Will Tiger Woods still tie or break Nicklaus's record

[vsbabolat]

I think Tiger has lost his Mojo. Not juggling 12 at once women have has adversely effected his game.

[r2473]

Originally Posted by vsbabolat

I think Tiger has lost his Mojo. Not juggling 12 at once women have has adversely effected his game.

Why do you think he's not juggling 12+ women these days?

[thug the bunny]

Originally Posted by r2473

Why do you think he's not juggling 12+ women these days?

Because he's 'cured'. But, just like many besotted or drug dependent comedic geniuses, they lose their edge when they seek therapy and join the world of the normal and the mundane.

[jamesblakefan#1]

Don't call it a comeback.

[Seany]

Federer winning, Woods winning, it feel like we've gone back to 2007.

[thug the bunny]

I knew this thread would be dug up after his win.

But, G Mac pretty much handed the win to Woods down the back stretch, and Tiger hit a bunch of waywards shots but managed to stay ahead.

Also, Bay Hill is one of Tiger's fav venues and it suites his karma for some reason. I don't think Tiger's game is sharp enough yet to start winning majors again. His weird out-to-in swing just doesn't look right to me..

[West Coast Ace]

No. His 4 stroke advantage from his length advantage is gone. The liberal media thought the 'Tiger Woods Effect' would mean a huge influx of minorities to the game. But his legacy will be that the new generation of players a) works out and stays in shape - not tennis shape but better than the fat boys who used to be so prevalent on Tour; b) swing incredibly hard and hit the ball a mile - quite a few players hit it a lot further than Tiger now.

Note: he won his 72nd event yesterday - Fed has 73 in less years...

[jamesblakefan#1]

Originally Posted by West Coast Ace

No. His 4 stroke advantage from his length advantage is gone. The liberal media thought the 'Tiger Woods Effect' would mean a huge influx of minorities to the game. But his legacy will be that the new generation of players a) works out and stays in shape - not tennis shape but better than the fat boys who used to be so prevalent on Tour; b) swing incredibly hard and hit the ball a mile - quite a few players hit it a lot further than Tiger now.

Note: he won his 72nd event yesterday - Fed has 73 in less years...

To both you and thug - Tiger's actually leading the tour in driving this season (not distance, but efficiency). His driving the past few years had been crappy, but his swing changes seem to be set in. His health is the great wild card now. That and his putting still isn't what it was at his peak.

http://www.golfdigest.com/golf-tours...-nicklaus.html

Also, comparing Tiger to Fed is impossible, golf is harder to win, tennis you play your opponent one on one and have a greater say on the outcome than in golf where if a guy goes nuts and outscores you there's nothing you can do about it. So comparing tourney wins is irrelevant.

[thug the bunny]

So jbf1, what do you think his chances are in the Master's?

My observations are totally qualitative, but his ball striking is just not consistent enough yet. The only shot that really impressed me on the last 9 at Bay Hill was a 30yd slice 5 wood that returned his ball to the fairway in front of the green after a dead pull-hook drive on 16(?). And, yes, his putting needs to be sharper as well.

I wish he would return his swing plane to normal. That over the top out-in swing makes me cringe.

[jamesblakefan#1]

Originally Posted by thug the bunny

So jbf1, what do you think his chances are in the Master's?

My observations are totally qualitative, but his ball striking is just not consistent enough yet. The only shot that really impressed me on the last 9 at Bay Hill was a 30yd slice 5 wood that returned his ball to the fairway in front of the green after a dead pull-hook drive on 16(?). And, yes, his putting needs to be sharper as well.

I wish he would return his swing plane to normal. That over the top out-in swing makes me cringe.

Right now I'd say he's the favorite, even over McIlroy. He always does his best at Augusta and he's gonna have even more confidence after finally winning. Even last year he had a shot on the back 9 on Sunday.

[ollinger]

One of the remarkable things about Jack's record is that he not only won 18 majors but finished second 19 times. Unlike tennis where you can play like crap for two sets and still win a match in a major, a few holes of lousy play can end the tournament for you in golf, so finishing first or second 37 times strikes me as astounding.

