Round 3: AT&T National
July 3 2010
2:08 pm
Tiger hopes reps will add up to results
The number Tiger Woods had in mind for the third round of the AT&T National was 64. The number he shot? An even-par 70.
“That would have been a good number,” Woods said. “As far as where the pins were today, I just felt the leaders weren’t going to go running off and hiding, and 64, 63 today would have put me right back in the ballgame.”
Instead, Woods will be well back entering the final round here at the AT&T National, which will be hi last stop until the Open Championship at St. Andrews in two weeks. What will the world’s No. 1 take away from a week when he was never in contention?
“The more tournaments I play this year, the feel is getting better,” Woods said. “I feel more comfortable with what I’m working on, and I’m just going out there and playing in a competitive environment because it’s so much more comfortable than it was at the beginning of the year.”
One of the things Woods has been working on is his putting, which he wasn’t happy with in either of his first two rounds. Saturday wasn’t any better with 31 putts, which includes 1.83 putts per green in regulation. Not that Woods was entirely disappointed.
“It was probably the worst start you could possibly get off to. I kept making mistake after mistake,” said Woods, who had three bogeys in his first six holes. “From then on I hit some really good shots.
“I actually thought every putt I hit coming in I hit on my line with the right pace, and that’s something I hadn’t done yet this week.” — Brian Wacker
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Turned out better than I thought it would! Man, it was looking scary after the first 3 holes. But, enough with the “it’s a process” thing. If you look at 2009, after 6 regular events he had 1 win (Arnold Palmer) and after 8 events he had 2 wins, and finished outside the top 10 only once. In my opinion, the “process” is now over. The excuses must now stop. I can’t remember EVER seeing Tiger miss 2 foot putts!?!?!? What is up with that????
Tiger’s greatest golf has been accomplished. Tiger’s golfing has become more of a job for him and he thinks about being obligated to dominate these tournaments. Tiger’s out of shape in more ways than one, and he just needs time to practice, and he needs to focus on living a less stressful life caused by being a brand. Tiger if he could would only play 9 to 12 PGA and more Euro, Asian, Dubai, etc. Remember Tiger plays the course, and he competes with himself.
I just wonder how he found all of that extra distance off the tee so fast. Any ideas ?
Tiger may have seen his best days. Don’t be surprised if he wins here & there…but, Jack’s record is safe!
Not saying he won’t win again, but his best days are behind him now. From here on it will be his neck ache, his swing, his putting, his new golf ball, the greens and on and on one excuse after another. Fact is, his image is shattered beyond repair and don’t you think he notices the whispering and heckling on the golf course which TV fans don’t hear?
I’m a big fan of Tiger. Hope he’ll come back and win. But it’s bothering me that this year after returning to golf, he never put himself in contention. As you know, last year when he came back from his knee surgery. I was not expecting him to be palying that great. I don’t know what is hapening. There’s no drama and exitement in this boring game anymore. May be I’ll look to any other game such as NBA, NHL, Soccer, Tennis etc. At least, I’ll wait reamining golf this year. Good luck Tiger!
sounds like everbody talks like tiger is a has-been. How old is he again? How many events did vijay win in his forties? Tiger will pass both jack’s and Snead’s records in 3 years. How old will he be then? At that point, I don’t know what else he has to prove and nobody can predict how long he will sustain his efforts. I for one am just enjoying the ride. That’s all I can do. Best of luck Tiger.
Woods is history. Maybe a little light now and then but if he ever wins another major it’ll be surprising. He’s older now, has no real coach any longer, no family, far fewer sponsors, less fans, a bad back, bad neck, and a poor swing. Add all these factors to a bunch of up and coming stars and … well, he’s 13 strokes from the lead after just three rounds. Nuff said.
Many multiple major winners won theirs in a short period: Hogan: 1946 to 1953. Palmer: 58 to 64. Watson: 75 to 83. Obvious exceptions: Nicklaus, Player, Trevino. Bob Jones retired at 28 and was burned out. Woods is 34. He won 3 US juniors and 3 US amateurs from 91 to 96 before he turned pro. That is a long career already. If he never wins another major, he will still be the second best of all time. I’m still pulling for him and Brett Favre.
I’m with ya on Farve. You’re talking to a 40 year Packer backer fan here in Atlanta.
