Opinion & Analysis
Tiger Woods is finished as a professional golfer
As one of the world’s biggest Tiger Woods fans, I am sad to officially say Tiger is finished. He’s done. It’s over people.
Honestly, I can’t believe Tiger’s game has been reduced to what it is today. He was a golfer who made the impossible seem easy, seemingly every week in his prime. Now he’s a shell of his former golfing self, just another guy on the PGA Tour from a scoring perspective. And he might not even be that. Brandel Chamblee postulated that we may never see Tiger on a PGA Tour tee sheet ever again, and there’s a chance he’s right.
As a golf instructor and student of the game, I have identified the compounding reasons why Tiger’s game is in a state that was unimaginable only a few years ago, and why he’ll never dominate again. I hope I’m wrong — there’s no denying that Tiger Woods has touched the life of every person in the golf industry and every golf fan in some way — but all the evidence is to the contrary.
The Death of Earl
As a child, Tiger idolized and emulated his father, Earl Woods. Publicly and privately, Earl created an ideological identity for Tiger, and one that Tiger seemed to believe wholeheartedly. He trusted Earl, and succeeded in following Earl’s vision to become everything his father wanted him to be.
To many it seemed laughable to hear Earl speak about his son and Gandhi in the same sentence, but Tiger had to wonder, “Why not?” Like everything else Earl predicted in his son’s life, if Earl said it then it had to be achievable.
When Earl died, Tiger lost his best friend, his confidant, and his guiding light that led him to his greatest successes. Who else could fill that role? Tiger was now the most celebrated athlete on the planet and on his way to billionaire status. Who could he really trust? For the first time in his life, Tiger was the boss and was left to navigate the world… on his own.
Swing Changes and Different Coaches
To master golf to any degree is a losing battle… unless you were Tiger Woods in the early 2000s.
Tiger was rocking along with Butch Harmon as his swing coach, winning every tournament in sight and setting record after record. All was right with the world, but Tiger wanted more. He wanted to become a better golfer, learn more about the game and separate himself even further from his peers.
Harmon wanted Woods to concentrate on maintaining the skills he had, and believed he was fine where he was fundamentally. He didn’t want to mess with the delicate mix of mechanics and confidence that allowed Tiger to become the most dominant golfer of all time. He knew it was a recipe for disaster. But Tiger wasn’t satisfied, and left Harmon to seek other ideas on how to hit the ball better.
Enter Hank Haney, Sean Foley and Tiger’s current coach, Chris Como. I know each personally and they are ALL great teachers, but they all have different ideas on how to best play the game. Watching Tiger’s great success with Haney, and to a lesser degree with Sean Foley, we know that Tiger could basically swing in whatever style he desired and still win. But it wasn’t fair to those teachers to expect Tiger to become a better golfer under their tutelage. Let me explain.
When you teach great golfers, you will always fight their reluctancy to change, even if that’s what they say they want. So Haney, Foley and Como had to spend at least 50 percent of their time convincing Tiger that they were telling him the right thing, and then the other 50 percent of their time working on his motion.
Like most great players, Tiger always thought he knew best, so he only used the bits of instruction he liked best and inserted them into his swing, even if they weren’t the most important bits. Tiger’s swing was anything but a lump of clay that Haney, Foley or Como could mold to perfection, and for that reason they can’t be blamed fully for his successes or his failures.
Marriage, All Hell Breaks Loose, Divorce
When Tiger married Elin Nordegren, the golf world assumed she was the one person Tiger could trust blindly in Earl’s absence, and marriage was going to make Tiger a better golfer, as it did with Jack Nicklaus.
As we all know, it didn’t exactly work out that way. I’m not here to judge Tiger, and the end result of his divorce was clear. He lost his wife, became divided from his children, and in just a few weeks went from being the most admired athlete on the planet to a laughing stock. And when Tiger looked in the mirror, who could he blame other than the reflection staring back at him?
Divorce is an evil thing. I’ve been there. It breaks down a man in ways that I can’t explain, and the impact it has on your children adds to the hurt. It makes sense that since he suffered his back injury he has been seen spending as much time with his kids as possible. Deep down, do you think Tiger really wants to be a golf rock star again? Does he want to even further separate himself from his children?
