Just got back after attending the Masters and then playing for a week in warm weather. My impressions are basically what has happened to both of these guys swings? I've seen them both hundreds of times in tournaments all over the world. VJ whose swing was always very tight (especially for a guy his height) has developed some very loose looking swings that happen much more frequently than in the past. Tiger on the other hand---I thought I was watching Arnold Palmer with some of the oddest follow throughs I've ever seen from him (including the down hill lies with his bad knee where he would completely collapse). Everything seems to be "cut" off now. He drove it better but even those swings were abbreviated. His irons were really odd and his distance control was non existent. This all seemed to happen at this tournament---these odd swings. Obviously the main problem was he couldn't buy a putt, but his iron play was as bad as I've ever seen. Remember he said he had less to work on for this Masters when compared to the new swing at last years Masters. (No he doesn't need to go back to Butch---remember he only uses 10% of any coaches input )

About the only thing Phil "smoked" Tiger on was driving distance. Everything else including putting was suprisingly close.

Ok, if his iron play was bad then why would the worlds number 1, tiger woods himself say that his iron play was the best? and that his putting failed. i am not trying to come off like a bad person. but im just saing what the "man" himself has said.

I think he was referring to his longer iron shots. He hit some nice ones 180+, but from 150 in, he sucked. Tim Clark was outclassing him all day Sunday.

Just a quick thought -- Tiger is constantly trying to work the ball. He's said he loves to move the ball around, and it looks on TV like there is rarely a swing where he isn't trying to shape his flight in an effort to maximize ball placement -- this might explain the frequent odd finishes -- especially if he is hitting from non-flat lies.

Name one other tournament that he hit into the water so many times or wound up short and back in the fairway. Not like he was playing Augusta for the first time. Plus he said he was driving it well not hitting his irons well.

nikemike that's fantastic! where did you find that!

Sorry if you were offended or this subject had been "beat" to death. As I was there and then played golf the following week it was the first opportunity to share my observations from being there, not watching TV. Most of the others I read were TV watchers. Won't make that mistake again NIKE MIKE.

I will find you the article but i a almost 100% sure he said he hit his irons great bc i have seen many topics about this on other sites.

heres an article from Tiger Woods' site. where he says that he hit the ball from tee to green his best in years but putted absolutely terribly. just like i said.

http://www.tigerwoods.com/news/fullstory.s...0864&iType=6245

i believe the reason he hit it in the water a couple of times was that the wind came up in his face. Also, it's not like its hard to hit it in the water at augusta, any shot that is less than perfect could easily end up in the water.

Check out where he and phil ranked putting, GIR, accuracy etc. etc. Very similar the only stat that was really different was driving distance. Don't forget Tiger made a bunch of putts of some distance to save pars. If he hadn't made those the shortish ones he missed for birdies/eagles wouldn't have mattered a bit.

I agree he made a bunch of pars. but when it came down to it when he needed birdies his putter failed him, not his irons or driving.

True, he is definately the worlds best Iron player. I saw an interview with him recently where he basically said that he is working the ball in some way on all of his shots and that's what's makes the game fun for him.

Yea, I don't think I have ever seen him play a straight shot. HE's always moving the ball around.