I'm a huge Tiger fan....Perhaps its me, but it seems the last several years(including 2005 when he won) he takes such a conservitive approach it seemingly plays against him- he tight and without a bit of weather and some unlikely chip ins- it looks like he shoots himself in the foot trying so hard to place every shot around the course??? I like watching the rookies just fire at the pins and pay no(little) mind to properness of augusta national.

Just a thought. discuss!

In this year's case, it's like he looked at last year's winning score of +1 and figured if he kept it around par, he would be fine. Maybe he's right, there is only 12 players ahead of him and it would not be unheard of if Immelman shoots 76-76 to fall back to even par.

I do think he's a tad conservative, but that being said, the last two days he had many putts that grazed the hole. If half of them went in, he would be around -5. Still, he has to take more advantage of the par 5s. Bogey on #2 today is like losing two shots. He's only two under on par 5's through two rounds and that's thanks to the chip in yesterday at 15. -2 on par 5s for him is sh*t. The weather was way too good these last two days to not be more like 5 or 6 under par.

But there is still time. If he shoots 3 or 4 under tomorrow, watch for the el foldo dance the rest of the tour does so well.

I think I agree as will. It seems like me might be trying too hard.

It is seeming that way. Now, this could be premature due to the weather this weekend. It could end up that -4 or -5 wins this thing depending on the way the winds/weather kick up. If what they're saying is true, he may get lucky with an earlier tee time tomorrow.

It seemed like, especially around amen corner that he gave a LOT of respect to the conditions and played very conservatively. Great drive on 11 seemed almost "wasted", the safe play on 12 was probably smart. I don't see how you go pin hunting on that hole...if it were me, I'd hit it over the tongue of the front bunker every day and take 4-3s or even a 4 and 3-3s and be more than happy.

Great drive again on 13 and.........wasted 2nd.

It also seemed that on 11 & 13 the swings were "easier" while he really went after it on 15. I actually wasn't surprised to see him hit it right on 15.

I think he's just a little off here and there and his short game isn't exactly keeping things together (see the chip on 13 yesterday) but I'm sure he'll get it all figured out.

It may be hard to catch Immelman, he's a beast this week!

-mini

I think its the failure to execute the strategy more so than a flaw in the strategy itself. Its hard to fire at some of these pins when you're not completely comfortable with your swing and he has had a bulky putter so far.

The way the course plays now, I don't think Tiger is trying to win by 12, or even by 5 or 6. He's just trying to win, and to do that you have to be in contention on the back 9 on Sunday. Tiger only has a dozen guys ahead of him, and the ones 'shooting for pins' can easily shoot themselves out of the tournament - see Justin Rose.

So I think it's way too early to judge Tiger's strategy. The television announcers act like Tiger has failed miserably whenever he isn't in the lead, but Tiger may be right where he wants to be at the moment.

I don't think we're giving enough respect to the golf course (especially the greens) and the other players. Tiger has simply not played as well as other guys. He has leaked shots from all parts of his game but he is so professional he has kept himself in it. Immelman has played beautiful golf and his putts have gone in. That is the difference, not becuase Tiger is purposely taking it slow or meaning to shoot level par. I'm sure his strategy is fine and knowing him he will be there come sunday. I'm sure he was looking to take less shots but he's just not as in cintrol of the golf ball as other players. Give credit where credit is due.

those leaders are playing magnificent golf. It's really up to them how the tournament goes this weekend. IF immelman comes out and shoots -4 today, tourney could be out of reach for Tiger.
Mickelson on the other hand is very well placed and so far has had some of the most luckiest breaks on the course..which tells me, he's likely to win..if so, then Tiger is only 4 back of him..but Tiger's not really played well at all..just managed his game and played it too cautiously..and made some bad mental errors so far..Mickelson doesn't play bad weather well though..

I think the real difference right now between the leaders and the guys around par are really a couple shots going better and a couple shots going worse. This course is eating up small mistakes, but really rewarding the guys who are at the top of their game at this exact moment.

I think tiger's thursday/friday strategy of avoiding playing himself out of the tournament with concervative play puts him in a place to make a run on the weekend. we've seen it over and over again; Tigers on the second page of the leader board friday night, then saturday night he's right there in the hunt. The mental strain of this course will wear down most of the guys up top right now, and we all know that mental straint just isn't an issue for tiger. if Trevor or Brandt stay hot, then it may be true that Tiger's play over that last 2 days will end up being his downfall, but you must remember that all it would take is a couple bad choices from a strategy of aggression over tha last 2 days, and tiger isn't in the picture at all, and possibly not even playing this weekend.

I think with where things stand now, we'll see tiger within atleast 2 shots of the lead in the end. if, that is, he doesn't take it all.

Winning at any tournament is all about putting together four good rounds. While I'm not Tiger fan, he is the one most likely to do that on any given weekend. Look at what happened to Justin Rose and Zach Johnson.

Immelman has the strokes to be a serious contender, Snedecker is young and confident, and if they both keep it up we could have some surprise winners. But the weather is supposed to be changing, and conditions will be tougher on Saturday. This is when we'll see who has the chops to make a statement. Enter Tiger - if he's on at all, its the day for him to step up.

Phil is starting to look serious as well....

Tiger is around 30th in GIR, around 70th in FIR, around 35th in putting. I don't think it's his strategy. He's just playing crappy (for him).

Flawed? He is T13 at -1

Can you link us to where you found those stats. I can't seem to find them for the Masters.

Tiger still should be in the hunt back nine Sunday thats all he wants.

His key will be getting out earlier than the leaders and making a few birdies early, but he has been making more bogies than usual, so if he can cut out the mistakes watch out!!!

It's a credit to Tiger that this thread even exists. It implies that he's not doing well, or that he's underperforming, since he isn't leading.

He hasn't even played a good round yet. If he manages one (or, God forbid, two), it's all over.

WW

Ken:

http://www.masters.org/en_US/scores/stats/index.html

One of Tiger's strongest assets is his brain, and he definitely knows the correct lines of play around Augusta National.

Tiger's first two rounds were 72 and 71, both very good scores.

Interesting thread, and something I myself wondered as well in the past.

My thoughts on the matter this week though, are simple....

How many putts has he either lipped out or burned the edge on this week? (there were at least 3 today alone). Just those few putts dropping today would make all the difference on the leaderboard

I was there Thursday and Friday and while his driving was pretty typical he just wasn't hitting the ball anywhere near where he could hole any putts. You aren't going to win Augusta with 25-45 ft. putts no matter how good a putter you are. Part of the problem is where he was driving the ball but his second shots into the greens were killing him..

71 and 72 aren't good scores but they aren't good rounds by Tiger's standards.

WW