Tiger has enough money for several lifetimes, and enough business ventures to keep him relevant in golf history. If he never plays again, he knows he’ll still be the Michael Jordan of golf.
Bad Press and Hank Haney’s Book
There is no question that Tiger’s life must be a royal pain in the a** on a daily basis, but he has somehow held most of it together. Enter Hank Haney’s book.
Forget the argument of ethics, and let’s focus on the one thing that left a lasting impression on me as a player and teacher when it came to Tiger. Haney vividly described Tiger’s once invincible mental strength being reduced to sheer panic at Augusta National’s putting green at The Masters.
One thing Tiger always had in the eyes of his Tour peers was the belief that his mental game was unwavering. Players folded week after week, believing Tiger was stronger mentally than they ever would be, not to mention how good he was physically.
When Hank described the ending of their time together, it confirmed that Tiger dealt with the same neurosis and doubts all golfers do. This revelation opened the doors for Tour players to actually believe Tiger could be beat. The mystique of Tiger Woods, at least in the eyes of his competitors, faded.
The Final Breakdown of the Athletic Body
Golf is hard enough with a perfect body, not to mention one that is faltering. Tiger was once one of the longest hitters on the PGA Tour, but the golf fitness revolution he led influenced a new generation of golfers that started hitting it by him easily.
Tiger’s distance dominance was a big part of his past success, and his attempt to remain one of the longest players on Tour hurt his game. How many times have we heard him talk about the kinetic chain, muscle activation and explosiveness when he should be talking about scoring better? He became obsessed with fixing his body and adding more distance, and it only led to more problems.
With injury after injury piling up, Tiger’s body couldn’t take the practice sessions or the workouts that once made him unstoppable. He was shorter and more crooked off the tee relative to his peers, and his short game started to decline from a lack of reps. Even in Tiger’s five-win season in 2013, the golf world started to see how his game was changing. He needed his A-game to win, where he only used to need his C-game.
The Short Game Yips
In the golf teaching community, we all knew Chris Como inherited a broken short-game motion with Tiger, and it was ready to come to a head with Tiger’s continued focus on the long game. And as anyone who has had the chipping and pitching yips knows, you never completely get rid of them; they are just dormant until they decide to come back again.
If anyone is skilled enough to put the chipping yips to bed for good, it’s Tiger. But don’t forget the three wedge shots he dumped in the water during a corporate outing at Congressional a few months ago off a tight lie. Whatever was going through his mind, it was likely the same thought that caused him to withdraw from the Safeway Open.
The Comeback: Range vs. Course
So Jesper Parnevik and Notah Begay III said Tiger was striping it and is ready to come back and play… and then Tiger committed to the Safeway Open. The golf world was jazzed! But deep down, Tiger knows the range is not the place that tells you if you are ready or not. Anyone at the PGA Tour level can stripe it on the range or during practice rounds, especially when they’re not going full speed.
Every video of Tiger I have seen during his comeback is at practice speed, and his swing is almost cut off looking like he is still trying to guide the ball as you would with a knockdown shot. I have yet to see a series of swings at competition speed with different clubs, beginning with the driver. Until then, I am not convinced of Tiger’s mechanical or physical health.
Loss of Confidence
The nail in the coffin of a golf career? It’s withdrawing due to a lack of confidence in your game. Anyone who has played golf at the tournament level understands the doubt that can creep in at times, but that’s not the same as being afraid to compete. Tiger is afraid to compete right now. He knows that every 78 he shoots from here on out will tarnish what he has accomplished in his golf career, and that’s a tough pill to swallow.
Tiger knows this is his last shot. Not wanting to play until he is ready is his safety net, but will he ever be truly ready? Probably not.
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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DrRob1963
Sep 26, 2018 at 12:30 am
Hey Tom!
Where is that “Humble Pie” you ordered?
TOm who
Sep 13, 2018 at 9:32 am
How stupid do you feel lacking the intelligence to realize it was back and health problems?
