News

Tiger Woods cites fatigue for disappointing Ryder Cup showing

Published

8 years ago

Oct 17, 2018

Many people were left scratching their heads after watching Tiger Woods at the Ryder Cup just a couple of weeks ago. The 14-time major champion had just come off an incredible victory at the Tour Championship where he produced scintillating golf to capture his first victory in five years, and there were high hopes that Woods would finally perform at his best at the Ryder Cup. What followed, however, was yet another disappointment in the biennial event for Woods, who went 0-4 and looked flat all week.

This week at a driving range Q&A at Pebble Beach at a benefit for his TGR Foundation, Woods discussed his performance at Le Golf National, and he went on to admit that fatigue had played a significant role in Paris.

“It was just a cumulative effect of the entire season. I was tired because I hadn’t trained for it. I hadn’t trained this entire comeback to play this much golf and on top of that deal with the heat and the fatigue and the loss of weight.”

Fatigue would undoubtedly be a valid reason, considering Woods played 18 times on the PGA Tour this year after coming off spinal fusion surgery. Only once in the past decade has Woods played more golf on the PGA Tour in one year than he did in 2018.

At the Q&A, Woods then spoke about the potential of him performing as a playing captain at the 2019 Presidents Cup, an event that Woods has always excelled in with a career record of 24-15-1. The American made it clear that despite being the captain that week, he hopes to improve on that impressive playing record next year at Royal Melbourne Golf Club.

“I really hope to be a playing captain, I really do.”

The next occasion where you can see Woods tee it up will be on Thanksgiving weekend, where he’ll take on his old rival Phil Mickelson in a pay-per-view battle.

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Gianni Magliocco

Gianni is the Managing Editor at GolfWRX. He can be contacted at [email protected]

24 Comments

Joro

Oct 20, 2018 at 3:42 pm

Fatigued? Gee, eldrick, you better go Home and take a nap. It is a good thing you don’t have a real job where you might get really fatigued, all for 25 Bucks an hour. Go Home now and retire, you have enough. And face it, Ryder Cup and you don’t get it done, maybe if they paid you for your trouble it would be better. But in the meantime stick with the fatigue thing.

No, before the lovers start typing, I am not a Tiger Hater, in fact I respect what he has done with and for Golf, it is what he did to his family and fans that I do not like, the guy is trash.

Reply Report comment
Commoner

Oct 19, 2018 at 7:27 pm

What was written on the ‘anointed’ one’s face certainly appeared to be resignation, not fatigue!

Reply Report comment
Jim Farrell

Oct 19, 2018 at 4:10 pm

Does anyone really think Furyk had a choice other than to pick these two, give me a break! The PGA wants them there so that’s it. Tiger drags every partner down. Go back and look. His record in RC is what it is, pathetic. Skip the alibi’s

Reply Report comment
- Rick
  
  Oct 19, 2018 at 8:09 pm
  
  Always about the Money….all you volunteers out there think about that when you lay down your $30 or more to “Volunteer” at the tournaments…those guys driving around telling you what to do in the PGA carts are not working for free…
  
  Reply Report comment
TONEY P

Oct 19, 2018 at 11:28 am

Wasn’t the rest of the guys playing tired as well. His game is set for individual play , not with a partner. Nothing wrong with that but he shouldn’t have been there in the first place. They wanted big names at the event so they added some on both sides. Better luck next time.

Reply Report comment
Greg

Oct 19, 2018 at 8:52 am

I agree with “Stump”, he didn’t seem tired while winning the Tour Championship. It’s nothing more than a poor excuse for poor play.

Reply Report comment
Acemandrake

Oct 18, 2018 at 12:47 pm

Unfortunately, the big name players are the most marketable; otherwise, maybe have an age limit?

The younger players are usually more enthusiastic and seem to play well in these team exhibitions.