You people are…idiots. I mean, I know that is a little harsh but listen to yourselves. Think about ’98, ’04, think about how many times I have seen people like you write the same stuff. With all that Tiger is going through off the course, you really expect him to not have some mental trouble. The man is 34! The fact that you are all writing him off that quickly, it just sums up the idiotic and ignorant mentality of the unknowledgableable (and clearly biased) golf fan: what have you done for me lately? No, he hasn’t been in contention at all…with exception to a little tournament called the US Open. This week Tiger had a four hole stretch in round one that he played in four-over: a four hole stretch that he might typically play in one-under, considering he bogeyed the par 5. Anyone who knows golf knows that its just those few hole stretches, those putts that aren’t falling, etc.. It takes very little to get it back. Tiger has said this before to the media, and had to listen to people like Butch Harmon say he was “in denial” about his swing. He then went on to win 6 of the next 14 majors and 25 of his next 58 TOUR events. When are you people going to stop making yourselves look foolish with your obvious wishful thinking. None of you have any real evidence that Tiger can’t move on in his personal life (other golfers have been through divorces and even worse emotionally) and there is definitely nothing wrong with his swing that can’t be fixed. All he probably really needs is more of what you idiots are doing: enough people writing him off, saying he is through, and it will give him the motivation to come back and start winning everything again. I mean, jesus. How many times have we been through this “Tiger is through” crap? When will you all learn! Maybe if he was 44 instead of 34 and not as in shape as he is and not as mentally strong as he has proven to be and not come back from similar slumps like this on other occasions, I might agree with you. However, none of that is true. But it’s fine…when he came back in 99 it made me laugh at all the nay-sayers…when he came back in 05 it made me laugh…when he came back in 09 it made me laugh…and…well, you all make me laugh! LOL!
Naah..
I think you guys are way off..
I agree with that he might be not as excited at the moment and that is effecting his game.
Remember a fighter never quits. Tiger is a fighter. When people think he is out it will piss him off and it will bring him right in there where he is suppose to be.
Remember this.. He will beat all previous records and also Jack’s. Sorry Jack :) You are still a legend :)
what is wrong with you all. Tiger is only 34 yrs old Phil Mickelson is older than him but tiger has won already 72 trophies and phil only 34. He has 14 majors on his belt and just because he has not won this year does not mean that you have anybody even close to tigers record. you do not and you will never for a long time, and that is a fact.How if he comes next year and wins all the majors of that year???????.He is the best golfer ever lived people, get over it. even if he retired now ,you still could not get anybody to fill his shoes.Every guy out there who is critical of tiger coz of his private life better look at himself first, Yu all cheat but yu have not been spoted yet.
I agree with the last 2 comments! He Is only 34, he had a chance to win the Masters and the US Open. He finished 4th in both!!!! Many golfer’s don’t finish in the top 10 of a major in their whole career! To write him off and say he will never win another major is crazy.
First a hello to those who still write to me about my Automatic Golf Videos .
For tiger to return to the top , first he must give up weight training and replace it with tai chi , yoga etc.
Additionally , he must get the weight off his left side when he putts. All great putters on modern fast green , including Tiger in times past kept their weight evenly distributed. When the weight ratio shifts to the left [a nanifestation of trying too hard] the natural loft of the putter [yes a putter has loft..check it out] is reduced and this causes the ball to skid rather than rolling merrily along, end over end .
Also Tiger would putt better with a more upright putter that positions his eyes over the ball.
Tiger would be better off about 10 pounds lighter and less densely muscled which would allow him to stand a bit closer to the ball
on full shots.
Without seeing him close up I cant comment on his grip but he may have an issue there as well
Bob Mann
good lucK Tiger
There goes again, writing TW off. I never doubt TW and to make it short and simple, he will come back and show all you folks how it is done ! TW is the GREATEST GOLFER EVER to live besides JACK. When will you people stop doubting TW, I guess when he wins 18 majors and I don’t think that isn’t too far away. GO TW !
I have never been a fan of weight training for golf. Muscular and thick golfers lose their flexibility as they get older. I don’t like Tiger’s decision to make his stock shot a draw. Who said, “you can talk to a fade but not a hook? That being said, I still think he will break Jack’s record. His short game and putting will always keep him in the hunt.
Come on people, think about your own game, it comes and goes, without all the distractions which Tiger is experiencing. Look at Phil, El’s, Stricker, Kenny P. etc. they are all playing better in there late thirty, forty’s etc. It is only a matter of time, he will get comfortable with himself. Jack got his last major when he was 46 and a total of three in his forties.
As for him not hitting the ball as far, I think he is the #1 in driving distances this week.
I agree with a lot of what Aaron said, but with one negative. He is three or four knee surgeries in now and he’s not going to have the speed through the ball he ideally wants to have. One can’t put that same pressure on the knee to perform at the past level anymore. You have the knee opened up that much and you simply aren’t as good as you once were in any sport or in every day life. Anyone with experience in this area knows that.
