Opinion & Analysis
Tiger’s major problem? It may be bigger than anyone thinks
These days everyone’s a know-it-all in regard to Tiger Woods’ 0-for-17 slump in major championships.
Tiger’s struggles in major championships continued yesterday in the final round of The Open Championship at Muirfield, prompting ESPN Golf Broadcaster and 1993 PGA Championship winner Paul Azinger to say:
“This is not the Tiger Woods we’re used to seeing. Maybe it is the Tiger Woods we’re getting used to seeing.”
And the Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee, one of Woods’ most vocal critics, took a veiled shot at Woods’ swing instructor Sean Foley after Woods T-6 British Open finish saying,
“What I hate more than anything is [Foley’s] turned [Woods] into a technical junkie. There’s so much pressure on him to be technically perfect, and it distracts him. He makes mental mistakes now that he never used to make. At 37 years old, he’s got all this experience and he’s not relying on it. [Instead] he’s playing with his golf swing.”
Even before the 142nd Open began, Woods took criticism from another golf broadcast heavyweight — 6-time major winner and CBS Sports analyst Nick Faldo. He said that Woods “is in a different mode when he’s winning regular tournaments, but he gets to the majors and something happens. The self-belief you have to have, maybe there’s a little dent in there.”
Woods is now more than five years removed from his last major championship, and is 25-over par in his last seven major weekends. But listening to Tiger, you wouldn’t think that he’s a guy with any weekend woes at all.
“I feel very good about my game,” Woods said before play began on Thursday. “I feel very, very good going into major championships.”
Assessing his performance after the Open, Woods said,
“I had a hard time adjusting to the [green] speeds, but I didn’t really play that poorly. I really hit the ball well today.”
And without prompting, Woods went on to also address his major dry spell, saying, “I’ve been in probably about half the majors on the back nine on Sunday with a chance to win during that stretch. I just haven’t done it yet.”
Sounds like the confident, fist-pumping, fairway-marching, 14-time major winner we all know, right?
The problem is that Tiger’s been giving this exact same speech before and after nearly every major for the past five years, and the results aren’t changing. Going back to April and Augusta, Woods said, “I feel like I’m playing well. I was pretty close and I had the lead at one point. Unfortunately, I just haven’t gotten it done.”
And after the U.S. Open at Merion, Woods said,
“I did a lot of things right, unfortunately I did a few things wrong.”
Tiger’s overall numbers at Muirfield were impressive certainly, hitting nearly 70 percent of the greens and 75 percent of the fairways, both well above the field averages.
But on Sunday, Woods hit numerous approach shots poorly, staring incredulously as shots veered off in various directions. Woods missed one green far right, came up miserably short on another, and flew the green on yet another. Despite missing more greens on Sunday than he did in the first three rounds, it’s perplexing that Woods would say he “hit the ball really well.”
Even when Woods did admit he couldn’t get the speed right on Muirfield’s greens, the statement came with a caveat:
“They were much slower today, much softer.”
That begs the question: If Tiger knew the greens were playing soft, why didn’t he adjust early on, or at least mid-round? That seems like something even a weekend golfer would know to do, let alone the greatest player of this generation.
Whatever Woods might say, there’s no mistaking Tiger’s demeanor on the course tells a completely different tale than what he presents in his press conferences. Enough even to at least question if Woods actually believes what he’s saying.
After Woods’ 13-over finish at the U.S. Open at Merion last month, former instructor Hank Haney called out Woods preparation for majors on FOX Sports, adding
“Tiger’s having a real hard time winning the easiest major he’s going to win – No. 15. No. 18 to tie Jack (Nicklaus) and 19 to beat Jack, those are going to be the hard ones.”
And Sunday at Muirfield, Tiger wasn’t charging with the verve and vitality of someone confident and playing well. He stood with shoulders slumped on multiple holes, with dazed resignation in his eyes. As early as his ugly three-putt on the first hole, Woods appeared tired — not in a physical sense, but emotionally. The kind that comes with the unrelenting pressure of watching yet another major championship slip away.
But put aside for a moment discussions of Tiger’s age and injuries, swing styles and scandal, or whether you agree with Azinger’s diminishing skills sentiment, Chamblee’s paralysis by analysis notion, or Faldo’s and Haney’s mental hurdles presumption.
Woods’ biggest problem may very well be a history no one has ever defeated. A five year major drought has been the death knell for every major champion in the history of modern golf. In the last 37 years, no player has ever won more than one final career major after going five years without major victory.
Woods seems to lean on his history of 14 majors as a reason why he’ll win again. And once upon a time that would have been enough. But history says that it’s likely Woods will struggle to get more than 14 or 15 majors, and that the window may have already closed on Tiger’s chase to surpass Jack.
- LIKE22
- LEGIT4
- WOW2
- LOL4
- IDHT0
- FLOP2
- OB0
- SHANK3
19th Hole
Vincenzi’s 2024 RBC Heritage betting preview: Patrick Cantlay ready to get back inside winner’s circle
Just a two-hour drive from Augusta National, the PGA TOUR heads to Harbour Town Golf Links in Hilton Head Island, S.C. Hilton Head Island is a golfer’s paradise and Harbour Town is one of the most beautiful and scenic courses on the PGA TOUR.
Harbour Town Golf Links is a par-71 that measures 7,121 yards and features Bermuda grass greens. A Pete Dye design, the course is heavily tree lined and features small greens and many dog legs, protecting it from “bomb-and-gauge” type golfers.
The field is loaded this week with 69 golfers with no cut. Last year was quite possibly the best field in RBC Heritage history and the event this week is yet another designated event, meaning there is a $20 million prize pool.
Most of the big names on the PGA Tour will be in attendance this week with the exceptions of Hideki Matsuyama and Viktor Hovland. Additionally, Webb Simpson, Shane Lowry, Gary Woodland and Kevin Kisner have been granted sponsors exemptions.
Past Winners at Harbour Town
- 2023: Matt Fitzpatrick (-17)
- 2022: Jordan Spieth (-13)
- 2021: Stewart Cink (-19)
- 2020: Webb Simpson (-22)
- 2019: CT Pan (-12)
- 2018: Sotoshi Kodaira (-12)
- 2017: Wesley Bryan (-13)
- 2016: Branden Grace (-9)
- 2015: Jim Furyk (-18)
In this article and going forward, I’ll be using the Rabbit Hole by Betsperts Golf data engine to develop my custom model. If you want to build your own model or check out all of the detailed stats, you can sign up using promo code: MATTVIN for 25% off any subscription package (yearly is best value).
Key Stats For Harbour Town
Let’s take a look at key metrics for Harbour Town Golf Links to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their past 24 rounds.
Strokes Gained: Approach
Strokes Gained: Approach is exceedingly important this week. The greens at Harbour Town are about half the size of PGA TOUR average and feature the second-smallest greens on the tour. Typical of a Pete Dye design, golfers will pay the price for missed greens.
Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds
- Scottie Scheffler (+1.27)
- Tom Hoge (+1.27)
- Corey Conners (+1.16)
- Austin Eckroat (+0.95)
- Cameron Young (+0.93)
Good Drive %
The fairways at Harbour Town are tree lined and feature many dog legs. Bombers tend to struggle at the course because it forces layups and doesn’t allow long drivers to overpower it. Accuracy is far more important than power.
Good Drive % Over Past 24 Rounds
- Brice Garnett (88.8%)
- Shane Lowry (+87.2%)
- Akshay Bhatia (+86.0%)
- Si Woo Kim (+85.8%)
- Sepp Straka (+85.1%)
Strokes Gained: Total at Pete Dye Designs
Pete Dye specialists tend to play very well at Harbour Town. Si Woo Kim, Matt Kuchar, Jim Furyk and Webb Simpson are all Pete Dye specialists who have had great success here. It is likely we see some more specialists near the top of the leaderboard this week.
SG: TOT Pete Dye per round over past 36 rounds:
- Xander Schauffele (+2.27)
- Scottie Scheffler (+2.24)
- Ludvig Aberg (+2.11)
- Brian Harman (+1.89)
- Sungjae Im (+1.58)
4. Strokes Gained: Short Game (Bermuda)
Strokes Gained: Short Game factors in both around the green and putting. With many green-side bunkers and tricky green complexes, both statistics will be important. Past winners — such as Jim Furyk, Wes Bryan and Webb Simpson — highlight how crucial the short game skill set is around Harbour Town.
SG: SG Over Past 24 Rounds
- Jordan Spieth (+1.11)
- Taylor Moore (+1.02)
- Wyndham Clark (+0.98)
- Mackenzie Hughes (+0.86)
- Andrew Putnam (+0.83)
5. Greens in Regulation %
The recipe for success at Harbour Town Golf Links is hitting fairways and greens. Missing either will prove to be consequential — golfers must be in total control of the ball to win.
Greens in Regulation % over past 24 rounds:
- Brice Garnett (+75.0%)
- Scottie Scheffler (+69.9%)
- Corey Conners (+69.0%)
- Shane Lowry (+68.3%)
- Patrick Rodgers (+67.6%)
6. Course History
Harbour Town is a course where players who have strong past results at the course always tend to pop up.
