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Tiger’s major problem? It may be bigger than anyone thinks

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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.

Tiger Woods 2013 British Open TheGreekGrind Pappas 1

“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.”

Tiger Woods 2013 British Open TheGreekGrind Pappas 3

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.

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Pete is a journalist, commentator, and interviewer covering the PGA Tour, new equipment releases, and the latest golf fashions. Pete's also a radio and television personality who's appeared multiple times on ESPN radio, and Fox Sports All Bets Are Off. And when he's not running down a story, he's at the range working on his game. Above all else, Pete's the proud son of a courageous mom who battled pancreatic cancer much longer than anyone expected. You can follow Pete on twitter @PGAPappas

105 Comments

105 Comments

  1. 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.

  2. Flip

    Sep 26, 2016 at 1:16 pm

    Washed up

  3. videos

    Dec 10, 2013 at 8:41 pm

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  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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”

  9. Chris

    Jul 29, 2013 at 7:24 am

    no loss—happy to see him fail in the majors…mark me a hater!

  10. 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?

  11. 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.

  12. 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.

  13. 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.

  14. 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.

  15. 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.

  16. 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

  17. 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!!!

  18. 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.

  19. 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?

  20. 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…

  21. 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.

  22. 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.

  23. 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!!!!

  24. 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 ?

  25. 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.

  26. 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.

  27. 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.

  28. 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.

  29. 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.

  30. 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.

  31. 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!

  32. 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.

  33. 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.

  34. 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.

  35. 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.

  36. 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……………….

  37. 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

  38. 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

  39. 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.

  40. 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.

  41. 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

  42. 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”.

  43. 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.

  44. 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!!

  45. 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.”

  46. Arthur J

    Jul 22, 2013 at 11:25 am

    Muirfield is a par-71.

  47. 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

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open betting preview

Published

on

As the Florida swing comes to an end, the PGA Tour makes its way to Houston to play the Texas Children’s Houston Open at Memorial Park Golf Course.

This will be the fourth year that Memorial Park Golf Course will serve as the tournament host. The event did not take place in 2023, but the course hosted the event in 2020, 2021 and 2022.

Memorial Park is a par-70 layout measuring 7,432 yards and features Bermudagrass greens. Historically, the main defense for the course has been thick rough along the fairways and tightly mown runoff areas around the greens. Memorial Park has a unique setup that features three Par 5’s and five Par 3’s.

The field will consist of 132 players, with the top 65 and ties making the cut. There are some big names making the trip to Houston, including Scottie Scheffler, Wyndham Clark, Tony Finau, Will Zalatoris and Sahith Theegala.

Past Winners at Memorial Park

  • 2022: Tony Finau (-16)
  • 2021: Jason Kokrak (-10)
  • 2020: Carlos Ortiz (-13)

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 Memorial Park

Let’s take a look at several metrics for Memorial Park to determine which golfers boast top marks in each category over their last 24 rounds:

Strokes Gained: Approach

Memorial Park is a pretty tough golf course. Golfers are penalized for missing greens and face some difficult up and downs to save par. Approach will be key.

Total Strokes Gained: Approach per round in past 24 rounds:

  1. Tom Hoge (+1.30)
  2. Scottie Scheffler (+1.26)
  3. Keith Mitchell (+0.97) 
  4. Tony Finau (+0.92)
  5. Jake Knapp (+0.84)

Strokes Gained: Off the Tee

Memorial Park is a long golf course with rough that can be penal. Therefore, a combination of distance and accuracy is the best metric.

Total Strokes Gained: Off the Tee per round in past 24 rounds:

  1. Scottie Scheffler (+0.94)
  2. Kevin Dougherty (+0.93)
  3. Cameron Champ (+0.86)
  4. Rafael Campos (+0.84)
  5. Si Woo Kim (+0.70)

Strokes Gained Putting: Bermudagrass + Fast

The Bermudagrass greens played fairly fast the past few years in Houston. Jason Kokrak gained 8.7 strokes putting on his way to victory in 2021 and Tony Finau gained in 7.8 in 2022.

