Is Eldrick Woods done being the best?

[MJ5150]

After the terrible performance this weekend on a course he has won seven times, it's making me wonder if he has lost his mojo. At one point it was a given he would beat out Jack Nicklaus for the most major wins, but now I am not so sure.

If anything this is even more proof how much of golf is a mental game. I doubt Woods has lost any of his physical skills, but maybe he has.

-Mike

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

After the terrible performance this weekend on a course he has won seven times, it's making me wonder if he has lost his mojo. At one point it was a given he would beat out Jack Nicklaus for the most major wins, but now I am not so sure.

If anything this is even more proof how much of golf is a mental game. I doubt Woods has lost any of his physical skills, but maybe he has.

-Mike

Maybe, we'll know for sure in another two years.

[embellisher]

The window of opportunity is closing for him to catch Nicklaus. If he can get back to where he was mentally before his life basically fell apart, he has the ability. I think Dr. Cheese is right, we'll know for sure in two more years.

[sloasdaylight]

Why'd you call him Eldrick?

[MJ5150]

Originally Posted by Dr. Cheese

Maybe, we'll know for sure in another two years.

Well duh Doc. Have you had a chance to watch him play this year? Do you think he will shake it off and return to form as the dominating golfer we all remember from a couple years ago. Lots of people have opinions on what went wrong and how to fix it.

Originally Posted by sloasdaylight

Why'd you call him Eldrick?

Because he is no longer Tiger. He needs to get back to being Tiger.

-Mike

[Dr. Cheese]

Originally Posted by MJ5150

Well duh Doc. Have you had a chance to watch him play this year? Do you think he will shake it off and return to form as the dominating golfer we all remember from a couple years ago. Lots of people have opinions on what went wrong and how to fix it.



Because he is no longer Tiger. He needs to get back to being Tiger.

-Mike

I don't really watch golf, and I don't really have an opinion about Woods actual play. I just figure that if he doesn't get it together by 2012, increasing age, along with the mental slippage will keep from ever getting back what he had.

[PSPookie]

He's been having to skip out on that 19th hole and it's messing with his head.

[Kawai-chang]

He's lost the tunnel vision he used to have. Now, I think he's become more along the likes of Els, Mickelson, Singh et al., where he needs to get hot to win a tournament, and have another guy get cold.

Almost the diametric opposite of the way it was foir the first part of his career.

[Dave Siff]

Originally Posted by sloasdaylight

Why'd you call him Eldrick?

That's his actual first name.
As for whether Tiger can make it back to his previous form, anything is possible, but he's really going to have to work for it, both mentally and physically. Judging by the highlights (or lowlights) from this past weekend, it looked like he just didn't care. He hit a lot of indifferent shots. I think he just wants this year to be over.
Off the course, he needs to get his personal issues resolved so he can really focus on golf. On the course, he needs to get with a swing coach again. It also would not surprise me to see him part ways with Steve Williams before the start of next season.
Tiger has 14 major titles, and will turn 35 at the end of this year. When Jack Nicklaus turned 35, he had 12 majors. But he won two more that season. So, Tiger is still ahead of Jack's pace, but time and age are starting to become factors. And the way Tiger played over the weekend, it's a stretch to think he'll win five more tournaments of any kind, much less majors.
What was also fascinating about this weekend was Phil Mickelson's inability to step up and take the #1 ranking. Tiger clearly isn't the best player in the world, but who is? Golf has a real problem here.

[tycobb73]

Was it Samson that got his power through his hair? Well he lost it once it was cut off.

Apparently Tiger got his power through his penis and lost the power when the penis was figuratively cut off.

[FilterFunk]

Originally Posted by Dave Siff

What was also fascinating about this weekend was Phil Mickelson's inability to step up and take the #1 ranking. Tiger clearly isn't the best player in the world, but who is? Golf has a real problem here.

Exactly. I know the "What's wrong with Tiger?" stories are more interesting, but it's high time we start asking, "What's wrong with the rest of the field?" Since winning this year's Masters, Phil has had several opportunities to take the #1 ranking from Tiger, and he's blown it every time. Going into yesterday's final round, Phil was tied for 10th, and had to finish 4th or better to be #1. Instead, he shoots a 78 on a day that the winner shoots a 64, and finishes in a tie for 46th. And none of the other proven veterans, or up-and-coming young guns, provide a consistent challenge. All these guys are doing is giving Tiger the time and encouragement to come back and dominate again. And don't think Tiger's going to forget those who've been talkin' trash and kicking him while he's down!

[bottomzone]

No. Tiger has had slumps before and people-some cheerfully-wrote him off. Those same people scraped their knees and ankles jumping back on the bandwagon. Jerry West once told a young Magic Johnson that the same people that pat you on the back when you're up will kick you in the teeth when you're down. What ever issues, new or old, that he is dealing with, he is so mentally tough that I'm confident that Tiger will be on the prowl once again with a vengence!

A Groove is a Terrible Thing to Waste!

[Ripper]

I think he will get back into it... however, I think he's gonna fall a bit further yet. I see him missing a few cuts, dropping out of 1st in the world standings, possibly as low as 5th, then suddenly changing his swing after going on a hiatus and coming back better than ever.

at least that would be nice to see.

[Dave Siff]

Interesting, insightful comments from Tiger just now in his PGA Championship press conference. He was asked whether the golf course has served as a refuge during his recent troubles, and he said it hasn't been that way. He said after his dad died, the golf course was a place of solace because of all the great memories he had of them playing golf together.
He also said he's had two good days of practice and his swing is much better than it was over the weekend. I guess we'll see.. 9:20am eastern time Thursday.

[hbarcat]

Like any other fiercely competitive sport it takes a long time to acquire the ability to perform at the highest level possible and to do so consistently. Maintaining that level requires constant practice, exercise and conditioning and is more than a full time job in itself.

Any one who then takes time off from this activity for an extended period of time automatically plunges down many levels of performance and the longer one is away the more ability one loses.

When one then takes up the activity again it takes about as long to re-acquire that high level of skill as the time away from the activity.

Tiger certainly knows that his game will take longer than a few months to come back (even if his critics don't) and he is simply putting in his time and paying his dues while anticipating the moment when his skills will again be at their peak. This could be anywhere from six months to a year from now but I won't be surprised to see Tiger back as #1 golfer in the world this time next year.

[king_biscuit]

Barring a career ending health problem, Tiger can win more majors. Jack won three after turning 40, and nearly won a couple into his 50s.

[Dave Siff]

Well, it's early, but Tiger looks good so far: three birdies in the first four holes, and his swing looks very much under control

[mrpackerguy]

I heard on the radio driving home last evening that one of his tarts is dancing at the local gentlemens club somewhere near the event; that she gets booked into clubs near where he's playing. Just thought it interesting. not at all any further indictment of Tiger 'cause I'm sure it's all her and her agent's doing.

[Dave Siff]

Originally Posted by mrpackerguy

I heard on the radio driving home last evening that one of his tarts is dancing at the local gentlemens club somewhere near the event; that she gets booked into clubs near where he's playing. Just thought it interesting. not at all any further indictment of Tiger 'cause I'm sure it's all her and her agent's doing.

Yeah, Joslyn James, the ex-porn star. She's been following him from city to city. One of the sports radio stations here had her as a guest during the Masters.

[MJ5150]

Woods falls in the first round of the Match Play Championship in Arizona yesterday. After three tournaments this year, he has not even finished in the top 20.

-Mike