Course History over past 24 rounds:
- Patrick Cantlay (+2.34)
- Cam Davis (+2.05)
- J.T. Poston (+1.69)
- Justin Rose (+1.68)
- Tommy Fleetwood (+1.59)
The RBC Heritage Model Rankings
Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (24%), Good Drives (20%), SG: SG (14%), SG: Pete Dye (14%), GIR (14%), and Course History (14%)
- Shane Lowry
- Russell Henley
- Scottie Scheffler
- Xander Schauffele
- Corey Conners
- Wyndham Clark
- Christiaan Bezuidenhout
- Matt Fitzpatrick
- Cameron Young
- Ludvig Aberg
2024 RBC Heritage Picks
Patrick Cantlay +2000 (FanDuel)
With the exception of Scottie Scheffler, the PGA Tour has yet to have any of their star players show peak form during the 2024 season. Last week, Patrick Cantlay, who I believe is a top-5 players on the PGA Tour, took one step closer to regaining the form that’s helped him win eight events on Tour since 2017.
Cantlay limped into the Masters in poor form, but figured it out at Augusta National, finishing in a tie for 20th and ranking 17th for the week in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. The former FedEx Cup champion will now head to one of his favorite golf courses in Harbour Town, where he’s had immaculate results over the years. In his six trips to the course, he’s only finished worse than 7th one time. The other finishes include three third places (2017, 2019, 2023) and one runner-up finish (2022). In his past 36 rounds at Harbour Town, Cantlay ranks 1st in Strokes Gained: Total per round at the course by a wide margin (+2.36).
Cantlay is winless since the 2022 BMW Championship, which is far too long for a player of his caliber. With signs pointing to the 32-year-old returning to form, a “signature event” at Harbour Town is just what he needs to get back on the winning track.
Tommy Fleetwood +3000 (FanDuel)
I truly believe Tommy Fleetwood will figure out a way to win on American soil in 2024. It’s certainly been a bugaboo for him throughout his career, but he is simply too talented to go another season without winning a PGA Tour event.
At last week’s Masters Tournament, Fleetwood made a Sunday charge and ended up finishing T3 in the event, which was his best ever finish at The Masters. For the week, the Englishman ranked 8th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, 10th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking and 16th in Strokes Gained: Putting.
Harbour Town is a perfect layout for Fleetwood, and he’s had relative success at this Pete Dye design in the past. In his four trips to the course, he’s finished inside of the top 25 three times, with his best finish, T10, coming in 2022. The course is pretty short and can’t be overpowered, which gives an advantage to more accurate players such as Fleetwood. Tommy ranks 8th in the field in Good Drive % and should be able to plot his way along this golf course.
The win is coming for Tommy lad. I believe there’s a chance this treasure of a golf course may be the perfect one for him to finally break through on Tour.
Cameron Young +3300 (FanDuel)
Cameron Young had a solid Masters Tournament last week, which is exactly what I’m looking for in players who I anticipate playing well this week at the RBC Heritage. He finished in a tie for 9th, but never felt the pressure of contending in the event. For the week, Young ranked 6th in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 6th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking.
Despite being one of the longest players off the tee on the PGA Tour, Young has actually played some really good golf on shorter tracks. He finished T3 at Harbour Town in 2023 and ranks 20th in the field in Good Drive% and 16th in Greens in Regulation in his past 24 rounds. He also has strong finishes at other shorter courses that can take driver out of a players hand such as Copperhead and PGA National.
Young is simply one of the best players on the PGA Tour in 2024, and I strongly believe has what it takes to win a PGA Tour event in the very near future.
Corey Conners +5500 (FanDuel)
Corey Conners has had a disappointing year thus far on the PGA Tour, but absolutely loves Harbour Town.
At last week’s Masters Tournament, the Canadian finished T30 but ranked 20th in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach. In his past 24 rounds, Conners ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach, 3rd in Greens in Regulation % and 24th in Good Drive %.
In Conners’ last four trips to Harbour Town, his worst finish was T31, last season. He finished T4 in 2021, T12 in 2022 and ranks 8th in Strokes Gained: Total at the course over his past 36 rounds.
Conners hasn’t been contending, but his recent finishes have been encouraging as he has finished in the top-25 in each of his past three starts prior to The Masters, including an impressive T13 at The PLAYERS. His recent improvement in ball striking as well as his suitability for Harbour Town makes Conners a high upside bet this week.
Shane Lowry (+7500) (FanDuel)
When these odds were posted after Lowry was announced in the field, I have to admit I was pretty stunned. Despite not offering much win equity on the PGA Tour over the last handful of years, Shane Lowry is still a top caliber player who has the ability to rise to the top of a signature event.
Lowry struggled to score at The Masters last week, but he actually hit the ball really well. The Irishman ranked 1st for Strokes Gained: Approach on the week and 7th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. As usual, it was the putter that let him down, as he ranked 60th in the field in Strokes Gained: Putting.
Harbour Town is most definitely one of Lowry’s favorite courses on the PGA Tour. In his six starts there, he’s finished in the top 10 three times, including third twice. Lowry is sensational at Pete Dye designs and ranks 7th in Strokes Gained: Total in his past 36 rounds on Dye tracks.
Lowry is perfect for Harbour Town. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 5th in Strokes Gained: Approach, 2nd in Good Drive% and 5th in Green in Regulation %. If he figures it out on the greens, Shane could have his first win in America since 2015.
Lucas Glover +12000 (FanDuel)
This is one of my weekly “bet the number” plays as I strongly believe the odds are just too long for a player of Glover’s caliber. The odds have been too long on Glover for a few weeks now, but this is the first event that I can get behind the veteran being able to actually contend at.
Glover is quietly playing good golf and returning to the form he had after the understandable regression after his two massive victories at the end of 2023. He finished T20 at The Masters, which was his best ever finish at Augusta National. For the week, Lucas ranked 18th for Strokes Gained: Approach and 20th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking.
Over his past 24 rounds, Glover ranks 9th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 13th in Good Drive %. Harbour Town is a short course that the 44-year-old will be able to keep up with the top players on Tour off the tee. He’s played the course more than 20 times, with mixed results. His best finishes at Harbour Town include a T7 in 2008, but recently has a finish of T21 in 2020.
Glover has proven he can contend with the stars of the Tour on any given week, and this number is flat out disrespectful.
- LIKE19
- LEGIT3
- WOW1
- LOL0
- IDHT1
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK1
The 2024 Masters offered up plenty of excitement throughout the week with Scottie Scheffler delivering when it mattered to live up to his pre-tournament favorite tag. With the year’s opening major now in the books, here are my six biggest takeaways from the 2024 Masters.
Scheffler In a League of His Own
In the most impressive way possible, Scottie Scheffler won the Masters without having his absolute best stuff. For the week, Scottie ranked 19th in Strokes Gained: Approach, which is a category the number player in the world typically dusts the rest of the field in. After a strong approach day on Thursday, the 27-year-old lost strokes to the field on approach on Friday and Saturday, before gaining on Sunday. The iron performance was more than solid, but it was an all-around game that helped Scheffler get it done around Augusta National.
For a year or more, the narrative around Scheffler has been, “With his ball striking, if he can just putt to field average, he’ll be unbeatable.” At Augusta, his ball striking came back down to earth, but his touch around the greens and ability to manage the golf course demonstrated why he is the best player on the planet right now. For the week, Scheffler ranked 1st in the field in Strokes Gained: Around the Green and 24th in Strokes Gained: Putting.
For the time being, there is a major gap between Scottie Scheffler and the second-best player in the world, whoever that may be.
The Future is Now
Ludvig Aberg went into his first back-nine at the Masters with a legitimate shot to win the tournament. When he teed it up on the treacherous 11th hole, he was one behind Scottie Scheffler, who had just stuck one to a few feet on the 9th. By the time he approached his tee shot, which was perfectly striped down the left side of the fairway, he was two behind. Unfortunately, the 24-year-old got too aggressive with his approach at the 11th and found the water, making double bogey. Ludvig rebounded nicely and finished the event in solo second place.
With the Masters now in the rearview, it’s never been more evident that Ludvig Aberg is no longer an “up-and-comer” — he has arrived. The Swede has been an integral part of a winning European Ryder Cup team and has now contended at Augusta National. With a calm demeanor, a picture-perfect swing, and a build and stature that appears as if it was built in a lab, Ludvig Aberg is already amongst the world’s best. I’d be extremely surprised if he wasn’t in the mix at next month’s PGA Championship at Valhalla.
Nostalgia Wins
I try to avoid as many cliches as possible, but there’s something about the Masters that brings out the sentimentality in me. Tiger Woods strategically making his way around Augusta National without all of the physical tools that made him arguably the most dominant athlete in the history of sports will always be riveting, regardless of what score he shoots. Woods made it interesting until a tough stretch of holes on Saturday, but he ultimately wore down, shooting 16 over for the week in difficult conditions. It’s remarkable that the 15-time major champion was able to put together a few solid rounds of golf despite barely playing any competitive golf in 2024. As long as Woods tees it up at Augusta, we will all continue to be mesmerized by it.
Verne Lundquist’s 40th and final Masters Tournament was also a must-watch aspect of the event. The iconic voice of Lundquist and his calls throughout the years still give me chills each time I hear them. Verne is an icon of the game and will be missed in future renditions of the Masters.
The Masters also brings another element that is unique to the tournament. Former champions turn back the clock to battle with the golf course again which creates some amazing stories. There are a few that stick out this year and were an absolute pleasure to witness. 61-year-old Vijay Singh made the cut for the first time since 2018 and shot a pretty incredible even-par, 72 on Sunday. 58-year-old José María Olazábal made the cut as well, reminding us why fellow Spaniard Jon Rahm sought his valuable advice prior to his Masters victory in 2022.