Total Strokes Gained Putting (Bermudagrass) per round past 24 rounds (min. 8 rounds):

  1. Adam Svensson (+1.27)
  2. Harry Hall (+1.01)
  3. Martin Trainer (+0.94)
  4. Taylor Montgomery (+0.88)
  5. S.H. Kim (+0.86)

Strokes Gained: Around the Green

With firm and undulating putting surfaces, holding the green on approach shots may prove to be a challenge. Memorial Park has many tightly mowed runoff areas, so golfers will have challenging up-and-down’s around the greens. Carlos Ortiz gained 5.7 strokes around the green on the way to victory in 2020.

Total Strokes Gained: Around the Green per round in past 24 rounds:

  1. Mackenzie Hughes (+0.76)
  2. S.H. Kim (+0.68)
  3. Scottie Scheffler (+0.64)
  4. Jorge Campillo (+0.62)
  5. Jason Day (+0.60)

Strokes Gained: Long and Difficult

Memorial Park is a long and difficult golf course. This statistic will incorporate players who’ve had success on these types of tracks in the past. 

Total Strokes Gained: Long and Difficult in past 24 rounds:

  1. Scottie Scheffler (+2.45)
  2. Ben Griffin (+1.75)
  3. Will Zalatoris (+1.73)
  4. Ben Taylor (+1.53)
  5. Tony Finau (+1.42)

Course History

Here are the players who have performed the most consistently at Memorial Park. 

Strokes Gained Total at Memorial Park past 12 rounds:

  1. Tyson Alexander (+3.65)
  2. Ben Taylor (+3.40)
  3. Tony Finau (+2.37)
  4. Joel Dahmen (+2.25)
  5. Patton Kizzire (+2.16)

Statistical Model

Below, I’ve reported overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed.

These rankings are comprised of SG: App (24%) SG: OTT (24%); SG: Putting Bermudagrass/Fast (13%); SG: Long and Difficult (13%); SG: ARG (13%) and Course History (13%)

  1. Scottie Scheffler
  2. Wyndham Clark
  3. Tony Finau
  4. Joel Dahmen
  5. Stephan Jaeger 
  6. Aaron Rai
  7. Sahith Theegala
  8. Keith Mitchell 
  9. Jhonnatan Vegas
  10. Jason Day
  11. Kurt Kitayama
  12. Alex Noren
  13. Will Zalatoris
  14. Si Woo Kim
  15. Adam Long

2024 Texas Children’s Houston Open Picks

Will Zalatoris +2000 (Caesars)

Scottie Scheffler will undoubtedly be difficult to beat this week, so I’m starting my card with someone who I believe has the talent to beat him if he doesn’t have his best stuff.

Will Zalatoris missed the cut at the PLAYERS, but still managed to gain strokes on approach while doing so. In an unpredictable event with extreme variance, I don’t believe it would be wise to discount Zalatoris based on that performance. Prior to The PLAYERS, the 27-year-old finished T13, T2 and T4 in his previous three starts.

Zalatoris plays his best golf on long and difficult golf courses. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 3rd in the category, but the eye test also tells a similar story. He’s contended at major championships and elevated events in the best of fields with tough scoring conditions.  The Texas resident should be a perfect fit at Memorial Park Golf Club.

Alex Noren +4500 (FanDuel)

Alex Noren has been quietly playing some of his best golf of the last half decade this season. The 41-year-old is coming off back-to-back top-20 finishes in Florida including a T9 at The PLAYERS in his most recent start.

In his past 24 rounds, Noren ranks 21st in the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, 30th in Strokes Gained: Around the Green, 25th in Strokes Gained: Total on long and difficult courses and 21st in Strokes Gained: Putting on fast Bermudagrass greens.