He’s changing the golf ball now, maybe for St. Andrews, but more than likely because he has to in his mind. These guys play in a 6′x6′ world (as Greg Norman said) flighting/landing a golf ball. The courses are getting longer, his knee/body is what it used to be and it’s tough to win how someone like him wants/needs to without adding the distance off the tee.
The 17th swing change will come around as Aaron pointed out. That part is not for the instant gratification portion of our society, which is the vast majority. He will get the club in better positions in time and will not be as shallow as he ended up being in recent months/year.
How much will he win again? I do think this is an interesting question. I do believe he will get Sam Snead’s all-time PGA Tour wins record (unless another major injury in which he will be done). If healthy, he has 5-6 years to get it done and will likely end with 90′ish wins because he’ll put together a couple of terrific seasons back-to-back again.
This year, at least for me, it’s obvious he is playing only for the majors even though it will never be admitted. This week, if you watch and have a clue, the golf bag/ball/shots are St. Andrews only thinking. Don’t think for a second otherwise. After he gets the swing where he wants it, some of the stress is behind him, etc…he will have a different focus next year.
As for the majors, I think it’s very interesting. I’ve thought all along he would win St. Andrews this summer and if he doesn’t, the number is a little tougher unless he has a magical 2-3 major year because the chances of being fully healthy and playing really well for every major in that 5-6 year time span isn’t high based on age. He can top 5 it like he is now for the next few years because he is a great player, but can he get the record without a magical late in the career year?
Anyone that expected this guy to come out and just be the same golfer this year was either a real fool of a person or doesn’t live in the real world. I don’t care how tough a person is mentally, this is more than anything anyone can handle and especially a person that would likely be labeled narcissistic by a psychologist (most of the great ones are). It’s combination of embarrassment, a smack to the face of losing kids (and yes he does love his kids), losing part of his fortune (which is a huge deal to a person in his position), etc…It’s especially crushing in the sport/arena he lives in. Golf is great because you can see every mannerism, every reaction and hell with HD, you can see every stressful point in a golfer if you follow close enough.
But the most stressful part of this isn’t the actual divorce itself, I think it has to be what else is out there for the world to know that he is desperately trying to keep Elin from ever talking about. There could be a lot of speculation on what it is and it’s more than just what the media talks about IMO. By the way, I’m not saying I think he took HGH, I think it could be something totally different that has to be kept quiet. That, to me, is the most stressful part to all of this for him.
If he thinks every secret is safe, that will probably be a big relief and show in his golf game along with making the swing change. I will say, it’s very interesting to follow both on the course and off because you just have a feeling there is something else out there that would be the most crushing blow to Tiger (again, not saying it has anything to do with HGH).
Wow do people have short memories.
I’ve heard the “best golf is behind” line so many times. Remember the swing changes, and how “long” it took him to win? So many said he was done then.
This is a guy who won the US open on one leg.
How much time has he had off in the past two years due to his surgery and recent (self-induced) troubles? He missed a year of the last two, and he still finished in the top ten of two majors.
He’ll be fine.
All I can add to this discussion, is that I went through a divorce when I was his age, and it took quite a while before I got my head right. It is a long walk between shots, and I can’t help but wonder if he is able to keep focused on the “game” and not let his mind wonder into all the crap going into this divorce negotiation. And I agree that he is simply focused on preparing for the OPEN at St. Andrews. Perhaps getting on foreign soil will clear his mind.
His problem is mental, not physical. He’s no longer a strong tiger but a paper tiger. He must be able to bring health to his private life ASAP. Otherwise, he will have no chance whatsoever of getting back to the tiger that used to roar in the golf course. He needs to remember a lot of sports stars have fallen victim to the tragedy of their own making. The undisputed truth is that he has disappointed too many fans across the world. Alas!
Aaron…exactly right on….I am truly amazed at the short sightedness of most people…I would not trust the judgement of most people who post in here…their ability to look at a big picture is extremely weak.
How did Tiger all of a sudden get long off the tee again?? He’s fixing his swing and he is using his driver again and not being conservative…its really simple. He was using 3 wood quite often…also he just started working with a ball that has a slightly harder cover..he was using the softest ball on tour.
As for the divorce…the settlement amount…details of it…NONE of this is fact yet and is ALL speculation. Its being treated as if it were true..when in fact the sites that are talking about it DON’T KNOW.
to tell you honestly golf here int the philippines is so expensive, but when tiger woods start playing and became famous and at the same time i have book of him which inspire me a lot and not just me but all young people wants to follow his footstep. everybody knows that we are not perfect and what tiger went through right now its difficult. but still i believe in him that he ca climb back to the top and evrything will fall into places and hoping that his family in the future will be ok, tiger woods ill always pray for you and your family and im looking forward to watch you this coming british open.