Regardless of who wins, the Masters always delivers.
Bryson Moves the Needle
Plenty will disagree with me on this point, but outside of Tiger Woods, and potentially Rory McIlroy and Jordan Spieth, no one moves the needle in golf as much as Bryson DeChambeau. The uniqueness in which Bryson approaches the game has always been fascinating, and if he gets near the top of the leaderboard at any major championship, whether it’s to root for him or against him, people are interested.
It began on Monday with a pretty bizarre story of DeChambeau using 3D-printed irons that got just got cleared for use by the USGA when the week began. It once again felt like a storyline that would only be possible with a character as eccentric as Bryson. He then raced off to a first-round lead in tough conditions, reminding the world of what made him such a great golfer to begin with. He made some mistakes on the weekend, but still finished a career best T6 at The Masters.
Bryson is more than just quirky; he is a former U.S. Amateur Champion and U.S. Open who I believe will contend for more majors in the future. I will continue to root for DeChambeau, but I’m perfectly content with the fact that plenty will root against him, and I encourage those people to do so. That’s what makes it fun.
LIV Walks Away Empty-Handed
Last year, there were a multitude of questions about LIV players coming into the year’s first major. They had played very limited tournament golf, and critics of LIV questioned whether the 54-hole events were enough to sharpen the players enough to compete against the best in the world on the biggest stage.
The results were fascinating, with LIV players all over the leaderboard. Brooks Koepka held the 36- and 54-hole lead, with Phil Mickelson and Patrick Reed finishing T2 and T4, giving LIV three golfers in the top-4 of the leaderboard.
This season, with even more time removed and with some more massive additions to the roster, the intrigue surrounding LIV players at Augusta was once again palpable. While some players, including Bryson DeChambeau, exceeded expectations, I can’t help but walk away from the Masters feeling underwhelmed by the performance of the LIV players.
Brooks Koepka finished runner-up last season and is a certified major championship killer. The 5-time major champ was never involved and simply didn’t have it at Augusta. Dustin Johnson put together a putrid performance, shooting 13 over for his two rounds, making it fair to wonder if his days of contending at major championships are over as he rapidly approaches his 40th birthday.
Jon Rahm and Joaquin Niemann were both players who were amongst the favorites this week, but Rahm was faced with the daunting duties of defending champion and Niemann proved he was still not quite ready to master the quirks of Augusta National, bleeding strokes both around and on the greens.
To be fair, when all was said and done, LIV had four players in the top twelve at The Masters. Tyrrell Hatton stormed the leaderboard early on Sunday, finishing T9 and earning himself an invite back to Augusta next season. Cam Smith and Patrick Reed put together gritty performances, which isn’t too surprising considering the fact that they both absolutely love Augusta National, but neither ever felt a real threat to win. There’s no doubt the players on LIV are good, and that’s why some encouraging leaderboard positions aren’t enough. They needed to contend.
With no players part of the storyline on Sunday, I view the first major of the year as a disappointment for LIV. The players will head into next month’s PGA Championship at Valhalla with a lot to prove.
Rory’s Struggles Continues
Rory struggling at Augusta National is no surprise at this point. The four-time major champion has now had 10 attempts to complete the career grand slam and has never had a chance to win. His T2 in 2022 was deceiving, the Northern Irishman stormed the leaderboard on Sunday, but was never in contention, and never got within three shots of the winner, Scottie Scheffler.
I didn’t expect Rory to win, but I have to admit that this year felt a bit different. McIlroy played the week prior to the Masters, which he typically doesn’t do, and finished third at the Valero Texas Open. He gained 7.56 strokes on approach and 2.0 strokes off the tee, which told me that his visit with world-renowned swing coach, Butch Harmon, after the Players Championship paid dividends.
McIlroy also approached the media quite differently. He cut his pre-tournament press conference short after only 10 minutes and seemed to be laser-focused on just playing golf.
Despite the different approach to the Masters, the results were the same. McIlroy struggled over the course of the week, finishing T22 (+4) and never sniffed a decent weekend position on the leaderboard. It’s back to the drawing board for McIlroy, and I have doubts that he will ever figure it out at Augusta.
- LIKE49
- LEGIT9
- WOW4
- LOL1
- IDHT2
- FLOP2
- OB2
- SHANK7
We’ve finally reached The Masters and excitement is at an all-time high. The world of golf has been fractured for the better part of two years, but for a week at Augusta National, all of the outside noise will disappear. All of the best players in the world will be together seeking to make history.
In addition to betting on The Masters champion. This is one of the few weeks of the year where there are so many more markets to explore, with value to be had in plenty of different categories.
Throughout this article, I’ll discuss all of my favorite props and players for the 2024 Masters.
Placement Bets:
Tony Finau Top 5 +750 (DraftKings):
I badly wanted to include Tony Finau in my outright betting selections, but I simply ran out of room on my card. Additionally, it’s slightly difficult to see him hitting the putts necessary to win the Masters on back nine on Sunday. However, I do strongly believe he will play great golf this week at Augusta National.
In his past 24 rounds, Finau ranks 4th in Strokes Gained: Approach is always amongst the best drivers of the golf ball in the game. Back in 2019, Finau had a great chance to win The Masters. I expect him to be hanging around over the weekend once again in 2024.
Gary Woodland Top 20 +550 (DraftKings), Gary Woodland to make the cut -110 (DraftKings):
Last season, Gary Woodland had his best ever finish at The Masters in his eleven tries. The 39-year-old finished T14 and played incredibly steady across all four rounds.
In Woodland’s most recent start at the Texas Children’s Houston Open, he struck the ball incredibly well. He led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach (+8.8) and Strokes Gained: Ball Striking (+10.0).
Gary has been working with Butch Harmon and absolutely flushing the ball both in tournaments and during practice.
Woodland appears to be healthy once again and in a great place physically and mentally. If he can build off his impressive performance at Augusta last year, he can place inside the top ten in 2024.
Additionally, the make the cut number on Woodland seems generous considering the number of players who miss the cut will be relatively small this week. Woodland is striking it well enough to make the cut even if he’s hindered by a balky putter once again.
Thorbjorn Olesen Top 20 +400 (FanDuel):
The Thunder Bear, Thorbjorn Olesen, made his Masters debut in 2013 and finished an incredibly impressive T6 for the week. In the two additional starts he’s made at Augusta National since then, the Dane has continued to be incredibly solid, finishing T44 and T21.
This week, Olesen heads into the week playing some good golf. He gained 3.8 strokes on approach and 5.52 strokes around the green at last week’s Valero Texas Open on his way to a strong T14 finish. Back in January, he won the Ras Al Khaimah Championship on the DP World Tour.
Olesen has the skill set to be successful at Augusta and seems primed for a good performance this week.
Top Nationalities:
Sergio Garcia Top Spanish Player +280 (DraftKings):
I believe Sergio Garcia can get into contention this week with the way he’s striking the ball in addition to his good vibes with a refurbished version of the Scotty Cameron that he used at the 1999 PGA Championship at Medinah.
I am slightly concerned about the emotional letdown he may face after losing in a playoff at LIV Miami, but I believe a veteran and former Masters champion should be able to regroup and focus on an event far more meaningful.
This is essentially a tournament head-to-head with Jon Rahm at +280. While Rahm deserves to be respected this week, the history of the lack of success of defending champions at The Masters is difficult to ignore.
Joaquin Niemann Top South American Player -230 (FanDuel):
While I hate paying this much juice, I don’t see a world in which Joaquin Niemann isn’t the top South American this week at The Masters. Joaco comes in playing better golf than anyone in the world not named Scottie Scheffler and has a serious chance to win the green jacket.
He only needs to beat two players: Emiliano Grillo and Camilo Villegas.
Tournament Head-to-Heads:
Justin Thomas -110 over Collin Morikawa
JT isn’t having his best season but is playing a lot better than he is getting credit for at the moment. In the past three months, there are only six players on the PGA Tour who have averaged 1.7 Strokes Gained: Tee to Green or better. Justin Thomas (+1.7) is one of the six and is currently tied with Rory McIlroy (+1.7).
Morikawa, on the other hand, has been extremely poor with his irons, which is incredibly uncharacteristic for him. I can’t help but feel like something is completely off with the two-time major champion.
Tony Finau -110 over Wyndham Clark
I explained in the placement section why I’m so high on Tony Finau this week. With how well he’s striking the ball, it seems as if his floor is extremely high. I’m not sure if he can make the putts to win a green jacket but I believe he will be in the mix similarly to 2019 when Tiger Woods emerged from a crowded pack of contenders.
Clark is a debutant, and while some debutants have had success at The Masters, it certainly poses a challenge. I also don’t believe Augusta National suits Clark as well as some of the other major championship venues.
- LIKE9
- LEGIT5
- WOW3
- LOL0
- IDHT0
- FLOP0
- OB0
- SHANK3
Dave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
John Daly stuns fans into silence with brutal opening tee shot on PGA Tour Champions
Things got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
Tiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
Scottie Scheffler WITB 2024 (March)
Photos from the 2024 Arnold Palmer Invitational
Report: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
Joaquin Niemann names 3 PGA Tour events he’d love to play each year ‘in a perfect world’
Spotted: Bettinardi irons at the Arnold Palmer Invitational
2-time major champ announces shock retirement from the sport at age of 33
Max Homa WITB 2024 (April)
Max Homa what’s in the bag accurate as of the Masters. Driver: Titleist TSR3 (9 degrees, D1 SureFit setting) Shaft:...
