By Brian Wacker, PGATOUR.COM
PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. — Will Tiger Woods break Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 career major championships? Padraig Harrington certainly thinks so.
“I’d be still backing him, absolutely,” Harrington said Wednesday. “If he turns up and plays well, he’s going to win. There are other guys out there, their best game ain’t going to win them. His is still a winning game.”
If there is a difference in Woods’ game, Harrington added, it’s that he doesn’t quite have the same aura that he used to. But he also thinks Woods can still be a dominant player.
“When he plays well, he’ll win majors, no doubt about it. He’ll win plenty of tournaments. There’s no question he will win plenty going forward.
Harrington can of course appreciate what Woods is going through, at least in terms of a swing change. He’s undergone plenty of scrutiny since undergoing major swing changes following his victory at the 2008 PGA Championship, which was his third major win in a year.
”He’s going to win plenty more tournaments,” Harrington said of Woods. “I’ve played with him, and the way he hits the golf ball, there wouldn’t be very many players who wouldn’t want to hit the golf ball like him."
PTiger is a very unique person he can overcome any adversity We will see him come back and all that make comments less than pleasant will all be on his Side! Please wait and see what he does with his gamE and then add your 2 cents in. He is the best golfer of this era so Please hold all the negatitive comments.
Paddy seems like a nice guy, but after trying to get McIlroy to enter the Olympics as a player from Great Britain, which is clearly fraud, in an effort to make room for himself, and then having to have a caller dial in to a tournament where Harrington’s ball moved, resulting in a DQ, I think this guy needs to look in the mirror and start worrying about himself instead of Tiger. Once your skills start to erode, many players would do ANYTHING to hang on, even if it’s not ethically right. We saw that at Abu Dhabi from “Rors,” who needed Donald to tell him he violated Rule 23, which is so well known even mediocre amateurs understand it. These guys from Ireland need a reality check, and a better understanding of this “gentlemen’s” game….
Paddy, dinni hink so!
Gail talking complete rubbish as usual I see
Remember when searching for Tiger’s ball in heavy rough a number of years ago Stevie stood on Tigers ball? Remember how Tiger could see this happening?
Yet they completely denied it and got away without a 2 shot penalty.
Cheater off the golf course, cheater on it too.
Haha…the “rubbish” is Harrington’s game, as I think there’s a good chance he’s toast (which means done). Although he has an enviable work ethic, he’s much too technical and doesn’t use the experience he’s gained from all of his victories to give him an appropriate edge. Not sure we’ll see more than a few top 10′s or top 25′s on the PGA Tour from him going forward, although on the Euro Tour, he may win a lot, based on the level of competition…
No frank I don’t remember that. And if I did, I still have one question, how do you know what anybody ,except you, saw?
I could not agree MORE. Not only will Tiger break the record, he will do even more, he will SMASH it and SURPASS it by miles. TIGER is a very unique and very focused individual in EVERYTHING he does.
Most of you are thinking Am I Crazy, not, I just believe that Tiger is the BEST GOLFER WHO EVER LIVED, at least in my lifetime.
Tiger was the one who got me very into golf and his trangressions “off the course” have NOTHING to do with his pure raw talent.
He is focused and more than ready – we just need to be patient and let him play more tournaments and not write him off due to his “OFF COURSED” actions.
I totally agree with Joe c. let’s please try to be positive and hold off on any negative comments, there is far too much negativity everywhere, and we do not need that.
Those are my thoughts and I stick by them. We all choose every day when we wake up, will it be a positive or a negative day. I always choose POSITIVE, because it attracts the type of people I wish to surrounds myself with.
GO TIGER, I am behind you 110%. YOU WILL DO THIS. End of my story.