In addition to his strong recent play, the Swede also has played well at Memorial Park. In 2022, Noren finished T4 at the event, gaining 2.2 strokes off the tee and 7.0 strokes on approach for the week. In his two starts at the course, he’s gained an average of .6 strokes per round on the field, indicating he is comfortable on these greens.

Noren has been due for a win for what feels like an eternity, but Memorial Park may be the course that suits him well enough for him to finally get his elusive first PGA Tour victory.

Mackenzie Hughes +8000 (FanDuel)

Mackenzie Hughes found himself deep into contention at last week’s Valspar Championship before faltering late and finishing in a tie for 3rd place. While he would have loved to win the event, it’s hard to see the performance as anything other than an overwhelming positive sign for the Canadian.

Hughes has played great golf at Memorial Park in the past. He finished T7 in 2020, T29 in 2021 and T16 in 2022. The course fit seems to be quite strong for Hughes. He’s added distance off the tee in the past year or and ranks 8th in the field for apex height, which will be a key factor when hitting into Memorial Park’s elevated greens with steep run-off areas.

In his past 24 rounds, Hughes is the best player in the field in Strokes Gained: Around the Greens. The ability to scramble at this course will be extremely important. I believe Hughes can build off of his strong finish last week and contend once again to cement himself as a President’s Cup consideration.

Akshay Bhatia +8000 (FanDuel)

Akshay Bhatia played well last week at the Valspar and seemed to be in total control of his golf ball. He finished in a tie for 17th and shot an impressive -3 on a difficult Sunday. After struggling Thursday, Akshay shot 68-70-68 in his next three rounds.

Thus far, Bhatia has played better at easier courses, but his success at Copperhead may be due to his game maturing. The 22-year-old has enormous potential and the raw talent to be one of the best players in the world when he figures it all out.

Bhatia is a high upside play with superstar qualities and may just take the leap forward to the next stage of his career in the coming months.

Cameron Champ +12000 (FanDuel)

Cameron Champ is a player I often target in the outright betting market due to his “boom-or-bust” nature. It’s hard to think of a player in recent history with three PGA Tour wins who’s been as inconsistent as Champ has over the course of his career.

Despite the erratic play, Cam Champ simply knows how to win. He’s won in 2018, 2019 and 2021, so I feel he’s due for a win at some point this season. The former Texas A&M product should be comfortable in Texas and last week he showed us that his game is in a pretty decent spot.

Over his past 24 rounds, Champ ranks 3rd in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee and 30th in Strokes Gained: Total on long and difficult courses. Given his ability to spike at any given time, Memorial Park is a good golf course to target Champ on at triple digit odds.

Robert MacIntyre +12000 (FanDuel)

The challenge this week is finding players who can possibly beat Scottie Scheffler while also not dumping an enormous amount of money into an event that has a player at the top that looks extremely dangerous. Enter McIntyre, who’s another boom-or-bust type player who has the ceiling to compete with anyone when his game is clicking on all cylinders.

In his past 24 rounds, MacIntyre ranks 16th in the field in Strokes Gained: Off the Tee, 17th in Strokes Gained: Around the Green and 10th in Strokes Gained: Total on long and difficult courses.

MacIntyre’s PGA Tour season has gotten off to a slow start, but he finished T6 in Mexico, which is a course where players will hit driver on the majority of their tee shots, which is what we will see at Memorial Park. Texas can also get quite windy, which should suit MacIntyre. Last July, the Scot went toe to toe with Rory McIlroy at the Scottish Open before a narrow defeat. It would take a similar heroic effort to compete with Scheffler this year in Houston.

Ryan Moore +15000 (FanDuel)

Ryan Moore’s iron play has been absolutely unconscious over his past few starts. At The PLAYERS Championship in a loaded field, he gained 6.1 strokes on approach and last week at Copperhead, he gained 9.0 strokes on approach.