Bryson DeChambeau WITB 2024 (April)
Driver: Krank Formula Fire Pro (6 degrees) Shaft: Project X HZRDUS T1100 75g 6.5 Mini driver: TaylorMade BRNR Mini Driver...
Scottie Scheffler’s winning WITB: 2024 Masters
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (8 degrees @8.25) Buy here. Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Black 7 X (45 inches) 3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 (15 degrees) Buy...
WITB Time Machine: Danny Willett’s winning WITB, 2016 Masters
Driver: Callaway XR 16 (9 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi Rayon Diamana W-Series 60 X Length: 45.5 inches 3-wood: Callaway XR 16 (15 degrees) Shaft: Mitsubishi...
-
19th Hole6 days agoDave Portnoy places monstrous outright bet for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoThings got heated at the Houston Open between Tony Finau and Alejandro Tosti. Here’s why
-
19th Hole7 days agoTiger Woods arrives at 2024 Masters equipped with a putter that may surprise you
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoReport: Tiger Woods has ‘eliminated sex’ in preparation for the 2024 Masters
-
19th Hole1 day agoTwo star names reportedly blanked Jon Rahm all week at the Masters
-
19th Hole21 hours agoNeal Shipley presser ends in awkward fashion after reporter claims Tiger handed him note on 8th fairway
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoAddiction, spinal fusion, and scam artists – Everything Anthony Kim revealed in candid interview with David Feherty
-
19th Hole2 weeks agoAnthony Kim says doctors told him that he ‘may not have much time left’ ahead of LIV return
John
Nov 17, 2016 at 6:12 pm
I will never understand why tiger woods is the only athlete in the world that has to constantly answer for cheating/getting divorced. At the rate that stuff goes on in everyday life with normal people you really have to be a sheltered little alter boy to be so offended that the highest paid athlete in the game can’t stay married. Golfers who are concerned with who tiger is shacking with or the manor in which he’s doing so clearly never understood why people were drawn to him in the first place. Tiger gave golf a mistique and coolness that boring overweight white guys couldn’t. He most likely won’t ever win another major and might not even be returning to professional golf, but the whole on course off course behavior argument is the most laughable way of dismissing woods yet.
Flip
Sep 26, 2016 at 1:16 pm
Washed up
videos
Dec 10, 2013 at 8:41 pm
You guys should really look at this web site, they offer the highest quality baseball tubes I’ve stumbled upon up to now.
Jamie
Aug 18, 2013 at 3:38 pm
You guys are funny…yes I’m a Tiger fan, but I’m a Nicklaus, Phil, and Duff fan. So Joe Montana is the greatest QB because he won the most SB’s? Or is Bill Russell the greatest B-ball player because he won the most rings? You’re telling me Robert Horry is better or as good as MJ or Kobe? He’s got the rings. Tiger is the best by far of our generations and many past and future. He will have more wins, most likely over 100. Better overall statistics the Jack, or any other golfer ever to walk the earth will over a career. BTW…he is the only golfer in history to have an average score in the 60’s for his career…THE ONLY. Not Jack, not Lee, not Arnold…Now he is a Type A, anal, focused individual…but so are many geniuses. I don’t condone poor behavior, but I don’t walk in his shoes and will never judge another man/woman before GOD.
IMHO, Tiger is the best golfer of all time. He may not be the most Majors winner of all time, but he’s no Bill Russell. And BTW, Sam Snead was better then Jack. Jack will tell you that.
Desmond
Aug 3, 2013 at 6:45 am
You made the mistake of mentioning Haney.
Jim
Sep 9, 2016 at 11:58 pm
The over- rated hack that totally mismanaged the prodgeny that fell into his lap. HE did nothing to protect and prevent injury – already recurring at the time and look to the future.
Anyone changing a grip or backswing – the dude had since he was 3 – that weren’t hurting anything – while he WAS dominating the WORLD (so they could ‘show’ some swing change THEY made should be sued for malpractice.
Tiger’s problems started as most sheltered prodgenys do. The protectors keeping him from the real world die – or – as often happens in many arenas, the two toughest guys on the block – sooner or later, they’re gonna fight. In this case Earl passed, Tiger & Butch kinda had the ‘toughest guys’ moment…. (he discovered strippers too)…
whatever
Here’s the real bottom line. Golf hasn’t been fun for HIM. Not for a while. He may still love it, may still want to play & most certainly win – I can’t believe he could lose his core ‘drive’ – but the scales have tipped. The balance of drive combined with the JOY of it all has tipped to drive – but instead of joy, it’s struggle. Struggling to make the WRONG changes based on a NEW baseline built not apon a sheltered, strong and healthy body and mind, but an injured frame and mind fogged by BAD DECISIONS AND WORSE “COACHING” ….
IF I were Tigets friend & confidant, I woulda told him look bro, we’re taking this year off (after the 2nd knee surgery). We’re renting a Tour bus, and we’re gonna start in Maine in May, and do a secret ‘Tiger vacation/tour’. No press, no agents, no nuthin. Just golf at a different great club everyday. Eat good food – and yes – hit a titty bar or two every so often… We’re just gonna play golf everyday with no pressure, no BS – until the great catharsis that is golf – cleanses his soul and it’s fun again.
There can never be ‘another’ Tiger Woods. It’s NOT possible to capture lightning in a bottle twice. No one’s afraid of him – shit, they’re all as strong and as good as they are now BECAUSE OF HIM… he’ll never be ‘Tiger’ again….
Time for ELDRICK to come out n play….
ps…he should see me for lessons that’ll keep him injury free. I was able to turn professional AFTER I broke my back. Working with ‘geniuses’ – that never been through it themselves doesn’t seem to be working.
Bill
Aug 1, 2013 at 10:18 am
Tiger is starting to talk down the greens for the PGA Championship at Oak Hill. Yesterday mentioned that they are slow and no thatch. Not sure if aim right about this but doesn’t thatch make them soft which adds resistance which slows down the greens and makes them bumpy.
David
Jul 31, 2013 at 10:52 am
Ack…. there’s nothing “wrong” with him. He’s just playing with a little less consistency. It happens to all players now and again. It’s happening to Rory now too. The game comes and goes. The majors are set up hard and it’s reflected in occasional bad scores.
That’s it in a nutshell. I’m no Tiger fan but all this speculating is silly.
Brian
Jul 29, 2013 at 2:18 pm
Performance enhancing drugs ruined Tiger’s body and Sean Foley ruined his swing, NOT a good combination……..
Jim
Sep 10, 2016 at 12:23 am
Haney ruined his swing FIRST – AND FAILED to impart biomechanical changes to PROTECT him from further injury and stop the two excessively violent moves he did – that even Butch told him would eventually wreck his back and his knee…neither Haney or Foley got it.
It was about THEM – NOT Tiger. They should both “go to the box and feel shame”
Chris
Jul 29, 2013 at 7:24 am
no loss—happy to see him fail in the majors…mark me a hater!
Sean
Jul 27, 2013 at 7:29 pm
I’ve observed that this Tiger guy seems rather polarizing. If you say something negative you’re a hater, which seems a bit over the top, because not all negative comments are “hateful”. I never believed that Tiger cared what anyone thought, so I don’t buy the argument that it’s outside influences putting pressure on him. As far as “how many majors have Azinger and Chamblee won” that’s simply specious. Yes, he’s won four times this year, but on courses he’s intimately familiar with, which doesn’t detract from his wins, just a point of observation. Frankly it’s a puzzle why he hasn’t won #15. Maybe he just doesn’t have the same fire. Maybe he needs Stevie back on the bag. What he says in his post round interviews doesn’t jibe with what’s happening on the course. In any case, he’s making too many unforced errors, which he never used to do. Figure why that is and you’ll know why he’s not winning majors.
stephenf
Jul 29, 2013 at 11:59 am
Maybe it’s just really, really hard to win 15 majors, even in an era of talented-but-soft competition (no Palmer, Player, Trevino, Casper, Watson, etc.), which is why only one guy in history has ever done it.
In other words, maybe it’s time for writers to stop making every single event about Tiger Woods, and take another look at Nicklaus’s stupendous level of excellence in achieving that record.
Tom Murch
Aug 20, 2013 at 10:32 pm
From tstephen to stephenf: where were you the past 3 months when I was trying to convey your point regarding Jack vs Tiger on the thread “Greatest male player ever” since you have made so many good points?
Shane Keeley
Jul 25, 2013 at 11:26 pm
I do not agree with any of the statements in the article, however my opinion is that Tiger no longer has the joy aspect of the game that he had when he was constantly winning. I honestly believe that he does enjoy the game but not to the extent where he’s excited to go practice and go play to the best of his ability.
If I could look at Tiger and tell him one thing about the game it would be to simply stop worrying about the titles, the glory, the money, or criticism and just go have fun… go enjoy the game like you did when you were younger and before you had the weight on your shoulders.