Paddy is a class guy. If he had seen his ball move at any time he would have called the penalty on himself. I hope he has a resurgence, but I don’t know if he can win more majors. Remember his greatest triumphs came with Tiger rehabbing his knee. Same can be said for Graham McDowell. Both of these golfers were middle of the pack talents, had one hot stretch when Tiger was not playing, and have since returned to their former selves. I think we’ll see this from time to time, but no one on our radar right now will maintain excellence from year to year as Tiger has done and will do again. (Rory mental focus would not compare favorably, though his talent does.)
Frankly, I’m tired of people asking other golfers what they think about tiger. I don’t give a rats arse what Paddy, Phil, Els, VJ, Weir, or anyone else thinks about what tiger will or won’t do. For the most part any current player is going to play nice and say nice things simply because there is more downfall to saying something bad when you have to compete week in and week out against these players.
Scott- I agree, this is why I don’t like the media in general. They are pot stirrers. They have nothing to do except come up with questions that put people on the spot. We don’t need to interview these guys every week. Let’s have a media day once a month. Then they might have some news or maybe the reporters can figure out some new questions. It’s all so repetitive that it just gets boring. Interview the winner each week, but who cares about all these predictions and politically correct statements.
I don’t mind the players being interviewed if the interview is about the player himself. I don’t need to hear what one golfer thinks about another golfer and what they might or might not accomplish. For the most part, you are going to get pretty typical answers from players that are not going to be controversial because these players need to deal with each other every week. Most of the players that have given somewhat controversial answers to questions are retired golfers like Norman and Faldo. Golf doesn’t need TMZ like reporting, although the golf channel has pretty much become the TMZ of the golf world.
LOL! Gail.. It’s funny how Padraig comes out and praises your hero but you still have the nerve to slag him off. I see you’ve now refered Harrington to being “toast” just like you did with my hero Paul Lawrie 2 weeks before he WON! in Qatar.. maybe I should run down to the bookies right now and pile a boat load of cash on Harrington for this week or the next time he play’s.. Keep slagging Europeans off and say there “toast” all the time because it could be a good omen for them.
I think paddy would have great insight to give on tigers situation. Far better than the obviously slanted American Gail. Take nationality out of your opinions. Typical
Hi Sir Shaun…the difference between Lawrie and Harrington is simple: Paul is playing on the Euro Tour, and he may win 10 times with that lower level of competition. look, John Daly was 2nd or 3rd, and he can’t even make a cut in the US. Harrington plays on the PGA Tour, so he’s definitely “toast.” Heck, Sir Shaun, I’m not sure “Paddy” needs to give you more than a shot a side, but if you get a chance to play against him, watch him for sure. He has a reputation for not paying much attention to the rules, and I’d hate to see him win through cheating….
I’m back from the bookies Gail, i’m definitely going to be a rich man come the end of this month.. by the way Padraig Harrington plays on both the European and PGA Tours and Paul is going to land his a$$ault on American soil at the WGC Matchplay.. SO BEWARE!
HA HA! Padraig would no doubt tank me if we played a match.
Sir Shaun…aren’t you the player with the low, boring 3-iron that cuts through the wind like a how knife through butter? I think you might be able to take Paddy down, as once he reads your posts, his chest might be out too far to make a nice, full swing. Time for you to go on the Euro Tour and if you do, I rpomise to be a big supporter! I’ll be on this site predicting a win for you every week. Sean Smith, I’m not so sure….
Now Now ladies and gents. We’ll not have anymore of “that.” Let’s all just settle this at our local club…losers buy the drinks.
sup X24 hot – I’m practicing hard getting ready for you.
LOL! Gail.. you’re very funny, I havn’t played in about 2 months now because of snow,ice,frost and darkness, my game will definitely need a touch up before I take on Padraig.. Gail, can I come out to your place over the winter and hone my skill’s in warmer weather.. that way i’ll be able go on the Hooters Tour then the Nationwide Tour and finally came home and challenge with the World’s elite on the European Tour.. but the only thing is, by the time I do all that I’ll be in my mid to late 30s and almost certainly “toast.”
I’m ready when you are skinny!