Reply Report comment
Opi

Oct 18, 2018 at 11:12 am

He celebrate after he win Tour Championship, he got sucky sucky from girlfriend though she ugly, he tired, he no want play

Reply Report comment
Scheiss

Oct 17, 2018 at 8:49 pm

What a load of BS. Why doesn’t he just be honest with the world. He told everybody that he was a Buddhist, right? That was a lie too? He’s so fake.
8 out of the 12 Europeans played on the PGA Tour this last season.
They also played more events than he did.
He just doesn’t care. So why doesn’t he just withdraw himself and save us all the headache.

Reply Report comment
Jim Marshall

Oct 17, 2018 at 7:10 pm

My personal opinion, Tiger and Phi should not have been on the team. Period, it all about their eago and not the team. Yes! I enjoy both players ,however this is about retaining the cup and there where other players who I believe could have delieverd a better performance.

Reply Report comment
- Mike
  
  Oct 19, 2018 at 11:47 am
  
  Absolutely right, Jim. Very poor choices by the people who picked them. Both have now come up with excuses for their poor play. SO DON’T PLAY!! If the fairways are too tight for your style of game or you are too tired and unprepared, do the rest of the team a favor and bow out. Give the younger and maybe less experienced golfers a chance to prove themselves and gain the needed know how to play in future matches. Tiger was brought in because he draws audience and money which is what America is all about sorry to say.
  
  Reply Report comment
Tom

Oct 17, 2018 at 6:44 pm

Maybe “Team Events” aren’t really his thing?

Reply Report comment
- CrashTestDummy
  
  Oct 17, 2018 at 9:58 pm
  
  True. Tiger hasn’t done well in Ryder Cups. Of course, he plays phenomenal on his own ball.
  
  Reply Report comment
- Dtrain
  
  Oct 19, 2018 at 10:50 am
  
  Tom, I agree, I wish Furyk was “captain obvious” not you.
  
  Reply Report comment
Ric

Oct 17, 2018 at 5:32 pm

Waffles anyone?

Reply Report comment
Tom

Oct 17, 2018 at 3:45 pm

Everyone was tired…what’s the next excuse?

Reply Report comment
Ben Jones

Oct 17, 2018 at 3:13 pm

Understood.

Reply Report comment
dat

Oct 17, 2018 at 1:51 pm

He wasn’t the only one out there who looked tired and deflated.

Reply Report comment
Jerry G

Oct 17, 2018 at 1:28 pm

You are going to naturally have a letdown after winning when you did not expect to win after several years of rehab. As you get older, you do not have consistency from week to week or even day to day –

Reply Report comment
Stump

Oct 17, 2018 at 12:27 pm

Wow. He didn’t seem fatigued when he won at the Tour Championship, but then spent the entire RC looking like he was fighting the flu…interesting.

Reply Report comment
- 2putttom
  
  Oct 17, 2018 at 12:51 pm
  
  it’s a CONSPIRACY !
  
  Reply Report comment
- ht
  
  Oct 17, 2018 at 4:23 pm
  
  hmm…let’s think about that logic for a second. He didn’t seem fatigued when he was jacked up on adrenaline from winning bc who would?….then he does tons of press that night, flies out to Paris (6-7 hour time difference) to play more golf, all to cap off 5-6 weeks straight of golf.
  
  Think it makes every ounce of sense
  
  Reply Report comment
  - Getemgoose
    
    Oct 17, 2018 at 5:58 pm
    
    Better watch all that common sense you’re throwing around right there. Might get banned or lynched for not drinking the haterade some of these guys live on.
    
    Reply Report comment
  - CrashTestDummy
    
    Oct 17, 2018 at 10:05 pm
    
    Yep, I agree. Historically Tiger plays very infrequently. Only at the biggest events. Playing the stretch of the playoffs (4 weeks with one rest week) is a lot of golf let alone high level tournament golf. Not sure people realize how much golf is played during that stretch.
    