M. P. Ohaneson
Jul 25, 2013 at 9:12 pm
I think the past problems of his personal life really derailed him for awhile, but he has shown a lot of great golf and a number of tour wins, especially this year. He looks happier than ever since he started seeing Lindsey Vonn so I think his personal life is no longer the problem. I think he is playing with injuries. He’s such a fierce competitor that I think he will play in a major even if he has an injury. Say what you will about him, but he doesn’t make excuses for himself, and I think he plays injured without anyone knowing it.
David
Jul 25, 2013 at 9:17 am
I don’t think anything is “wrong” with Tiger. It’s just that he’s gotten older, and it’s clear injuries have effected him in his career. One thing people always forget is that Tiger isn’t 21 years old anymore yet unless he repeats that same level of dominance he had when he was 21 people say “Tiger’s just not right”. When it comes to majors as well the fields become a lot more competitive than they do with the weekly events that he does continue to have success at.
At this point Tiger reminds me of a great power pitcher in baseball where when they’re 21 or 22 they can just blow everyone away with their nasty stuff. When they age and the stuff becomes more ordinary they have to learn how to actually pitch by changing speeds, and working the inside of the plate.
Johnnythunders
Jul 25, 2013 at 7:48 am
I am so happy to see Tigers continued slump in the majors. I never liked Tiger from day one. He had talent but no class. What I find interesting is once he started winning all of the media just fawned all over him and how 5 years into his majors slump they have turned on him. Love it.
No matter how many majors Tiger wins or how many tournments he wins, he will never be considered “great”. Jack, Be, Sam, Gary and Arnie are great and maybe even Phil someday. Tiger will not be remembered kindly by history.
stephenf
Jul 25, 2013 at 4:10 am
Nice piece with some really cogent points, but please, I’m asking as nicely as I can…figure out what “begging the question” actually is, then tell every writer friend you have. It’s a sacred duty not to contribute to the obliteration of a perfectly good, in fact critically important, logical fallacy.
matt
Jul 24, 2013 at 11:57 pm
this is really tigers come back year..just because he hasn’t won any majors doesn’t mean he wont next year, or the next, or the next. he has a lot of golf to play, I think him losing these majors will only make him better. take adam scott he blew last years british and came back the next year and wont the masters. he said he learned a lot from losing that tournament. Phil has been runner up 6 times at the us open, what does he do the next major after? shoots 66 in the final day to win. just give the man a break and leave it alone, he will win a major again, maybe the pga, or maybe it wont be until next year.
Jim
Sep 10, 2016 at 1:43 am
TIGER is dead.
NO ONE catches lightning in a bottle twice. No one is afraid of him any more – they’re stronger and better BECAUSE of him.
If ELDRICK finally sheds himself of the worst, most over-rated blowhard coaches – who ARE NOT protecting his injuries and not making changes to his swing based on biomechanical NECESSITY, he may very well win a couple more ‘Majors’. Frankly, that shouldn’t even be part of the equation right now.
Eldrick will win when he grows up, resets his compass “gets his shit in one sock” as we used to say – and regains the LOVE he had – for just PLAYING THE GAME
Curt
Jul 24, 2013 at 10:53 pm
Ladies, ladies, ladies – Tiger would have to achieve Mickelson’s entire major championship career (5 majors), from this point on, to surpass Jack Nicklaus’ 18 majors.
Face reality, its not going to happen. As I said above in another post, he might win one or maybe even two more majors, but he will not will 5 more from here.
He has way to much scar tissue between the ears and outside, physical injuries, age, nerves, etc. and the field gets deeper and deeper every year, while just get older and older………………
Brick
Jul 24, 2013 at 11:45 pm
Funny you mention age. I clearly remember seeing Tom Watson nearly win the 2009 Open Championship at 59 years young. And we should listen to your doubt and criticism of Tiger because he has 14 Major Championships and you have what?…maybe a handful of wins on Tiger Woods PGA Tour 14?
Curt
Jul 25, 2013 at 7:00 pm
I challenge you to TW PGA Tour 14 any day of the week!!!
Raymond Filip
Jul 24, 2013 at 10:39 pm
Tiger has class. Nicklaus is the spoiled son of a pharmacist; he enjoyed a major head start in life. Tiger had to fight for every inch of success as a “Caublasian,” as well as dealing with media pressure and a depth of field that Nicklaus never had to worry about. Give Tiger his due with 14 majors. Nicklaus could never have achieved that many in today’s era. Class is not a numbers game.
stephenf
Jul 29, 2013 at 11:55 am
I wonder how people as ignorant as you are on this subject feel qualified to post at all.
If you want to believe the “depth of field” nonsense constantly put out there by the PGA Tour (which has no interest in tarnishing its product by admitting that Nicklaus, Hogan, and Snead had better top competition), go ahead and believe your adolescent myth that the current era must be better. In fact, it is provably not. If I thought it would do one bit of good, I’d go into it here. We’ll start with the fact that anytime you want to bring Woods’ top four rivals against Nicklaus’ top four, just say the word. It doesn’t matter how “deep” the field is — how many people around #125 can get rich with a stroke average of 71 or 72 and never sniffing a win — it matters how high it is. And there is no disputing that during both the Nicklaus era and the Hogan-Snead-Nelson era, it was much higher.
As for “privileged,” Woods had nothing to do all his life but play golf and travel to tournaments. Nicklaus’s family was solidly middle-class; his father owned a pharmacy, which did not make him a rich man, although they were well-off enough for him to play tournaments. But when Nicklaus was in college, he was married and selling insurance to make a living. He was also looking forward to a career as a pharmacist himself (probably) and a high-level amateur career as a player, until he decided to give the Tour a try. Woods was never anything other than completely groomed for professional golf and never for one moment made a living any other way. To act like Woods had some kind of underprivileged background and was prevented from doing anything significant in the game because of his race is just nonsense.
As for “class,” I mean, you have got to be living in a cave. Woods humiliated and betrayed his wife and children by sleeping with every cocktail waitress and aspiring porn star he could get his hands on. (Hogan, on the other hand, threw himself across his wife’s body to save her life in a head-on collision with a bus. And neither Hogan nor Nicklaus nor any of the other great players in history ever had so much as a hint of marital or sexual scandal.) He curses on camera regularly, despite knowing that millions of kids are watching. (Nicklaus, by contrast, quit smoking the day he saw himself on film, deciding it looked bad and was a bad influence on kids.) Then there was the time he refused to sign a golf ball for charity, or other times when he curses and elbows fans out of the way after a bad shot. Yeah. Nothing but class.
As for media pressure, cry me a freakin’ river. Media “pressure” doesn’t excuse his behavior, and it doesn’t come for no reason at all. It comes with celebrity, which happens to be the reason he’s the richest athlete on the planet. I don’t see him ducking away from his celebrity. I see him pumping it, or at least he did for most of his career. I see him participating in the ridiculous myth of his own invincibility, which leaves him vulnerable to criticism when he can’t control winning all the time. If he has “pressure,” he brought it on himself, every dollar of it. He could be as private as he wanted to be, but he _doesn’t_ want to be. The idea of “media pressure” for somebody like him is a joke.
Woods is clearly the “best” player of his generation, if you limit the notion of “good” strictly to striking a ball and scoring low, and erase all questions of character from a game where character is supposed to matter. His skill level is off the charts. His mental and competitive toughness make him a man among boys on that count. But “class”? Woods is emblematic of the vulgar, self-indulgent child, sometimes race-obsessed and race-excusing, that has become the model of the modern pro athlete. Anybody who cares at all about the best traditions of this game will find that intolerable.
Paul
Jul 24, 2013 at 9:03 pm
I fugure the only record Tiger should keep his sights on is Sam Sneads total tournament record. If he passes that mark – he is undisputed in my book. If he squeezes out another major or two in the process that’s still an undisputed record.
stephenf
Jul 29, 2013 at 11:39 am
Okay. But who are his Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan?
Brick
Jul 24, 2013 at 5:16 pm
Tiger WILL win his next Major Championship when Tiger is ready…he broke through and won three times last year and four out of his first eight starts this year. His performance at The Players this year was phenomenal. I, like many others, expected Tiger to sweep The Memorial again this year…however, from the get-go, it was easy to see that his demeanor wasn’t the same as when he was at The Players. Although the world puts Tiger on pedestal…Tiger is a human being and puts his pants on one leg at a time, just like you and me. Stop hating on the greatest golfer of this generation…we all make mistakes and poor choices in life. It is too easy to criticize others while wearing our own shoes…
Bart carter
Jul 24, 2013 at 4:02 pm
Can’t help but wonder if Jack really faced the same standard of competition that Tigers faces, the comparisons are a bit silly aren’t they? all things being equal??? I think Tiger in a face off would be a better prospect, but who knows??.
Dan
Jul 25, 2013 at 1:20 pm
Are you for real? Nicklaus had to compete against the truly greatest players in the game; Palmer, Player, Trevino, Watson, Ballesteros, Kite, Norman, Crenshaw, Irwin, Casper, Floyd, Langer, etc.
Who was around when Tiger showed up? Mickelson? Els? Singh? Goosen? Harrington? I’ll give you those guys HoF’ers. But beyond that? Garcia, Janzen, Olazabel, Price, Stankowski, Couples?. Lots of guys nearing the end of their PGA best years or guys like Sergio, good but never great.
The reason Tiger isnt blowing the field away is that there are a lot more young capable players since 2009, maybe not as consistent but guys that have similar amounts of talent and strength.
stephenf
Jul 29, 2013 at 11:34 am
You said it.