Sir Shaun… I’m sure you’re into the younger “chicks.” I’m old enough to be your Mum, although I appreciate your taste for the game….here’s hoping this year is a great one for you, as if you keep hitting those “stingers” in Ireland, I’m sure some wins will come your way!
Gail Gail Gail, please take your pathetic dribble talk elsewhere.. I’m sick of seeing you talk nonsense everywhere on these blogs when half the stuff you say isnt even true, seriously no one cares what you have to say!! I’m australian and even i can admit that the euro’s are dominating golf worldwide at the moment so stop living in denial and appreciate how good they are! Oh and one more thing, get off the computer for once and go work on your own game instead of talking about it!!!
Gail.. I just need a place to stay.. i’m not coming on to you, if that’s what you’re thinking. IS IT!
gail is like a poison in threads such as this. It was interesting reading until his jingoistic rubbish started to appear.
Sir Shaun, you let the rest of us down by engaging with this troll. Leave it alone! Please!
Woods will never win another major!!!
Well done Brandt; your quality of game demands more wins. Maybe a Major too?
Otherwise, for Kyle Stanley, Tiger Woods & Rahil Gangjee in the 3 tournaments this week, it was all about big chokes! Horrible!
After 3 wins in 2010 & 4 wins in 2009, surprisingly, Ryo didn’t manage a win in 2011. And he’s barely 20 years old now!
Hopefully he won’t ‘do a Sergio’ and fail to deliver on such early promise!
Tiger is looking for a new sponsor for his invitation tournament this year, now that Chevron has withdrawn after only 4 years. Maybe there’s a company out there called ‘too many easy OWGR points’ that’ll pick it up.
backtobasics, this is the huge flaw with this forum and, sadly, the main reason most people will eventually desert it and leave it to the morons.
Bert, you are a sick troll! Can’t you just denigrate Tiger with facts, like me!
Your racial spin is repugnant while the marital infidelity argument is immaterial. Do you truly think all high profile sportsmen are role models?
My dribble? Do any of you actually comment on the golf and if so, do you add anything to the discussion? What a bunch of fools, who wake up tomorrow, go to their drab jobs, and think they actually contribute. Look in the mirror, and realize what a sorry lot you are. Please, please, don’t do anything rash, although looking intimately at your life may make you want to…what a bunch of losers….
hi, my name is not paddy and i hate tiger. i hate the golf media, i hate pga tour, i hate the golf chl.
now if they would all go watch paint dry we would have a good golf weekend. already it has been ruined the above mentioned as that is all they can talk abt. then to top it off espn has to go back and tell me abt 2000 and his great year. then we will get to see every shot the man makes til he misses the cut. i wont even watch til is not in a tourn i had a great year in 1968. I survived TET.
gail oh dear !!!! look at the last 8 major winners !!haha u dried up witch
any of u americans who didnt see how tiger played last week and still slate him be ashamed,i hate tiger but what a ball striker and by far the best ever im afraid
scott x24 + others; what do you think separate the great golfer from the good golfer; skill & mental strength.why should anybody who can handle the pressure of putting be penalised by allowing the weakness in others to be helped by an outside element{long broom belly ect} you talk about its o/k if available to all; what a load of crap {mentally tough dont need it} why do you think guys went cross-handed ? to stop the right hand taking over because they had no control once that happened. this is now the next version of that {pendulum helps the nerves} I read somewhere recently that they were working on an adjustable height putter… wont that be great for golf, I say kill it now and forever.as for me being MAD scott look forward to many discusions with you going forward about my comments.I bet doug sanders would kill to have his put over with a broomstick {jack would have one less major} and how many others would have benifited by it.cheers/.
Paddy’s right, of course. :)
hao has gone madder
There’s a news flash!
Mike Miller…haven’t seen you post many facts when it comes to “denigrating” tiger…only person you’re denigrating is yourself you doosh wad
Genious and madness can be a very fine line…be careful bradley roles could be reversed in a very short time. cheers/.
Maybe Mrs. Stanley should have had his caddy line him up a little better, what happen to ALL those fist bumps?