    Reply Report comment

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Published

3 days ago

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Around the world, the golf wheel spun this final week in May of 2026. From New Jersey to Austria, with stops in Korea, Texas, and North Carolina (don’t let me route your next trip) the world’s finest put their golf games on display. There were three playoffs, some known commodities and some new talent. It was the sort of week that we hope to have at this point in the seasons. June and July afford double-digit major events, and perhaps, one of this week’s champions will use this success as a springboard to new heights. Time to run it all down, tech style, in this week’s Tour Tech Rundown.

Thanks to WITBHub, Today’s Golfer, GolfWRX, and Inside Tour Golf for initial research into equipment.

PGA Tour @ Charles Schwab Challenge: Heroic Henley denies Cole

Eric Cole did nearly everything that a fellow can do, to secure a first PGA Tour title. He stayed one shot clear of Ryder Cup player Ben Griffin. He kept US Open champion Gary Woodland and wunderkind Michael Brennan two shots distant. He posted 70 on day four to reach twelve under par. And then, Russell Henley revealed his Dr. Strange cloak. Henley made 47 feet of birdie putts on holes 16, 17, and 18, to jump from minus-nine to twelve-deep, and secured a spot in a playoff with Cole. The duo returned to the final tee, and put on a stripe show.

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Henley’s Suitcase

Driver: Titleist TSi3 at 10 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 70g 6.5 TX
Metal: Titleist TS3 at 16.5 degrees. Shaft: Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black 80 TX
Hybrid: Titleist TSi2 at 21 degrees. Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT hybrid 100 TX
Iron: Titleist T250 4-iron. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 5-6 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf AMT Tour White X100
Irons: Titleist T100 7-9 irons. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 48 and 50 degrees. Shaft: True Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue X100
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM11 at 54 and 60 degrees. Shaft: rue Temper Dynamic Golf Tour Issue S400
Putter: Titleist Scotty Cameron T5 Tour Prototype

LPGA @ Shoprite LPGA: Welcome back, Celine!

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Celine Boutier was the It Girl in 2023. She collected four victories, including a major title at Evian. Boutier reached world number one status, then simply faded into the background. No wins came her way over the next 30 months. On Sunday, she collected LPGA victory number seven, at the same trace as LPGA victory number two.

Day three saw Boutier manage the windswept Seaview Bay course with six birdies and a bogey. She was challenged in the end by Thailand’s Arpichaya Yubol, who signed for a 66 of her own. Yubol came up one shot shy of the top ladder rung. Finishing in third place at -7, two back of the winner, was Ireland’s Lauren Walsh.

Celine’s Suitcase

Driver: PXG 0311 Black Ops Tour-1 at 9 degrees. Shaft: Graphite Design AD IZ-5
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Black Ops at 19 and 22 degrees. Shaft: KBS Hybrid Prototype
Hybrid: PXG 0311 Gen5.
Iron: PXG 0311 P Gen 4 5-9 irons
Wedge: PXG 0311 T Gen 4 PW
Wedges: PXG 0311 Sugar Daddy II at 50, 54, 58 degrees
Putter: Bettinardi Studio Stock 3 DASS

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Kaneko’s Suitcase

Driver: Ping Max G440
Metals: TaylorMade Qi4D at 15, 16.5, 21, and 24 degrees
Irons: TaylorMade P760 5 and 6 irons
Irons: TaylorMade P7TW 7-9 irons
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design at 46, 52, 56, and 60 degrees
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The extra session concluded in brief time. Ortiz, buoyed by his newly-retrieved confidence, hit the fairway with driver, then approached to six feet and drained the putt. Gobsmacked, Steelman could do little more than smile and applaud, as his run at the top came to a close. The victory was the first for Ortiz on the KFT, and will implant him squarely in the chase for a PGA Tour promotion.

Alvaro’s Suitcase

Driver: Ping G430 MAX driver at 9 degrees loft
Metal: Ping G430 MAX 3W
Iron: Ping iDi Driving Iron
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A party on the green!

Alvaro’s time comes in Raleigh with his first win @UNCHealthChamp ? pic.twitter.com/2dmtZdbSzk

— Korn Ferry Tour (@KornFerryTour) May 31, 2026

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