For further corroboration, just check the average score Woods has had to shoot to win majors — with near-perfect course conditions, a longer and more consistent ball, and game-improvement features in clubs.
Also look at what scores were shot by others in contention.
Also look at what people have done in playoffs against him, and what scores he’s had to make in playoffs to win. (If I had time and opportunity, I’d go into that abominable chicken-out at Torrey Pines in the U.S. Open as an extended example of “just glad to be here”-ism.)
People frequently cite the fact that Woods has been statistically the best frontrunner in history among great players. There’s a reason for that, but hardly any of the people who point to that particular stat as an indication of Woods’ superiority have any idea what that reason is. It is inconceivable that such a thing would’ve happened in the era of Hogan, Snead, Nelson, Demaret, et al., or in the era of Nicklaus, Palmer, Player, Trevino, Casper, Miller, Watson, et al.
Sure, some of the guys you mention (Mickelson and others) are hall-of-famers, and I absolutely love some of them (Mickelson and Els in particular), but among those only Mickelson is starting to approach the level of the top competition faced by Hogan, Snead, and Nicklaus. And frankly, when Mickelson is playing his best, there is no way Woods can dominate him. It’s just that Woods has been tougher and more consistent mentally over his career than Phil has. I have a feeling, though, that if Mickelson keeps his desire, he could be a Snead the Second — smarter than he was in the first two-thirds of his career, still stupendously long and no sign of that diminishing, and cagier about certain strategic situations and how to keep himself in contention. We’ll see.
Ward G. Walkup IV
Jul 24, 2013 at 2:08 pm
Was watching old videos of Tiger 2000-2002 era and was surprised at how natural and fluid he was. Even his practice swings for swing keys were smooth and fluid. Fast forward to today, he just looks so technical and jerky. Maybe its just over analysis, but its hard to play and is mentally fatiguing to constantly be working on technical queues instead of just playing golf. His numbers with Foley look good, but it seems to be that when it counts, e.g. Majors, he’s continually coming up short.
An even bigger issue seems to be his putting under major pressure, as he just doesn’t seem to be the same in pressure situations. Looking back at all the footage of Tiger under pressure in big tournaments, he always nailed the momentum building or momentum killing puts, which he seems to not be doing as much lately. His numbers are still great though, as hes, I believe, in the top 5 in strokes gained putting.
The other big elephant in the room for Tiger seems to be winning from behind in a Major, as hes never won without having the lead going into Sunday in a Major. While he’s won like crazy, a lot of his wins have come from other guys self destructing or crumbling when Tiger’s leading or near the lead, which isn’t happening like before.
I’d really like to see him break Jack’s record, in spite of his personality flaws, indiscretions, etc., just because of his sheer athleticism and determination. Do I believe he’ll do it? Less and less so, but can’t say I’m not going to watch or be any less interested.
SN
Jul 24, 2013 at 1:39 pm
I see 4 kind of people bashing TW; haters, hypocrites, racists and medias.
Personally I would love to see him winning at least a major again, not for beating Jack’s record… I dont even understand why people give so much crap about Jack’s record. TW is great enough already, with or without beating Jack’s record…
Yet, seriously I wanna print all these crap writing and comments of these hater and shove up to their arse when TW win the 15th…
Abu Dhabi Golfer
Jul 29, 2013 at 10:58 am
That’s funny.
THOSE are the four same kinds of people that I see praising TW!!!!
purkjason
Jul 24, 2013 at 11:04 am
Jack’s 18 Majors won’t be beat for a long, long, time if ever. And Jack’s 19 second place finishes at Majors is more mind boggling to me because it truly shows how consistent he was on the big stage. Tiger may have talent but EVERY HUMAN BEING hits that age when your body says NO MORE. Everybody hits their peak for awhile but you can’t sustain it forever. For some it’s early in life and some a bit later. But to say that Tiger is in the same category as Jack is nonsense due to Jack being a REAL MAN with moral principles like Arnie, Gary, and even the great Phil Mickelson. A good human being means more than athletism, adultary, vulgar speech, etc. We all miss seeing alot of great golf out on the course due to the media shoving Tiger down our throats with each televised tournament. When is enough enough ?
Blanco
Jul 24, 2013 at 2:03 am
Tiger, like ALL golfers, runs on confidence. The #1 story in golf is “when will Tiger win his next major?” In the world of social media hell– there’s no way someone wouldn’t be affected by the frequent media assault on his character and skill.
This is Tiger Woods– when he wins his next major, he will continue to win majors. Kindof like when Brandell said he would NEVER win again and then once he does, he regains #1 and is winning %50 of all tournaments entered.
To all you saints who can’t handle Tiger showing emotion– realize that you’re making strong judgements on a human being based on what Television is choosing to show you. The only person that should be passing judgement on his merits as a PERSON is Tiger himself. Watch golf for displays of awesome talent– not a displays of superior morality.
HBTrojan77
Jul 23, 2013 at 10:50 pm
The pressure of chasing Jack’s record seems like it’s taking a toll on this guy…his game is nowhere near what it was back in 2000. His short game sucks if you want to compare this Tiger to the same Tiger back in 2000. Seems like that is what everybody is waiting to see. Not gonna happen. That run he had back in 2000 will never come around again.
Jason
Jul 23, 2013 at 8:56 pm
Tiger is like a boxer that is great when he is the one landing punches, but as soon as he gets punched he folds the tent. When he is the front runner and everyone is chasing him he handles adversity completely differently than he does when he knows he has to make up ground. Tiger has yet to prove he can come from behind on Sunday in a major, and I still say that when Y.E. Yang beat him at Hazeltine that Tiger’s ego and confidence took a hit from which he has yet to recover.
Stu
Jul 23, 2013 at 8:21 pm
Muirfield was brutal. TV made it look easier than it was. Phil got it done and kudos to him for overcoming the disappointment of Merion and demonstrating that a US Tour player who is a student of the game can prevail in tough links golf conditions.
I used to be a Tiger-hater. But forgetting all the off-course antics, what he has achieved in his career is phenomenal in the modern era, where many guys are more focused, athletic and better coached in all aspects than they ever have been. He has stiff competition every week and has lost some of the ‘playing for second place’ fear factor.
I think he’s gonna do 15 minimum. No doubt.
Golf is really turning into a hater/gossip-fest these days. The thing I have love about golf over the past 30 years ( I’m 40 now) is that it was a sport where there was not the BS and rampant journalistic jingoism that prevailed in other sports (or pastimes as my friends call it until they try and rip one 300 yards…). But that has change and with the new media, the nonsense surrounding golf is no better than that surrounding football in my home UK or football/bball in the US.
There’s now soooooooo much cash at stake every week on the US Tour that guys in the Top 100 make huge coin every year. $1M plus for the winner every week.
If I were Tiger, I’d retire and say ‘**** you’ to all the haters. But guess what, because he is an egomaniac / super-driven super- athlete, he won’t. He will pound his battered body until he hits 19. And everyone should be grateful. Especially his fellow golfers as $$$$ in the game is due to the Tiger Effect. When he’s not there, audiences fall, revenues fall…
So he should be applauded, not for being a perfect human being. Which of us are by definition? But for making the modern game what it is today for spectators, other athletes and even the guys who get to bash him in the press.
Tiger. I’m not your biggest fan.
But I also speak for every professional golfer and kid go dreams of emulating your achievements when I say let’s see 15. Hell, make it 20. Jack’s a fan! We should all be for what you’ve done for the game.
reqq
Jul 23, 2013 at 7:24 am
“The problem is that Tiger’s been giving this exact same speech before and after nearly every major for the past five years, and the results aren’t changing.”
Except that all these years he had different types of problems, problems that now start to be solved. He been so close lately in majors its just a matter of time.
yo!
Jul 23, 2013 at 2:23 am
Tiger’s the only guy where the expectation is that he wins every time he tees off, and when he doesn’t then there must be something wrong. He’ll eventually break through. I think his best chances are at the Masters and at the PGA championship because conditions are more predictable. The US and British Open requires some lucky bounces which makes Phil’s 66 one of the greatest rounds. Whether you’re routing for or against Tiger getting to 19, it just means that all eyes are on Tiger and no one has had the impact that Tiger has had on the game of golf.
Kyle
Jul 23, 2013 at 12:39 am
Just wanted to add that the BEST ever took first or second in 37 Majors. That my friends defines greatness!
AJ
Jul 23, 2013 at 11:12 am
Try 19
Joe
Jul 22, 2013 at 9:52 pm
This was a great read! Very good writing and Pete is one of the best on golfwrx.com!
I believe Tiger will win a few more majors before he hangs up the cleats. Look at the age of some current winners in majors. What makes everyone think one of the greatest player’s of all time can’t win at least one more before he is 50? He will eventually stumble on to # 15 and that will get him over the hump. Then, lookout!!!!
AZ Golf
Jul 23, 2013 at 12:43 am
All the detractors who say Tiger won’t eclipse Jack are crazy. He has the most wins on tour this year and is number 1 in the world. He’s been in contention in almost half the majors since the scandle, even when his life was in chambles. Yes, he hasn’t closed the deal yet, but he’s knocking on the door a lot – a lot more than anyone else. I personally think the 15th major will be the toughest to win due to the scandle, swing change, injuries and loss of confidence. Once he knocks off the next major, the flood gates will open and his confidence will be back. Watch out! He’s playing with a vendata now which will fuel him even more than before. The only thing that can stop him is injuries.