It is too bad TIGER is not as good as the Media makes him!!
interesting comments by harrington.
he thinks that tiger will overtake jack in majors but, at the same time, he suggests that tiger doesn’t have quite the same aura.
and that’s what every golf fan wants to find out. can tiger dominate again and can tiger overtake jack?
tiger will win again, and this week he must be favourite, but 5 more majors is a tall order.
November 2nd, 2011 6:21 pm
very interested to see hao rory goes this week,i think with the other half watching it might be too much pressure for him to handle. it would also be good to see the old man sweep away the two broomheads. good luck westy.
Mike Miller, concerning Ryo, I think you need to get a better grasp on what really is a “win” and what is what we call on the TOUR (this is how I know you have absolutely on connection to anybody in golf at a higher level) a “Japanese win.” For the last decade it has been much easier to start off on the Japanese Tour than anywhere else because of the points awarded compared to the weak fields.
Now, you will try to come back and say that the points awarded are based on the strength of the fields, so how could that be? Well, there is a minimum number of points that are to be rewarded for a win, and in Japan, almost 50% of the time the Japan Tour has to lean on awarding the “minimum points” because the number of points awarded by field strength would only give that winner half the amount of points and their TOUR would quickly lose players.
So, Frank Miller, considering you don’t even know this about golf, I am wonder why you think you know anything about Tiger? Every expert now has been driven back on to Tiger’s side! I MIGHT (though I know way more than you in this area so I wouldn’t have, but if I were in your position maybe) have felt the way you felt before the Frys. However, after watching Tiger hit the ball at the Frys (particularly over the weekend) I knew he was not far off. His putting that week was atrocious but its been a long time when I have felt that he has had his “A” putting game. In fact, I do not think I have seen Tiger’s “A” putting game since the 2008 US Open. If you know of a time Tiger putted better since then, let me know.
After Frys, his ball striking continued to improve over the next 4 events I have seen him play in. He did well in Australia, came in 3rd. Yet, somehow, the haters saw this as further proof that Tiger would never win again. What? Finishing 3rd means he’ll never win again. That’s when I realized that anything short of a win for these haters won’t be good enough, and even if he does win, they will make excuses, say he got lucky or someone else got unlucky, and then they will say, well, he’ll never win a major again (which is even more absurd – I could see Tiger winning more majors on his way out than regular events simply because his game is so perfectly built around major championships compared to others. If it wasn’t, he wouldn’t have won 14 majors by 32.
However, basically, Tiger has gone 3rd, was probably the best player at the Presidents Cup (this is according the analysts and the fact that Tiger’s partner in Stricker struggled big time and Tiger’s play in singles in which he had the lowest score of the week and pummeled Australias Baddeley in his home country – sweet), then he went and won the Chevron (which had a stronger field than the Nedbank that had a smaller and weaker field won by Luke (yet Mike Miller is not discluding that event) and a stronger field than the full field Korean Open that Rory won the same week as well. So, if you don’t want to count Tiger’s win, fine, but then we can’t count Luke’s and Rory’s either based on the same criteria. Sorry!
Then he went to a strong full-field event (like Australian Open was), however this was even stronger than the Australian Open. He finished 3rd after being TIED for the lead after 54 holes. I keep seeing people saying he was leading after 54. Do not know why. So, basically, since the Australian Open last year, there is not a single player who has played better golf than Tiger Woods. However, he will never win another major etc etc why? He is paying better than Luke, Rory, um, who else do those butt-plugging Euros think will amount to something…oh, Lee Westwood! HAHA! Westwood will not make it to the hall of fame, and I am wondering whether Luke will. Can you make it to the hall of the fame based on a number 1 ranking that was gotten by playing the weakest golf I have ever seen someone play to get to number 1…without a major?
