too? These men and women would like a fair shot at what ever they want to attempt, not some lame former #1 dumping balls in the drink to make them feel good. Tiger’s swing was awful. Look legitimate terrible shots to me. Why didn’t he swing and miss? Why didn’t he just top it to the end of the box.
  
  Tiger is clearly no closer to the PGA tour right now than I am.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Yan
    
    May 18, 2016 at 6:26 pm
    
    Tigers pulled stuff like that before. It doesn’t matter if they want a fair shot. How good would you feel if you showed one of them up? I bet your close to the tour…
    
    Reply Report comment
    - Scott
      
      May 19, 2016 at 12:04 pm
      
      Yeah, like when he was going out to dinner with Navy Seals and not picking up the tab because he wanted to be like “one of the guys”. Sure sounds like somebody that wants to dump balls in the water.
      
      Oh, by the way, it is you are or you’re.
      
      Reply Report comment
spazo

May 17, 2016 at 5:03 pm

this is so stupid.

Reply Report comment
rory

May 17, 2016 at 4:51 pm

I woulda hit them in the water on purpose just to watch the dumb media frenzy….

Reply Report comment
ooffa

May 17, 2016 at 2:48 pm

He sucks,

Reply Report comment
- mike
  
  May 18, 2016 at 12:05 am
  
  yeah like u dont
  
  Reply Report comment
Spin

May 17, 2016 at 1:08 pm

Is this 3-balls Watergate? lmao

Reply Report comment
8675309

May 17, 2016 at 12:40 pm

Tiger doesnt ever have to play again, which is a nice postion to be in.

Reply Report comment
Cornfused...

May 17, 2016 at 10:46 am

I can say one thing, those shots have zero meaning. Other than that, I don’t care.

Reply Report comment
Rich

May 17, 2016 at 9:59 am

He might not be fertiliser yet, but he’s the stuff that makes it!

Reply Report comment
Jason

May 17, 2016 at 7:24 am

Chuck,
Tiger isnt allowed to play web.com events given he is fully exempt on the PGA tour.

So although I agree some minor league warm ups would be best, that isn’t in the cards. He could always play an opposite field event like Puerto Rico, but man would that piss off the sponsors of the main event lol.

Reply Report comment
Chuck D

May 17, 2016 at 3:25 am

What did I see? I saw a rusty 9 month old swing with very little power generated. Sad it was to know that those 3 pathetic golf swings would be recorded and rocketed around the world in milliseconds. It had to be demoralizing regardless of the opportunity to pay the charity forward. The ultra competitor could not have been pleased with the 3 beverage specials. Hard to watch. My opinion only, but dude needs to go the professional baseball route and pump a ton of bank and attention into the Web.com Tour by sharpening his skills there before putting his Eldrick Indy Car back on the PGA Tour track, because he will get “runned over” as my 5 year old would say. Best wishes brotha, but I think the Golden Bear and his major record’s are sleeping comfortably.

Reply Report comment
Matto

May 17, 2016 at 3:18 am

Whoever threw him the third ball is a dead person.

Reply Report comment
Wet

May 17, 2016 at 3:13 am

E.T. Woods. Playing acting, again. And that’s not E. Tiger Woods. That’s Eldrick Tont. There is no more Tiger. Just an old man E.T., can’t go home, got nowhere to go.

Reply Report comment
Al Czervik

May 17, 2016 at 1:16 am

Yawn… my god. I knew this was going to happen. Tiger makes an appearance and it’s all that is talked about on the Golf Channel. Jason Day’s win at the Players is an afterthought.
The only reason he hasn’t officially called it quits is because the Tiger juggernaut brings in so much GD money, still. I’ve had my fill and ready to move on.

Reply Report comment
SmokingGun

May 17, 2016 at 12:38 am

That was sad!!! You could see even before the press conference started, he was walking very gingerly towards his chair… After the second ball found the water, he wanted out!!! He’s seemed lost, with no answers in sight… My all time favorite golfer…

Reply Report comment
K dawg

May 16, 2016 at 11:46 pm

Russell Knox hit three in the water. Career must be over

Reply Report comment
john

May 16, 2016 at 10:20 pm

ive heard that was a closest to pin with some military veterans and he was a good sport so dunked the shots.

Reply Report comment
- Nath
  
  May 17, 2016 at 6:43 am
  
  And this is what DID Happen, nothing more, nothing less.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Logical
  
  May 17, 2016 at 8:19 am
  
  Exactly, he did it purposefully, just look at his face when he turns around. It’s not his swing nor a preview of anything. There’s just no story here, wether you like tiger or not.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Spin
  
  May 17, 2016 at 1:07 pm
  
  So why not just tell the truth, then? Exactly.
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Killary
    
    May 17, 2016 at 9:04 pm
    
    Because that wouldn’t make for a good read.
    
    Reply Report comment
- Johny Thunder
  
  May 18, 2016 at 5:26 am
  
  If that’s true, then the person who wrote this story should not be allowed to write any more. That’s beyond the usual media sensationalism that’s become the standard here, it’s total B.S.
  
  Reply Report comment
- B. Parsons
  
  May 18, 2016 at 11:58 am
  
  That’s pretty cool of him. Vets go home and have a killer story. They beat Tiger in a closest to the pin challenge! That’s great!
  
  Now for the story… What a piece of written garbage…
  
  Reply Report comment
- Matt
  
  May 18, 2016 at 12:55 pm
  
  John your right on the money.
  
  They had all 3 balls ready.
  
  Reply Report comment

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Photos from the 2026 PGA Championship

Published

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The tournament’s location, just outside Philadelphia, and its status as a major championship mean GolfWRXers are in for a treat: WITBs from a strong field, custom gear celebrating the PGA Championship, and the rich culture of the City of Brotherly Love — we have noted a relative absence of cheesesteak-themed items thus far this week, but most of the rest of the usual suspects are well represented.

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