Armen Baghdasarian
Jul 23, 2013 at 3:06 pm
a normal comment? bless you and not because it was pro tiger but because it was a normal comment.
Steve
Jul 22, 2013 at 6:20 pm
Oh, Thank Heaven for Chamblee and Azinger and Miller and the rest of the “I wish I had had half the career Tiger has put together” crowd! This media noise has descended into a ‘who can be the biggest gossip’ fest! So Phil couldn’t put one together, then he did it TWICE in 2 weeks – and one was the Open Championship – for THREE wins THIS YEAR, so they have to lay off him or a few days (til the next US Open I guess)….so what do they talk about now? A Four-time winner THIS YEAR, a guy who constantly approaches his swing and performance in a scientific and professional manner, and is always under the gun from the guys with no game left. So what are they gonna do when Tiger takes the PGA?
….Oh, wait, there’s always McIlroy, Westwood, Bradley, and Snedeker, and Simpson, and Dufner, and Fowler, and other PGA golfers with ‘issues’. Give it a rest, boys, and tell your out-of-fashion GC bosses the ‘Fox News Model’ no longer works on the American public.
Double C
Jul 22, 2013 at 4:07 pm
He’s not on steroids anymore. It’s as simple as that. All of his injuries are common for steroid users. Why isn’t anyone talking about this??????
Serious
Jul 22, 2013 at 4:51 pm
You are a fool. They are crucifying him in the only way they can. He hasn’t won a Major in 5 years. Believe me, you don’t think the way they trash him they wouldn’t jump at the chance? Tiger was the one who asked the Tour to START initiating drug testing fool!
Adam
Jul 23, 2013 at 2:04 pm
This comment is absolutely stupid.
They’re also common injuries for somebody that puts several hundred ft/lbs of torque on his knees, wrists, elbows, and lower back – with every swing – several hundred times (or probably into the thousand) times a day.
Armen Baghdasarian
Jul 23, 2013 at 3:04 pm
well then lefty must be on steroids as well. hes winning at 43! omg omg lefty on steroids…ya hes not buff but lance armstrong wasnt either or roger clemens…get a life dude…tiger is known to be a hard training athlete. i wonder if theyll start calling him a domestic terrorist in the next 3 years…wouldnt be surprised.
btw..i was being sarcastic about lefty. just making a point.
HBTrojan77
Jul 23, 2013 at 10:36 pm
You know…I have no proof if he has ever taken the “juice” but the fact remains why did get prescription meds from a known doctor who was implicated giving steroids to other athletes…HMMM?
naflack
Jul 24, 2013 at 1:02 pm
It makes me chuckle a little when I hear people cry about tiger being attacked by the media when there is clearly a story to be told regarding ped usage and the media is giving him a free pass.
Bill
Jul 26, 2013 at 7:26 pm
I’ll bet you are a real athlete since you know all about how one reacts when quitting PED’S.
neil
Jul 22, 2013 at 3:48 pm
I don’t really like Tiger at all but do wish everyone would stop over analysing everything he does (and doesn’t)
He’s probably not mentally as tough as he used to be after his issues and also during that time, a lot of other great golfers got to know what it was like to win.
I reckon he’s probably just got more competition these days than back in the day when he would scare all opposition come Sunday.
Tony Lynam
Jul 23, 2013 at 10:14 pm
Great point. He has more competition because in reality, his greatness created the competition, by inspiring multitudes of youngsters to take up the game and get this level.
Curt
Jul 22, 2013 at 2:27 pm
Tiger has a lot of scar tissue now; psychological trauma from the scandal and injuries too many to count (both between the ears and out)! I am sure he will win another major or two, but I agree with the author, passing Jack seems out of reach.
Serious
Jul 22, 2013 at 4:50 pm
The media is doing all there criticizing on purpose, to get into his head, and make it even harder for him to win any tournament. They have succeeded in making the public get on their bandwagon. Haney’s book, Norman, Faldo and Haney’s comments before Majors? Think they’re not trying to distract him? All these articles mentioning “scandal” almost 4 years later which will be on the Internet forever!!! They say it’s mental, yes, they are sticking the knife in even further every time they get on their high horses and bloviate about him disparagingly.
Bill
Jul 26, 2013 at 7:23 pm
Gee, I thought Jack was 46 when he won #18. Tiger is 37.
Curt
Jul 28, 2013 at 5:45 pm
Yeah, and like Jack just said, “Tiger is playing the entire field, not just one or two good players.” The field is much deeper than when Jack was playing, so your argument is not an apples to apples comparison. Matter of fact, the field is so deep now, that we may never see another double digit major champion again! Every week someone different is bringing their A game and that is hard to contend with, even for Tiger, because the margin of difference between TIger and the field is non-existant, unlike times of past! If there is a margin of difference between Tiger and the field its because the pendulum is far in favor of the field, not Tiger, which is why he never wins majors anymore!!! The proof is in the pudding……………….
naflack
Jul 22, 2013 at 1:36 pm
Looks like the tiger apologists have had their say…
I don’t dislike tiger but to the apologists if one isn’t completely enamored with him one is a hater?
Whatever the reason for his poor play at the majors, the fact remains that he consistently doesn’t play well enough to win them anymore. At this point in his career he is making a killing on a small group of courses he knows like the back of his hand.
A person can make any and ask claims but by tigers would tell you that the best ever will be whoever had the most majors
Nevo
Jul 22, 2013 at 1:18 pm
Ever wonder if Tiger ever misses his old Scotty Cameron putter? Is that one of the seeds of doubt in his mind?
Bill
Jul 26, 2013 at 7:20 pm
Tiger can go back to his SC putter at any time without NIKE approval. If he thinks it would help, he could make the switch. Obviously, he doesn’t and realizes that the NIKE putter is one that HE HELPED DEVELOP.
Tom
Aug 1, 2013 at 3:03 pm
Tiger needs to go back to the SC putter. Period. Whether he knows it or not he needs to go back. Someone PLEASE tell him. How many majors did he win w/o that SC putter?
Jim
Sep 10, 2016 at 1:14 am
While it’s impossible to rule out the psychological aspect, his SC was a ping clone – of slightly different weight, and no doubt they took a micrometer to that one to craft his “Nike”….
I’ve always gotten a kick out of the blacked out ‘Ping Man’ grip he’s that attached to….
bein’ that so much of the game IS between the ears, we can’t definitively rule out your diagnosis 🙂
Tiger’s MAIN problem – Golf simply isn’t FUN for him last few years. Bad decisions, Truly BAD Coaching
Luke Schumann
Jul 22, 2013 at 1:05 pm
Foley is one of the most knowledgeable teachers in the game and Tiger is the most talented athlete ever. He is good enough to win 5 more majors if he stays healthy and learns how to putt again.
Allen
Jul 22, 2013 at 12:48 pm
Why does no one talk about how maybe his body is also breaking down. He has worked it very hard and worked it like he was a weight lifter. He is a golfer and plyo and muscle elastisity is the way to go, not becoming a bodybuilder.
TonsOfSteel
Jul 22, 2013 at 1:25 pm
Ask Gary Player.
cg
Jul 22, 2013 at 12:36 pm
bad equipment…took down rory and michelle wie also….try real golf clubs by callaway or some other companies….
Honmagolfan
Jul 22, 2013 at 2:22 pm
Really?!
Flip4000
Jul 22, 2013 at 7:44 pm
come on bro, seriously?
Jack
Jul 22, 2013 at 11:49 pm
Pfft. I hope you realize how stupid you sound. Buying nice clubs is basically just for self satisfaction. All manufacturers make similar products. Plus these guys are fitted to the gills. I always think I have cool clubs until the 60 year old with 20 year old clubs takes me to school.
Scott
Jul 28, 2013 at 7:05 pm
Totally agree, Look at what this equipment has done to Rory’s game, I believe tiger would be almost there (at 18 majors) if he wasn’t using inferior equipment. Lets face it nike are a shoe and apparel brand. Put Ping, Titleist, Callaway or taylormade gear in his hands I say
Jim
Sep 10, 2016 at 1:23 am
Bad DRIVERS anyway…His Endo forged irons weren’t a problem – til some dipstick changed his grip & takeaway
Bill
Jul 22, 2013 at 12:17 pm
Pretty poor article that cites all of his critics, who as someone above has already said, are mostly just talking heads. The 5 year stat is interesting, but all it is is a stat, there’s no actual significance to it. I’m done reading these articles full of conjecture and meaningless “analysis”.
Brandon
Jul 22, 2013 at 1:19 pm
Well said…
MG
Jul 22, 2013 at 12:10 pm
Lets take it easy on the guy. He’s only gone through one of the most difficult things possible for an athlete (broken leg) and one of the most difficult things possible for a human (divorce).
Plus these are the same people that said he would never win again at all. Now that he’s won (not just won but dominated) the same people are giving him a hard time because he hasn’t won a major in a while. Hypocrites.
He’s got at least 40 more chances to win 5 majors and surpass jack. His winning percentage tells us he’s going to win at least 20.
He’s already the greatest golfer ever. Now he just needs to beat Jack’s major record to silence the haters.