Also, I would like to point out that even at 14 majors at the age of 35 (he hasn’t played his 36th year yet so we cant count it), Tiger is still easily ahead of Nicklaus. Bet most of you still didn’t get that. Jack Nicklaus did not win his 15th major until his 38th year. That gives Tiger 3 years to win a next major and he would still be at the same rate as Jack. However, trust me, it won’t take that long.
MIKE MILLER: Are you capable of responding when you have been called out? I am calling you out! You keep refering to Tiger’s Chevron as..well, as you put it “too many easy OWGR points.”
Ok – So if Tiger’s win in the 16 man field that week, which was the deepest fielded tournament on the planet that week (and there were 3 mentionable professional tournaments being held that week), then what do you have to say about the Nedbank Challenge the Luke Donald won? That tournament had only 14 players, and based on depth, it was weaker than the Chevron. So, should we not label that tournament the same thing but worst?
I am wondering why you are complaining about Tiger’s tournament when the Nedbank is guilty of all the things you are stating but even more so! Yet, you don’t say anything about it because you are a hater. The proof is right there. You are not objective and therefore are not intelligent (truly intelligent people do not form opinions based on envy, jealousy or hate).
You also fail to mention the tournament your savior Rory won that week. That tournament was a full field event but despite that, was still weaker than the Nedbank, and if it was weaker than the Nedbank, it was much weaker than the Chevron. So, I am guessing Rory’s win there doesn’t count either?
So, MIKE MILLER, now that you have been called out, what do you have to say for yourself?
What is wrong with Tiger’s win at Chevron that is not wrong with Luke’s win at Nedbank?? Please explain why you have continually attacked Tiger for winning a tournament (its funny, when he didn’t win he was attacked, when he does win, its excuses, and trust me, when he does win again, Miller will have more excuses) that you considered unfair, yet have not attacked Luke Donald at all for winning a tournament based on the same criteria?
Can you recognize your bias now. Do you now realize why you are incapable of having a real discussion about this topic?
authority; have bad news for you,westwood won nedbank …luke never got warm, If I was you I’d find a rubber before miller wakes up or you could be the one looking a little silly.
Rory won UBS HONG KONG, not KOREAN OPEN.
Hey Gail, take a moment and think. (I know its tough, but try) Paddy isn’t worried about Tiger, HE WAS ASKED A QUESTION AND ANSWERED.
Get a clue.
Woods will never win another Major?
You may HOPE for that, but no sane individual would actually BELIEVE that.
Go time. Yeah I forgot didn’t rory get beat down in the Korean open by fowler?
Tiger? Tiger who?
I hate speculation but I think it’s foolish to say tiger wont win another major. History has shown he’s too good not to. And recent history has shown he’s still very capable of competing. I look forward to this years majors with an open mind. Best of luck to all!
The Authority is not a very good authority.
In 2007 and 2008, Harrington and Woods combined to win Five Major Tournaments. Since then, they haven’t been close.
Padraig said in the above article that Tiger will win if he is at his best…what is that suppose to mean? The Winner of every Tournament has to be at his best to win.
He was right about one thing…TW doesn’t have that aura about him when he is on the Golf course.
Although TW was tied for the lead at Abu Dhabi after 54 Holes, he couldn’t stand the pressure and finished behind Rock…and Rory.
Now the talk is about …When is TW going to Break through??? He “Broke Up” in 2009 and hasn’t won on Tour since, but if you are a believer in Fantasy, then TW will sweep away the opposition during the remainder of the year and IF Luke Donald doesn’t get any OWGR Points this year, then TW will be #1 again.
Got to go…I have more to say, but will have to get back to you later, probably after TW Tees-Off.
I feel sorry for Kyle Stanley losing last week when he Teed-off on the 18th and threw the game away. Hopefully, once he starts on Thurday, he will not let the past become a problem this week. After saying that, I don’t think he is going to win this time.
Donald, YES!!, Rory in fact got SCHOOLED by Rickie in Korea, but people don’t want to draw attention to it, because it was Rickie’s first PRO win, it was offshore and a weaker than U.S. Tour field. A win is a win…
I can hardly wait for Tiger to Win again. I plan on having a “21 Gunn” salute to commemorate the occasion. I hope all of the people who are reading this message will be here on Sunday.