It’s been a rough handful of years on Tour for the 41-year-old, but he is still a five-time winner on the PGA Tour who’s young enough for a career resurgence. Moore has chronic deterioration in a costovertebral joint that connects the rib to the spine, but has been getting more consistent of late, which is hopefully a sign that he is getting healthy.

Veterans have been contending in 2024 and I believe taking a flier on a proven Tour play who’s shown signs of life is a wise move at Memorial Park.

 

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Opinion & Analysis

Ryan: Why the race to get better at golf might be doing more harm than good

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B.F. Skinner was one of the most important psychologists of the 20th century, developing the foundation of the development of reinforcement, and in doing so, creating the concept of behaviorism. In simple terms, this means that we are conditioned by our habits. In practical terms, it explains the divide between the few and far between elite instructors and college coaches.

To understand the application, let’s quickly review one of B.F. Skinner’s most important experiments; superstitions in the formation of behavior by pigeons. In this experiment, food was dispensed to pigeons at random intervals. Soon, according to Skinner, the pigeons began to associate whatever action they were doing at the time of the food being dispensed. According to Skinner, this conditioned that response and soon, they simply haphazardly repeated the action, failing to distinguish between cause and correlation (and in the meantime, looking really funny!).

Now, this is simply the best way to describe the actions of most every women’s college golf coach and too many instructors in America. They see something work, get positive feedback and then become conditioned to give the feedback, more and more, regardless of if it works (this is also why tips from your buddies never work!).

Go to a college event, particularly a women’s one, and you will see coaches running all over the place. Like the pigeons in the experiment, they have been conditioned into a codependent relationship with their players in which they believe their words and actions, can transform a round of golf. It is simply hilarious while being equally perturbing

In junior golf, it’s everywhere. Junior golf academies make a living selling parents that a hysterical coach and over-coaching are essential ingredients in your child’s success.

Let’s be clear, no one of any intellect has any real interest in golf — because it’s not that interesting. The people left, including most coaches and instructors, carve out a small fiefdom, usually on the corner of the range, where they use the illusion of competency to pray on people. In simple terms, they baffle people with the bullshit of pseudo-science that they can make you better, after just one more lesson.

The reality is that life is an impromptu game. The world of golf, business, and school have a message that the goal is being right. This, of course, is bad advice, being right in your own mind is easy, trying to push your ideas on others is hard. As a result, it is not surprising that the divorce rate among golf professionals and their instructors is 100 percent. The transfer rate among college players continues to soar, and too many courses have a guy peddling nefarious science to good people. In fact, we do at my course!

The question is, what impact does all this have on college-age and younger kids? At this point, we honestly don’t know. However, I am going to go out on a limb and say it isn’t good.

Soren Kierkegaard once quipped “I saw it for what it is, and I laughed.” The actions of most coaches and instructors in America are laughable. The problem is that I am not laughing because they are doing damage to kids, as well as driving good people away from this game.

The fact is that golfers don’t need more tips, secrets, or lessons. They need to be presented with a better understanding of the key elements of golf. With this understanding, they can then start to frame which information makes sense and what doesn’t. This will emancipate them and allow them to take charge of their own development.

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19th Hole

Vincenzi’s 2024 Valspar Championship betting preview: Elite ballstrikers to thrive at Copperhead

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The PGA TOUR will stay in Florida this week for the 2024 Valspar Championship.

The Copperhead Course at Innisbrook Resort is a par 71 measuring 7,340 yards and features Bermudagrass greens overseeded with POA. Infamous for its difficulty, the track will be a tough test for golfers as trouble lurks all over the place. Holes 16, 17 and 18 — also known as the “Snake Pit” — make up one of the toughest three-hole stretches in golf and should lead to a captivating finish on Sunday.

The field is comprised of 156 golfers teeing it up. The field this week is solid and is a major improvement over last year’s field that felt the impact of players skipping due to a handful of “signature events” in a short span of time. 