[r2473]

Originally Posted by ollinger

One of the remarkable things about Jack's record is that he finished second 19 times.

That probably puts him a distant second behind Mickelson on that list

[ollinger]

....but Phil has to deal with psoriatic arthritis and that B-cup rack.

[West Coast Ace]

^^^^ +1! You two are on a roll. Vegas lounge act!

I want to know why (well, I really do know why) the press doesn't suspect Eldrick of HGH use? His dad was 5'7", mom was barely 5'2" - and he's 6'1". I bet Earl gave it to him - he was obsessed with creating a pro golfer.

Window of opportunity shut - he might eek out 1 more major. A big % of the field hits it just as far - so his huge advantage on the par 5's is gone - and the young guys aren't scared of him like the VJ Singh's of the 90's and early parts of the 00's were.

[Rock Strongo]

Just tuned in, WOODS IS THREE OVER?

Also, read about Stenson's epic collapse. WHO DOES THAT?

[NadalAgassi]

It is still a long way to prove he is back to being even close to the top player in the game again. It takes alot more than winning ONE PGA event again finally to do that. And he wont have a decent shot to win say 1 major per year average again until he is the top player again IMO, and that is what he would have to get on course for if he were going to break the record. With all his injuries, that his very peak golf even if he makes a comeback to #1 someday is still many years in the past now, and the fact it doesnt happen often for anyone, he wont be winning hardly any majors past 40, so he will have to get back on track and start winning them at a decent rate fast if he has a chance. Nicklaus himself won 1 more after 40, and while he wasnt as physically strong or athletic in his youth as Tiger, he was much healthier and closer to his former peak form at that age as Tiger is today 5 years younger.

Still it is good he is making a comeback of sorts. Woods, McIllroy, and Mickelson are the only 3 names that appeal to American golf fans at all. Actually Mickelson's first Masters win brought in lower ratings than the Weir vs Mattiace duel the year before, so he really isnt even a ratings getter in the U.S. Golf nuts might love Phil Mickelson, but casual fans apparently not so much.

[r2473]

I wonder how many people would know that Tiger is still #7 on the world golf rankings.

[Polaris]

Originally Posted by r2473

I wonder how many people would know that Tiger is still #7 on the world golf rankings.

I wonder how many people would care that Tiger is still #7 on the world golf rankings.

[hollywood9826]

Originally Posted by West Coast Ace

^^^^ +1! You two are on a roll. Vegas lounge act!

I want to know why (well, I really do know why) the press doesn't suspect Eldrick of HGH use? His dad was 5'7", mom was barely 5'2" - and he's 6'1". I bet Earl gave it to him - he was obsessed with creating a pro golfer.

Window of opportunity shut - he might eek out 1 more major. A big % of the field hits it just as far - so his huge advantage on the par 5's is gone - and the young guys aren't scared of him like the VJ Singh's of the 90's and early parts of the 00's were.

His workouts were pretty hard core as well. No doubt he was doing something, and his injuries are very similar to that of those late 90's era baseball players.

Earl Woods would make statements about Tiger that he was going to change the world. He was trying to create more than a golfer. He felt Tiger would be like Dr. King and have some large cultural impact. All Tiger ever wanted to do was kick everyone's butt at golf and crush some tang. He wants no part of the sacrifice of ones personal life it takes to actual get people to care about you.

[BigServer1]

A bunch of my friends are hardcore Tiger fans...FB was blowing up two weeks ago with "HE'S BACK!" posts.

What a joke. He wins one event in three years and all of a sudden he's the favorite to win The Masters.

Not only did Tiger play horribly and finish 40th, 15 shots off the winner, but he embarrassed himself in the process by acting like a petulant child, kicking/dropping his clubs and cursing at himself.

18 is out of reach. He's 36 with a bum knee, a body that's betraying him and a swing that is wildly inconsistent. All the while, the field has improved. I think Tiger will catch fire once or twice over the next 5-8 years, but his days of dominance and being favored everywhere are long gone.