Let’s meet on the 18th Green.
Three Cheers for Tiger….Hip Hip Hooray, Hip Hip Hooray, Hip Hip Hooray.
Bring on the Masters.
RORY WAS TIED FOR THE LEAD 1ST ROUND AND COULDN’T HOLD OFF ROCK FINISHING 2ND,woods was 3 behind rory after 1st round finished 1 behind t/3 donald was 2 back of tiger after 1st round finished t/48 world #1. owgr means dot.
@ Kyle: Spot on for saying whoever thinks Tiger will never win another major BELIEVES that.
Come on…let’s be real…NEVER?
That’s like saying Luke Donald will win a major…A joke.
Where the heck is Luke anyway? Everyone else is gettin’ their licks in, what’s he doin’, babysittin’ or somethin’? Come on Luke, put it out there!!!!
The Authority/Aaron Smith.. seeing as you’re meant to be a well respected source of information you’ve have just disrespected you’re “name” by making 2 ma$$ive blunders.. It was in fact Lee Westwood that won the Nedbank Golf Challenge and Rory McIlroy won the UBS Hong Kong Open not the Korea Open as you stated. Your so called “name” is somewhat farcical now.
The Authority.. when are you going to relise that your long drawn and quite frankly awful essay’s aren’t worth reading.. there’s simply not enough time in the day for it.
he’s probably burnt out after playing in everything last year to win the money race, resumed at nedbank doe nothing..went to aussie with same result…abu dhabi faild again t/48.trying to do what tiger had done many times before could have taken its toll.hope he makes it back ,notice webb is similar after getting greedy like donald. KARMA ? maybe.
Luke’s claim to fame is consistency, repetition of “good” performances, he better get his butt out there and start posting some scores.
shaun authority is not Aaron smith you should know that,at least he got one thing right… miller is a dipstick.
Gail..In what way is Rory playing for Great Britain – a fraud? Northern Ireland is part of Great Britain. Rory has the enviable position of choosing either Great Britain or Ireland to compete in the Olympics. How can you fault Paddy for wanting to represent his country when he has no other choices.
Simple…it’s only a way for a guy (Harrington) to participate in an event that he shouldn’t be involved in. If McIlroy plays for Ireland, Paddy is toast. Let’s review recent events: Rory cheats in Abu Dhabi, and a penalty is called by Donald. Harrington is DQ’d by a call-in viewer because he moved his ball and now is trying to make the Olympics through fraud. Next, Lee Westwood, swears on TV and his mum has to make him apologize, and this is from a guy who said that Tiger should be punished for swearing on the course. WHAT IS GOING ON WITH THESE GUYS FROM EUROPE? At what point should we jettison these cheaters and start watching everything/anything else, even if it’s the Sunshine Tour in Florida. The PGA Tour’s slogan is “these guys are good.” I think the Euro Tour slogan might be “these guys are cheaters.”…
joe, bit early to be writing off donald and simpson in 2012.
simpson has played 3 times for t3, t8 and t38. 9 of 12 rounds in the 60′s, worst score 72. he’s going ok.
donald has played just once for t48 at abu dhabi, scores of 71, 72, 73, 71. no cause for panic yet.
sandbelt bart has allready had a week off as he was feeling tired and donald is missing in action after comming t/48 at abu dhabi. they both extended there seasons last year getting greedy and pinching the lunch money of the lesser events players. maybe karma will get them.
joe, although i tend to agree that donald and especially simpson played too much toward the end of 2011, i think both will have good years.
i expect simpson to stay in the top 10, i would think he might play a little less this year. 2011 was his first foray into the big time. he is a bit painful to watch (slow) but he gets the most out of his game.
i doubt that donald can repeat his fantastic results in 2012. he might slide a little, but watch out for him at the us open if he is in form at the time.