B
Aug 21, 2018 at 9:56 am
Well….you’re fired! ???????????
Connor
Aug 17, 2018 at 1:05 pm
This came up on my sidebar next to the stupid broad puffing her chest out at the airport, and I seriously thought it was TMZ or some other form of trash click-bait. Come to find out it’s an article written by Tom two years ago on this very site lolololololol. Absolute TRASH journalism.
PH DE N ROTHSCHILD
Aug 13, 2018 at 3:53 pm
One should NEVER make definitive comments like you did in 2016… You absolutely made a FOOL of yourself.
Shame you are a respected journalist.
Nocklaus
Aug 1, 2018 at 4:46 am
So, what dio you say now…? Tiger leading in The Open, finishing in the top ten …
Travis
Jul 27, 2018 at 5:32 am
Yes the recent Britis Open showed us all Tigers pro golfing days are over…. can’t compete huh? Bet you feel stupid now for writing this.
Paul Blake
May 2, 2018 at 12:08 am
Yes there is a lesson, I hit a physical wall of poor health at 47! It became an effort to do any training, and arthritis was moving into my joints and back…and this was bringing on depression. Diet and Yoga were the two main answers, doctors prescriptions only made things worse.
I am 73 now, and I have zero diseases, and no arthritis at all, and I take zero prescription drugs! I train hard every day of the week, and from the comments I get, and the way I feel, the payoff has been big! Ever heard of anyone who stated getting arthritis, and then grew out of it as they got older…That is what Yoga and a very clean diet can bring you?
Tim
Dec 10, 2018 at 8:50 pm
Hi Paul,
You did all this with just yoga and diet? Can you please forward me your weekly regimen?
Thanks, Tim
Pingback: Tiger Woods Fitness Workout
Shallowface
Oct 22, 2016 at 9:53 pm
Golfers always had a complex about wanting to be considered athletes, and Tiger led the “fitness revolution.”
Now golfers are considered athletes. And, just like athletes in every other sport, they have injury riddled careers and are washed up at 40 if not sooner. Congratulations. You got what you wanted.
Sam Snead was a devotee of yoga, and was great well into his 60s. Maybe there’s a lesson there.
KK
Oct 20, 2016 at 8:08 pm
Too many injuries, too much psychological scarring, too much money, too many young lions roaming the tour. It’s a wrap.
Hahaha
Oct 6, 2018 at 5:41 am
Lol
Mad-Mex
Oct 20, 2016 at 2:10 am
Wonder how long before we see him in “Dancing with the Stars”?
Mad-Mex
Oct 20, 2016 at 12:15 am
Ballsy article in a website where Tiger worshiping is the norm, somehow I get the feeling that those who are bashing Tom also follow the Kardashians ,,,,,,,,,
devilsadvocate
Oct 19, 2016 at 6:07 pm
Wow Tom… I am one of your biggest fans on this site. That being said I am dissappointed tremendously with this article. Really what was the point? Oh right to get hits. Come on man kicking someone when they are down is low class.
JL
Oct 18, 2016 at 7:11 pm
I hate this website and most of its users.
Mad-Mex
Oct 20, 2016 at 12:37 am
Awesome! We cant stand you either, now go away,,,,,,,,,,,,
GetRichorTyTryon
Oct 18, 2016 at 1:54 am
The comment section is borderline Trump vs Hillary. I’m a HUGE Tiger fan. Although this is an opinion piece much of the statements based on his timeline are true. What bothers me is casual fans that say he needs to do this or he needs to do that and then he’ll win. Earl was a major source of stability. Too many swing changes with too little time. It’s baffling to me that Tiger needs to learn how to chip again or find his “pattern”. I guess it’s a lifelong fine tuning but it seems some, Stricker, Furyk and many others always have a solid short game. I’m not saying Tiger can’t come back and win again. Not at all. I’m saying that if you think he’s going to come back and be the dominant 2000 Tiger than I think you’re in denial.