Past Winners at Valspar Championship

  • 2023: Taylor Moore (-10)
  • 2022: Sam Burns (-17)
  • 2021: Sam Burns (-17)
  • 2019: Paul Casey (-8)
  • 2018: Paul Casey (-10)
  • 2017: Adam Hadwin (-14)
  • 2016: Charl Schwartzel (-7)
  • 2015: Jordan Spieth (-10)

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 Copperhead

1. Strokes Gained: Approach

Strokes Gained: Approach grades out as the most important statistic once again this week. Copperhead really can’t be overpowered and is a second-shot golf course.

Total SG: Approach Over Past 24 Rounds (per round)

  1. Tony Finau (+.90)
  2. Nick Taylor (+.81)
  3. Justin Thomas (+.77)
  4. Greyson Sigg (+.69)
  5. Christiaan Bezuidenhout (+.67)

2. Good Drive %

The long hitters can be a bit limited here due to the tree-lined fairways and penal rough. Playing from the fairways will be important, but laying back too far will cause some difficult approaches with firm greens that may not hold shots from long irons.

Golfers who have a good balance of distance and accuracy have the best chance this week.

Good Drive % Over Past 24 Rounds

  1. Brice Garnett (+91.3%) 
  2. Zach Johnson (+91.1%)
  3. Sam Ryder (+90.5%)
  4. Ryan Moore (+90.4%)
  5. Aaron Rai (+89.7%)

3. Strokes Gained: Ball Striking

Adding ball-striking puts even more of a premium on tee-to-green prowess in the statistical model this week. Golfers who rank highly in ball-striking are in total control of the golf ball which is exceedingly important at Copperhead.

SG: Ball Striking Over Past 24 Rounds:

  1. Xander Schauffele (+1.32)
  2. Keith Mitchell (+1.29)
  3. Tony Finau (+1.24)
  4. Cameron Young (+1.17) 
  5. Doug Ghim (+.95)

4. Bogey Avoidance

With the conditions likely to be difficult, avoiding bogeys will be crucial this week. In a challenging event like the Valspar, oftentimes the golfer who is best at avoiding mistakes ends up on top.

Gritty golfers who can grind out difficult pars have a much better chance in an event like this than a low-scoring birdie-fest.

Bogey Avoidance Over Past 24 Rounds

  1. Brice Garnett (+9.0)
  2. Xander Schauffele (+9.3)
  3. Austin Cook (+9.7) 
  4. Chesson Hadley (+10.0)
  5. Greyson Sigg (+10.2)

5. Strokes Gained: Total in Difficult Conditions

Conditions will be tough this week at Copperhead. I am looking for golfers who can rise to the occasion if the course plays as difficult as it has in the past.

Strokes Gained: Total in Difficult Conditions Over Past 24 rounds

  1. Xander Schauffele (+1,71) 
  2. Min Woo Lee (+1.39)
  3. Cameron Young (+1.27)
  4. Jordan Spieth (+1.08)
  5. Justin Suh (+.94)

6. Course History

That statistic will tell us which players have played well at Copperhead in the past.

Course History Over Past 24 rounds

  1. Patrick Cantlay (+3.75) 
  2. Sam Burns (+2.49)
  3. Davis Riley (+2.33)
  4. Matt NeSmith (+2.22)
  5. Jordan Spieth (+2.04)

The Valspar Championship Model Rankings

Below, I’ve compiled overall model rankings using a combination of the five key statistical categories previously discussed — SG: Approach (27%), Good Drive % (15%), SG: BS (20%), Bogeys Avoided (13%), Course History (13%) Strokes Gained: Total in Difficult Conditions (12%).

  1. Xander Schauffele
  2. Doug Ghim
  3. Victor Perez
  4. Greyson Sigg
  5. Ryan Moore
  6. Tony Finau
  7. Justin Thomas
  8. Sam Ryder
  9. Sam Burns
  10. Lucas Glover

2024 Valspar Championship Picks

Justin Thomas +1400 (DraftKings)

Justin Thomas will be disappointed with his finish at last week’s PLAYERS Championship, as the past champion missed the cut despite being in some decent form heading into the event. Despite the missed cut, JT hit the ball really well. In his two rounds, the two-time major champion led the field in Strokes Gained: Approach per round.

