Tiger Woods
Be humble and patient and take what the game gives, asking no more. If Tiger figures this out his swing will change but only as a result of having first learned Jack's strategy. His days of pure dominance are over and time is clearly running out for him to surpass Jack.
The situation doesn't look good for Tiger. Let's still give him until after the Masters to make a definite pronouncement, but can anyone deny that his window of opportunity is closing fast? I just don't see a guy who was so dominant for 10 years be able to muck about for a couple of seasons and then turn it on again. It just doesn't happen that way
Now that the new PGA Tour season is underway there are daily articles about how it might play out. One, almost universal theme, is that the young tour players are not afraid of Tiger Woods. He's so...yesterday!
Yesterday there was an interesting article at GOLF.com by Tim Dahlberg on the state of Tiger Woods career. Maybe most of you are a little worn out on that topic by now. However, I urge you to read the article. It's a suprisingly fresh take on a topic that's been nearly beaten to death by now.
If Tiger comes all the way back, it will be because he's remade himself, not just his game. Tiger's father was more than just his coach and best friend, he was actually part of his character. When he died, part of Tiger's identity was lost. Filling that void will be a bigger challenge than any swing change!
If Tiger can win a few matches and be an uplifting team mate on the sidelines as well, he has a chance to end the year on a positive note which will greatly help his return to form next year. The sport owes him that much.
Tiger can hit straight shots, as last week's driving statistics show. Now he just has to remove the demon in his mind and that's always the hardest part of game improvement. But not impossible for the game's best, especially as he's done it many times before.
My best golf rounds have ALWAYS been when I was paying no attention to score. Once I realize I might be having a season best round it all goes to hell in a handbasket. In some ways that's golf's enduring mystery and charm. A round of golf is not so much something you do as something you watch unfold.
If there's one thing that MIGHT get Tiger going again is for enough people to say he's finished. Of course he'll win again if he keeps playing. More than likely he'll win a major. What he won't do is win 5 majors to beat Jack's record.
John Novosel, a guy who has been working on swing tempo for almost a decade claims to have clear insight into Tiger's problems and I think he just may be right. In fact, what he has discovered may be the most important component of all our games.