Jack Nash
Oct 17, 2016 at 5:06 pm
The most important statement from Woods and his pulling out of Safeway was that he felt his game was “vulnerable”. People said he was stripping it. He said his back was great, but one thing will make you “vulnerable” and that’s the chipping yips. Im betting that’s what he has and he can’t break it. If there’s anyone around that can help him it’s Stricker. Sometimes the best hand action is no hand action at all. That’s who I would call. To me he’s one of the BEST wedge players in the game, and if you’re having problems with a handsy short game the best thing to do is take them right out.
Grizz01
Oct 17, 2016 at 4:57 pm
Two things not mentioned… sort of…
1. Divorce did not doom Tiger. There are plenty of athletes who get divorce and find their way. Whoring around did him in when it became public and he couldn’t/wouldn’t be humble and apologize for his behavior. That is in his head.
2. PED’s can’t be as easily used as he once used them. Can’t use them to heal up his broken body.
MIke
Oct 17, 2016 at 4:33 pm
Interesting article, I do not agree with the writer, I just hope that if he is wrong he would admit it! Very strong things to say about anyone! Tiger will come back he will win more tournaments and I even think he will win more majors!
Keith W.
Oct 17, 2016 at 1:35 pm
During the final regulation round of the U.S. Open in June, 2008, I watched in literal horror as Tiger limped and staggered around Torrey Pines trying to win on what was clearly a serious injury to his leg. While on-air commentary openly marveled at his so-called “courage” for playing in obvious pain, I became physically ill. To say that I was not impressed with his “courage” is a serious understatement. I frankly considered his recklessness immature and down-right stupid.
I turned to my guests who were watching with me in my home and I said “this is the dumbest thing I have ever seen Tiger do…he is putting his entire career in jeopardy continuing to play with this injury”. In fact when he defeated Rocco Mediate in the Monday playoff I stated out loud that this, very likely, “could be his last major championship win”. It was. Moreover, it was the first in a series of reckless mistakes that keynoted his ultimate fall from grace.
If you arrange a timeline from that weekend forward Tiger has never been the same physically, mentally, or emotionally. If you look at each of the succeeding life and career decisions (missteps), i.e., health, marriage, friendships, professional mentoring, and subsequent personal relationships he has done nothing to engender himself to anyone…most importantly himself.
Tiger tripped over his belief in his invincibility at Torrey Pines and has been stumbling to regain his balance ever since. Along the way he has fallen from being, arguably, the greatest post “Jordan” era athlete reduced now to a pitiful shadow of his former excellence. It hurts to watch, and pains me to see a hero vanquished.
Jim
Oct 17, 2016 at 12:58 pm
Good article Tom. Unfortunately we are living in a very decisive, partisan climate where anyone who disagrees with the “popular” opinion must be vilified and personally attacked. Thanks for sharing your “opinion” with us Tom.
rymail00
Oct 19, 2016 at 9:10 pm
+1
Not just this article, every article. It’s either “good article” or basically “what a POS article”. It’s to bad.
Ron Garland
Oct 17, 2016 at 12:14 pm
Tiger’s been playing Miura’s with a Nike logo for quite a while.
Tim
Dec 10, 2018 at 8:57 pm
Wrong, Tiger has played ENDO forgings basically all along since being with Nike. Miura has been a myth since Tiger started dominating the Tour late 90’s early to mid 2000’s. Starting with his Titleist contract when first turning pro. Titleist was Hoffman forgings later they used Endo forgings as well.
Steve Wozeniak
Oct 17, 2016 at 11:44 am
Actually he is an easy fix for a Professional that understands the golf swing…….the problem is getting him to stay on task for more than a half hour…….
Steve Wozeniak PGA
http://www.stevewozeniak.com
Bob Jones
Oct 17, 2016 at 10:37 am
Tiger coming back is like stepping onto a treadmill that’s turned on High. He probably got spooked when he realized what his game would really be up against in the Safeway. It’s best he retires on a high note than falling on his face trying to recapture the magic. Saving his back from further damage would be a good reason and an honest one.
Flip
Oct 17, 2016 at 10:26 am
That’s the worst case of writing I have ever viewed. What a hack
Scooter McGavin
Oct 17, 2016 at 7:22 am
Anyone know of any other golf sites? Gerting tired of the clickbait crap here.