Thomas has been up and down this season. He’s missed the cut in two “signature events” but also has finishes of T12 at the Arnold Palmer Invitational, T12 at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, T6 at the Pebble Beach AT&T Pro-Am and T3 at the American Express. In his past 24 rounds, he ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach and 6th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking in the field.

Thomas loves Copperhead. In his last three tries at the course, he’s finished T13, T3 and T10. Thomas would have loved to get a win at a big event early in the season, but avoidable mistakes and a balky putter have cost him dearly. I believe a trip to a course he loves in a field he should be able to capitalize on is the right recipe for JT to right the ship.

Christiaan Bezuidenhout +6000 (FanDuel)

Christiaan Bezuidenhout is playing spectacular golf in the 2024 season. He finished 2nd at the American Express, T20 at Pebble Beach and T24 at the Genesis Invitational before finishing T13 at last week’s PLAYERS Championship.

In his past 24 rounds, the South African ranks 3rd in the field in Strokes Gained: Approach and 26th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. Bezuidenhout managed to work his way around TPC Sawgrass last week with minimal damage. He only made five bogeys in the entire week, which is a great sign heading into a difficult Copperhead this week.

Bezuidenhout is winless in his PGA Tour career, but certainly has the talent to win on Tour. His recent iron play tells me that this week could be a breakthrough for the 35-year-old who has eyes on the President’s Cup.

Doug Ghim +8000 (FanDuel)

Doug Ghim has finished in the top-16 of his past five starts. Most recently, Ghim finished T16 at The PLAYERS Championship in a loaded field.

In his past 24 rounds, Ghim ranks 8th in Strokes Gained: Approach and 5th in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking. In terms of his fit for Copperhead, the 27-year-old ranks 12th in Bogey Avoidance and 7th in Strokes Gained: Total in Difficult Conditions, making him a great fit for the course.

Ghim has yet to win on Tour, but at one point he was the top ranked Amateur golfer in the world and played in the 2017 Arnold Palmer Cup and 2017 Walker Cup. He then won the Ben Hogan award for the best male college golfer in 2018. He certainly has the talent, and there are signals aplenty that his talent in ready to take him to the winner’s circle on the PGA Tour.

Sepp Straka +8000 (BetRivers)

Sepp Straka is a player who’s shown he has the type of game that can translate to a difficult Florida golf course. The former Presidents Cup participant won the 2022 Honda Classic in tough conditions and should thrive with a similar test at Copperhead.

It’s been a slow 2024 for Straka, but his performance last week at the PLAYERS Championship surely provides some optimism. He gained 5.4 strokes on approach as well as 1.88 strokes off the tee. The tee-to-green game Straka showed on a course with plenty of danger demonstrates that he can stay in control of his golf ball this week.

It’s possible that the strong performance last week was an outlier, but I’m willing to bet on a proven winner in a weaker field at a great number.

Victor Perez +12000 (FanDuel)

Victor Perez is no stranger to success in professional golf. The Frenchman has three DP World Tour wins including a Rolex Series event. He won the 2019 Alfred Dunhill Links Championship, as well as the 2023 Abu Dhabi HSBC Championship, which are some big events.

Perez earned his PGA Tour card this season and enters the week playing some fantastic golf. He finished in a tie for 16th in Florida at the Cognizant Classic and then tied for third in his most recent start at the Puerto Rico Open.

In his past 24 rounds in the field, Perez ranks 11th in Strokes Gained: Approach, 1oth in Strokes Gained: Ball Striking, 6th in Good Drive % and 15th in Bogey Avoidance.

Perez comes in as a perfect fit for Copperhead and offers serious value at triple-digit odds.

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