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Paul Houghton
Handicap: 16
Essex
Pro Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 136
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Having read the Big Miss - Hank Haney's frank account of working with Tiger Woods, it struck me that Woods has mental health issues...
Watching some of his shots recently and his no show in the Ryder Cup (continual back and knee problems), it looks like we are witnessing the capitulation of one of sports greats. Mentally Tiger seems to have gone, or perhaps he's just moved on....
Lindsey Vonn is enough to take any man's mind off golf. I know its a bit sexist...but he won't be the first man to have let a woman distract him - although her career is going from strength to strength!
But having slumped to 56th in the world ranking, coming 132nd in the Phoenix open shooting a card wrecking 82, the shots he was playing would embarass an 18 handicapper. Sad to see but maybe like with Seve time and age have just caught up with him?
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Martin Burkitt
Handicap: 12
Essex
Pro Member
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I was just reading about his latest withdrawal this morning and thinking the same thing. Basically and sadly, I think he has ruined his body. His aggressive and powerful swings over the last 25 years have clearly taken their toll and I would be surprised if he was ever able to play regularly enough to win anything again.
I'm no expert, but it almost feels like he will be doing well to be able to walk normally for the rest of his life. Backs muscles are notoriously tricky to fix and once they are gone, they are gone for good. Which for me, is a terrible shame. I was 13 when he made a mockery of Augusta in 1997 and no sporting moment has been or will be so inspirational to me.
I have been a huge fan of Tiger's and I would have loved to see him breaks Nicklaus' record of majors. I wouldn't presume to compare the modern game with that of old and say Tiger is the greatest golfer ever, but he is the greatest of our generation and we should just be glad to have witnessed him.
To end on a positive note though, once he comes to terms with his current situation, and probably/presumably retires, I don't think he will have any regrets (professionally, at least!). 14 majors (he would say 17, to include his three US Amateur Champs), incredible wealth, and a genuine and lasting legacy in the game of golf. He could hardly complain :)
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Ian Mullins
Handicap: 20
Essex
Pro Member
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 378
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I agree, I think its all terribly sad. However, I blame his management team!
Firstly he should never have been made to face the cameras so uncomfortably when he was found to be having serial affairs (which I don't think he has ever recovered from) but more importantly, whoever is advising him right now also needs to consider their position too!
He just looks out of sorts on camera. I can only hope that he is given the time to get himself right, as the game need Tiger more than ever - viewing figures in the US halve when he leaves the field and with terristrial TV (BBC) in the UK no longer giving a platform for the sport from 2017, like him or not, he is compulsive viewing and he has single handedly revolutioned the sport in the last two decades.
:-(
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Dave Knight
Handicap: 36
West Sussex
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Tiger thought while he was having these affairs that he was way above approach, thinking his minders and money would protect him, well he found out this was wrong and he got caught. its sad but all of this is his own doing, so breaking Jack's record may now not be possible, and to this I say good. someone that had so much talent to do what he did deserves all that he gets. YES he was brilliant but not anymore. Jack should keep his record and Tiger should retire
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Paul Houghton
Handicap: 16
Essex
Pro Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 136
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The ball is now firmly in Tigers court, he needs to either walk away or go away an adapt his game to see him into his 40's. Westwood is doing the same to good effect as has Darren Clarke. His body issues are much over played its Tigers mentality that needs addressing. He will always be considered one of the greatest golfers that have ever lived, thats a given. How that legacy is embedded is entirely up to him. Muhammad Ali was in the same sort of boat...Tiger just needs to turn the page.
The stats don't lie:(from Golf week)
Since returning from back surgery to play the Quicken Loans National last June, Woods has played in 17 rounds on Tour. His scoring average during that stretch is 73.24, more than a half-shot worse than the worst-scoring Tour player of 2014, Derek Ernst, who ranked 177th at 72.593.
Not including his 12-hole drive-by Thursday at Torrey Pines, Woods has played 306 holes since returning from back surgery: 2 eagles, 53 birdies, 181 pars, 54 bogeys, 12 double bogeys and 4 triple bogeys. That's 33 over during the stretch.
Thursday, Woods added a new wrinkle to his ongoing recovery: "glutes deactivating."
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