Jim
Oct 17, 2016 at 10:34 am
Agreed…add the tough-guy keyboard commando responses to legit teaching/technique articles and responses too.
Tiger’s been done for a while. Time for Eldric to just come out and enjoy playing again….. or hang em up, dig in to business like Norman. Frankly, I don’t care what he does as long as he’s happy
talljohn777
Oct 17, 2016 at 1:09 pm
It’s Eldrick.
Pingback: ?????????????????? – ???????????????????
Matt
Oct 16, 2016 at 5:41 pm
I’m all for trying to get “hits” on stories but the fact is one person knows if he has the game or not and that’s Tiger. If I were betting on his comeback I’d say it would fail but that’s not a revelation. And if he comes back and succeeds you can back track to “he’s not the same Tiger he once was” or “I’m the first person to be happy I was wrong”. Great for your “hits” but no much for journalism. Breaking News, Alabama football is good.
Corey
Oct 16, 2016 at 3:33 pm
Tom…who are you to officially say?
Egor
Oct 16, 2016 at 2:55 pm
Click
Bait
Jack
Oct 16, 2016 at 11:31 am
Only an unintelligent, childish coat tail puller would give his attention to Tiger Woods now.
Yearight
Oct 16, 2016 at 11:28 am
Put tigers name on an article title, put a controversial statement with it, something you have no real knowledge of. Then make the title seem as though an announcement was made to get people to click on it.
Then write terribly and just restate year old arguments about tiger’s life.
Excellent “work”
Jacob
Oct 16, 2016 at 9:01 am
Shoulda stuck with Sean.
...
Oct 16, 2016 at 10:21 am
stfu
Bob
Oct 18, 2016 at 4:06 pm
Should have stuck with Butch
Jim
Oct 18, 2016 at 11:33 pm
…and sued Hank for malpractice
ooffa
Oct 16, 2016 at 6:25 am
Great article. Yep, he’s done.
J
Oct 16, 2016 at 1:29 am
I agree with some of the above posters, I don’t ever comment on these articles but I found this to be kind of an unnecessary article. Count me among those who hopes Tiger does come back, even if it’s at a fraction of his former self. He owes no one anything and it’s been a pleasure to watch him over the years. The bold title and restating of common knowledge to back up a theory is kind of cheap and tabloidish. But it put eyes on the page and clicks in the counter which seems to be the only measure of success these days.
Lob Wedge
Oct 16, 2016 at 12:41 am
Copying golfwrx posts, tweaking/editing them and pasting now qualifies as writing an article?
Which is worse.. The tweek and paste or the outright copy/paste with the golfwrx username and calling that an article.
I can’t even use my golfwrx putter covers in public anymore because of articles like these. C’mon golfwrx!
COGolfer
Oct 16, 2016 at 12:51 am
It’s turning into the TMZ of golf. Such a shame.
R C
Oct 16, 2016 at 2:09 am
+1
Nath
Oct 16, 2016 at 5:18 am
Yup
tickle me puswoo
Oct 16, 2016 at 8:29 am
yup 100%… golfwrx has become filled with average writers
Rich
Oct 17, 2016 at 3:59 am
The author of article is not a writer. He’s a golf pro, hence the issue.
Guia
Oct 16, 2016 at 12:02 am
Another speculative opinion.
The crystal ball is foggy, and as always everyone reads something different.
Athletes, always think they have something left, and usually give it several more tries. Either on the PGA Tour, or the Champions Tour.
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Rwj
Oct 15, 2016 at 9:13 pm
I believe tiger dropped out of Safeway because they announced they were pairing him with Phil. I believe he was scared to play with Phil, afraid to look foolish or get bet by him personally
D
Oct 15, 2016 at 8:11 pm
Hater
Bert
Oct 15, 2016 at 6:26 pm
Well thought out and good analysis. Thanks for your prospective Tom.
Jack
Oct 15, 2016 at 5:37 pm
Look at all the fanboys hitting the “shank” button. That was predictable, lol.
moses
Oct 15, 2016 at 7:37 pm
Yeah and the haters hitting the like button. Hmmmm
Jalan
Oct 15, 2016 at 11:29 pm
If that’s true, there are far more Tiger Fellaters than Haters. Fellaters outnumber fan boys two to one.