Gary Murray
Jul 23, 2013 at 8:43 pm
Do you think he played with his broken leg without help . Rocco should have been given that championship for drug abuse by Tiger . He was on so much pain killers that he should have been dqed Remember how low he went down on his broken leg ( not possible without pain killers ) but we can not test Tiger WHAT A JOKE
Agreed
Aug 16, 2013 at 5:55 pm
I’m sure there are plenty of others on the tour who have cheated on their spouse, used profanity after a bad shot, but you would never know because he’s the guy with every camera on him and 20,000 people following him around the course…I’m sure the majority aren’t watching him hoping for him to fail. Being great puts the majority of focus on him. Why he hasn’t won a major yet, I dunno…but 5 wins in a season which some players will never do in a 20 year career isn’t to shabby in my opinion. There is so much parity on tour with such high skilled players I don’t think you will ever see again the dominance that he displayed early in his career.
Sam
Jul 22, 2013 at 12:07 pm
Why do Azinger and Chamblee continue to harp on TW’s majors and how he hasn’t won one in 5 years? Let’s talk about other players that have never even won a major yet or those that were one hit wonders and have fallen off the face of the earth. Or what about Padraig Harrington, who won 3 in 2 years and can’t even contend in a regular tournament, let alone in a major. He looks like a Nascar driver, with all of his lame sponsors all over his apparel.
Let’s combine Azinger and Chamblee’s major record and see how they stack up to what TW has done…..oh they both can’t compare since they haven’t really accomplished anything. The one major they both have combined, can’t even compare to when people keep talking about TW’s 2000. So if they don’t have the experience, then why are they so hard to judge a guy that is actually in the record books and will make it to the hall of fame?
Once he gets (if he does get there), they will jump on the TW bandwagon and praise him and talk about how he will get to Jack’s record, blah blah blah.
Let’s move on to a new story and let’s come back to this TW story when (or if) he does win another major.
Serious
Jul 22, 2013 at 4:44 pm
IF HE GETS THERE? You must be a casual observer of golf. Tiger IS the Golf HOF! Installing 40 year olds is ridiculous, before their careers are over. It onlyl allows the media to say, “Phil Mickelson, HOF’er.” Ridiculous. They are trying to raise the age from 40 to 50 as they know it’s ridiculous. Any other sport you have to wait until you’re retired. Some 5 years. The ones that are getting inducted now are laughable, but they feel they have to have someone each and every year. Tiger could’ve been in over a decade ago, so don’t even ponder “if he gets in.’ He should NOT accept the invitation, and screw the media. He can have his own museum at the facility he chooses. Perhaps his Foundation.
Sam
Jul 22, 2013 at 6:51 pm
I think I stated it incorrectly or my typing was going slower than what I was thinking. When I was saying “once he gets there (of if he does get there), was meant for Jack’s record.
He is already in the record books and will blow away those that are already in the HOF.
Tony Lynam
Jul 23, 2013 at 10:10 pm
Spot on comment. The WGOF is a joke letting people in before they retire. Every time I hear HOFer before an active golfers name I cringe. NFL and MLB are REAL Hall’s of Fame.
Sam
Jul 24, 2013 at 12:26 am
I agree with you there, why don’t they change the rule to where the person has stopped playing competitive golf and then get into the Hall of Fame?
Bill
Jul 25, 2013 at 3:55 am
I totally agree Sam. If you think Tiger is over the you know nothing and should rather not comment. When he wins that next major, we will all hear how great he is and how the 18 majors will not be safe anymore.
Just remember he had a bit of injury problems, he struggles but still 4 wins this year and he contends in every major event though he cannot quite break through yet. Give the guy a break, he’s the world No 1, if theres something wrong with him then maybe some of us know allot less about the game than we think!!
David
Jul 22, 2013 at 12:04 pm
More over-analysis of Tiger from the media. The guy has four wins this year and was in clean contention this weekend. There is nothing wrong with Tiger. The guy is a machine and will achieve what he’s set out to do. The headlines just sound more interesting when there “appears” to be a problem. You can’t win every tournament. His winning percentage is still out of this universe. Tell it like it really is….The guy is already the best ever. Give him the respect and let him finish getting it done…..
naflack
Jul 22, 2013 at 1:22 pm
The best ever has 18 majors!
jtopher
Jul 23, 2013 at 7:02 am
That is the truth!!
Until he gets 19 he is NOT the best ever. I am a fan of Tiger, but he is not the same player that won those Majors before. It’s not a lack of respect theses articles are giving. He does not intimidate anymore, cannot get to the top by showing up, and everybody knows there is not one comeback victory on his list of Majors.
Gary Murray
Jul 23, 2013 at 8:35 pm
That’s right I don’t see him getting to the greatest as we all know that’s Jack and you never saw Jack cuss and act the way tigger does VERY POOR ROLL MODEL
ThumbsUp
Jul 24, 2013 at 3:33 pm
There is not much wrong with Tiger’s game. Four wins this year and in with a chance to win several majors recently prove this. However, it has been 5 years since his last major and it is something he really really wants. However, the longer it goes the greater the pressure and it is interesting that he frequently does well during the first three days of a major only to fail miserably on the last day.It is almost like he has inherited the title of being the best player never to have won a major (during the past 5 years) and he just can’t cope with the expectations. I am a Tiger fan but I don’t think he will win another major let alone beat Jack’s record.
stephenf
Jul 29, 2013 at 12:08 pm
By what measure is he the “best ever,” even leaving aside the question of character (which shouldn’t be left aside, in this game)?
He has fewer majors than Nicklaus and fewer overall wins on the American tour than Snead. He has way, way fewer overall wins than Player or De Vicenzo worldwide. And he’s done this in an era when nobody has come near the quality of Snead’s or Nicklaus’s top competition.
Go ahead. Make your case. Try to do it without resorting to ridiculous made-up stats like “win rate,” though, since they never existed before the drooling, hyperventilating need to find fake statistics to convince people that Woods was the “best ever.”
Arthur J
Jul 22, 2013 at 11:25 am
Muirfield is a par-71.
Jon
Jul 22, 2013 at 11:19 am
What can one say about Tiger? Tiger is what Tiger does on and off the course. Pay back is tough.
jamie
Jul 22, 2013 at 5:28 pm
I find this amazing, we got to witness one of the great last rounds ever put together at the open sunday, a great champion, a great golfer, a class human being full stop.
But still the tiger woods drum keeps beating, I for one was happy to see him come up short, simply because he does have the class of jack Nicklaus and I for one want the 18 target to remain with the greatest of all, who was that on and off the course.
Mike
Jul 23, 2013 at 6:11 pm
Well said, I totally agree.
Gary Murray
Jul 23, 2013 at 8:32 pm
GREAT COMMENT
Dan
Jul 24, 2013 at 11:51 am
I agree, Jack is the greatest, on and off the course. Class counts for something in this game. This is a gentleman’s game, not the NBA/NFL/MLB where Tiger’s behavior would be overlooked or celebrated, sadly.
stephenf
Jul 29, 2013 at 12:01 pm
You have just put your finger on exactly what is wrong with the pro game today. In its never-ending obsession for bigger money and bigger ratings, the PGA Tour has thrown in with the rest of pro sports, and so a large percentage of what pass for golf “fans” today expect no better behavior or character out of Tiger Woods than they do out of Kobe Bryant or any other adulterous, vulgar, self-indulgent pro athlete.
There is no reason in the world why the standards of character, class, and behavior that applied to every other #1 player in the history of the game ought not to apply to Tiger Woods. Period.
matt
Jul 24, 2013 at 5:39 pm
May I say that every golfer in world golf is training as wood’s did many years ago . Basically they have caught up . They are on the same fitness levels now .
skyler
Aug 19, 2013 at 1:52 pm
Well said. Tiger single-handedly turned competitive golf into a year-round sport including a weight, aerobics, flexibility, chiropractic and diet regimen. Much like Jerry Rice changed pro football’s off-season training regimen and introduced chiropractic care.
Danno
Jul 25, 2013 at 8:21 am
You said “he does have the class of Jack Nicklaus”, I’m sure you forgot the “not”. I loved the comment made Sunday and I quote “When Tiger misses he swears, when Mickelson misses he blames himself” Tiger is still a spoiled punk kid and the media is partially responsible for putting him on this ill-deserved pedestal.
t120
Jul 28, 2013 at 1:28 am
Golf isn’t’ about class, hell, it isn’t even about sportsmanship. It is a game selfish individuals play for ego. Pure and simple. You and I love the game because it’s “the game”, but on a professional level, it’s “the records”. Don’t fault him for trying. Class or not (and I’ll admit he doesn’t make you want to like him) he’s out there to break records. Same as Jack did, same as Jones did, same as some 19 year old will do in 10 years.
stephenf
Jul 29, 2013 at 12:05 pm
What a sad commentary on the state of the game, that somebody like you can post that the game isn’t and never was about “class.” You could not be more wrong.
It has nothing to do with whether people “like” Woods or his behavior. It has to do with class and character. A lot of people didn’t find Hogan very friendly, didn’t “like” him in any normal sense of the word. But Hogan saved his wife’s life by throwing himself across her body in a head-on collision, and was faithful to her all his life. Woods had sex with a variety of women while married, thus humiliating and betraying both his wife and his children. He also can’t be bothered to control his on-camera profanity — because, apparently, as his apologists tell us, it’s our job to adjust to him, not his to adjust to the traditional behavioral standards of the game.
It is certainly “about” class. Those who believe otherwise are missing the point entirely.
Jay
Jul 24, 2013 at 11:20 am
What an idiotic statement