Jalan
Oct 15, 2016 at 11:32 pm
edit: Fellaters outnumber Haters 2 to 1
Fella
Oct 16, 2016 at 3:30 am
Regardless, they call fallate themselves
Jack
Oct 16, 2016 at 10:33 am
They’re just upset because they wasted their money on a brand new red shirt and an extra large tube of hand lotion.
Sean
Oct 15, 2016 at 5:32 pm
I have never been a big fan of TW, but I don’t think he’s done. Not by a long shot.
DrRob1963
Oct 17, 2016 at 6:04 pm
I agree! Never write off the great players. Tiger’s only 40 – Jack won that fabulous ’86 US Masters at age 46 after he had been written off by so many.
DrRob1963
Sep 26, 2018 at 12:28 am
Rereading this nearly two years later has put the biggest smile on my face!
Fabulous comeback, Tiger!
C.H.A.M.P.I.O.N
smh
Oct 15, 2016 at 4:55 pm
Click-bait.
Totally respect your opinion but you do deserve to hear that this is JUST click-bait given the headline.
Tom Stickney
Oct 15, 2016 at 4:47 pm
Not a bait and switch article just my thoughts from what I’ve seen and experienced in my 20+ years on the lesson tee.
Personally I hope I’m wrong as I am a huge Tiger fan but you can’t deny the compounding problems he’s had.
Harmon, Hank, Sean, and Chris have ALL had their work cut out for them teaching Tiger. I respect them greatly for stepping up to the plate and giving it their all. Regardless of his w/l record during their tenure with him they are all regarded as the top 1% in our field in my book.
cgasucks
Oct 15, 2016 at 8:37 pm
If you want to keep what is left of your credibility you have on this site don’t put a misleading title on your articles…
Nath
Oct 16, 2016 at 5:20 am
Officially huh!! Says who, you lol
the bishop
Oct 15, 2016 at 3:50 pm
LOL! Maybe but slow news day?
steve peake
Oct 15, 2016 at 3:31 pm
Not an original thought in this opinion? article
AC
Oct 15, 2016 at 3:19 pm
it’s article and someone’s opinion… good grief, people’s panties getting all wadded up.
I’ve participated at the highest level of sports, professional. Tiger’s mentality is so weak he’s become friendly and dependent on withdrawing from events to escape. When you reach that level of quit you have entered denial with no shame.
Deejaymn
Oct 15, 2016 at 3:15 pm
Someone already mentioned it but CLICKBAIT, I’m surprised he didn’t mention Brad Pitt to garner more clicks. Anyone who speaks in absolutes is a fool in my books. Hey we all know it’s uphill for tiger but hey you never know, he basically wrote a history that has been rehashed to death with no interesting insights of his own. Step up your writing game.
JJr
Oct 15, 2016 at 3:13 pm
Tom Stickney II is finished as professional writer!
I won’t go into detail.
cgasucks
Oct 15, 2016 at 8:39 pm
Quite true…he should stick to giving lessons to hackers.
Jalan
Oct 15, 2016 at 11:34 pm
When’s your next lesson with him?
cgasucks
Oct 16, 2016 at 12:13 am
Next Wednesday…
Jim
Oct 17, 2016 at 12:23 pm
hahaha! Great answer! you just redeemed this whole sh***y thread
Mark
Oct 15, 2016 at 2:36 pm
Often, the written word is Golf WRX’s Achilles’ heel. I consider this article to be one of the better ones. It is well written and well structured. If the author’s opinion differs from yours, welcome to the free world.
elslash
Oct 15, 2016 at 4:10 pm
Best writing on almost any topic in GolfWRX, possibly ever!
Jack
Oct 15, 2016 at 2:30 pm
Excellent article! Agree 100% with your opinion. Tiger has only been saying he will come back to continue his endorsement income. He has had no value whatsoever for over a year, and no future value either. You are absolutely right – he’s finished…
Brian
Oct 15, 2016 at 2:27 pm
Are you talking about the article, or 99% of your posts?
cocheese
Oct 15, 2016 at 1:18 pm
This clickbait style article may seriously deteriorating the integrity of this site.
R C
Oct 16, 2016 at 2:11 am
+1
ultimate hacker
Oct 15, 2016 at 12:25 pm
delete this already
Mr Muira.
Oct 15, 2016 at 7:52 pm
I hope Tiger-san keep going so i can make clubs for him, unfortunately he got too much sushi in brain.
ultimate hacker
Oct 15, 2016 at 12:24 pm
waste of time
Dwight Howard
Oct 15, 2016 at 12:24 pm
Tiger’s career may not be over but judging by the desperation of this article, the website may be finished
Ryan
Oct 15, 2016 at 12:17 pm
Read people. It literally says “Opinion and Analysis” right above the title. This is his opinion. An opinion in which a lot of people who understand golf agree with. Tiger is done. Get over it. Move on.
Titty681
Oct 15, 2016 at 2:58 pm
If you would have moved on you wouldn’t be reading this article.
Ed
Oct 15, 2016 at 12:05 pm
Thank you for this article. We all hate to see the inevitable ebb of that magic that make our hero’s seem superhuman. Great article Tom.
Tony Rich
Oct 15, 2016 at 12:05 pm
Stickney just looking for some attention…..just a weak article, please find something else to talk about. Pathetic writer, all you did was plagiarize some golf channel articles from the last 6 months. You and Chamblee should find an island together and never come back.
Markallister
Oct 15, 2016 at 11:47 am
most of this article is wrong. urcle did a bad job trying to change his swing one time too often. competition is just so much better athletically than it used to be. urcle’s body is broken.
Jafar
Oct 15, 2016 at 11:41 am
Headline should have “Opinion” in front of the title.
Mat
Oct 15, 2016 at 2:12 pm
Instead of having it in a blue, highlighted box just above it.
Jafar
Oct 16, 2016 at 7:47 am
Yah it’s not on the homepage though. So it’s clickbait. “From the Forums” uses FTF:
Why couldn’t this use Opinion:
Ugh
Oct 15, 2016 at 11:21 am
This article is / was so unnecessary.
TD
Oct 15, 2016 at 11:11 am
Why can’t I paste this dumb little the horse is beat down dead emoji?
Plus
Oct 15, 2016 at 11:11 am
I thought this was a real report on something Eldrick said. But how brave you are to let out your opinion like this, Tom.
farmer
Oct 15, 2016 at 11:03 am
No one knows the real state of Tiger’s game, but the only way to find out if it’s ready for tournament play ….. is to play tournaments. My expectations were that he would use these fall tournaments to knock the rust off, see what needs work, and then be ready for 2017. Now, playing in a limited field event, then taking off until, say, Torrey, is not a recipe for success.
Topic_Monitor
Oct 15, 2016 at 10:55 am
Please be respectful of authors and fellow WRXers. Thank You
MT
Oct 15, 2016 at 10:48 am
Agreed – delete the article. No need to mislead people just because you think his career is over.
Dumbwrx
Oct 15, 2016 at 10:46 am
There won’t be any comments on this story, I’m sure!
Jack
Oct 15, 2016 at 10:45 am
Agree 100% – Tiger is finished as a professional tour player. Zero chance he could ever come close to winning any tournament…or even finishing in the top 10 – make that top 20.
Casey
Oct 15, 2016 at 4:57 pm
Yeah, because the last time we saw him play in a tournament he finished 10th, 4 shots off the leader with a blow-up triple bogey that knocked him from contention. So care to explain why you think he’ll never play any sort of decent golf again?
Square
Oct 15, 2016 at 10:44 am
Really Tom? How about giving the guy a chance, forgive his mistakes and root for the guy who gave us the best period of professional golf in my lifetime. What a crappy article!
Tom
Oct 15, 2016 at 1:35 pm
agreed
Dj
Oct 15, 2016 at 10:33 am
Change the title. And give me my 2 minutes back. Better yet, just delete the article.
Ccshop
Oct 15, 2016 at 10:47 am
+1