Should Topic Title Be: Tiger Is Done, or Is Tiger Done?

[McCann1]

One thing is for sure, I would've never thought leading up to Tiger's 20th anniversary of his first Master's win that we would see him in this shape. With his game, his personal life, and his body. Never in a million years

[bananaezgo]

I don't understand what the panic is about. He just put a thumpin on 4 professional golfers Thursday.

[bscinstnct]

10 of 14 fairways. Not bad. Just needs to tune up his putting, 33 putts? Could have been a good round.

 

 

 

 

 

 

[gvogel]

Golf Channel showed Tiger this morning playing in the pro-am at Dubai and he looked tired walking around. Plus more left right shots. Just a small sample of the day but I can't imagine flying 17 hours and trying to play golf after all he has been through the last 18 months. He knows his body and what he is trying to accomplish, but I would have sat out this week and ramped up the tourneys from here. But.....he didn't ask for my advice. I would have given it to him free too. ;)

 

Also threw a club down as well. He really seemed to be struggling which is a shame. Forcing himself to do something his back can't really do is not healthy or worth it. You can see in his eyes the anger he has for some of the shots he's hitting.

 

He needs more rehab time I think, this schedule might do more harm than good.

I have to think that Tiger is chasing money. He could have left San Diego, buzzed over to Phoenix, practiced in private out at Whisper Rock and played the WM. Instead, he flies 17 hours and 12 time zones to play for an appearance fee. Now, however he plays in Dubai, he has to repeat the 17-12 schedule to get back to the states and try to get ready for LA. He may get his game back, but I doubt this is a good plan.

 

I wonder if Tiger is as flush as most think he is. Yachts, expensive home. Perhaps he had to pay off some of the skanks to keep their stories out of the magazines.

[djmohab2]

I wonder if Tiger is as flush as most think he is. Yachts, expensive home. Perhaps he had to pay off some of the skanks to keep their stories out of the magazines.

 

Or the stories of managers laundering or pissing away money on poor investments. Fred Taylor springs to mind, when his childhood friend embezzled all of his rookie contract.

[BillyZ2]

Although if he doesn't play anymore we'll be able to see all the other players on an equal basis, not just tiger every other shot.

[Shilgy]

People say that he's coming back from a year out and it will take time but remember that if he's returning to 2015 levels, then that was probably the worst year of Tiger's career, where he couldn't hit a fairway and chunked every chip. Then he didn't do much in 2014 either.

 

To get back to somewhere near his best, he'd have to get back to 2013 levels, but that's a long time ago in sports, back then his playing partner Fitzpatrick and Justin Thomas were promising amateurs, now they're multiple Tour winners.

I have no idea what level he will get to. None of us do. But the 2015 levels you are referring to was when his health-back-was already an issue. He did not go from winning 5 times in 2013 to crap in 2014 and 2015 as a healthy player. As many of us have repeatedly said, give it a few months and see if he is healthy. If yes he will do well. If not ya'all can get out your shovels and pitchforks. :)

[ignitewvu]

I know nothing of backs and he should know what he can do, but boy I would have thought if he warmed up on the range and was feeling any pain at all he'd have to surrender right there and see what next week brings. Just one hole, but he looks markedly different from last week. Tough to watch just one hole, though.

 

Back pain is weird, it comes & goes, it's High in the Neck/Shoulders & sometimes low. In my case it progressed so slowly over a 3 years period I didn't realize I had major issues until it hurt to simply get outta bed, walk, or turn my neck 45 degrees.

 

I was lucky though, no nerve damage........I didn't go for surgery, so I opted to go the Chiropractor route (Got a good one) & I started doing Yoga.

 

5 Months later I'm lifting weights 2-3 Days a week & doing Yoga 2-3 Days a week. I'm also golfing again & playing very well.

 

I don't know the specifics of Tigers issues but I hope he considers more "non invasive" treatment. Sometimes they can work wonders! When they cut in & work on one's spine numerous time it's NEVER a good thing!

[Pete O'Tube]

Dubai today no birdies and 7 dropped shots. He will think hard and call it a day soon.

[winnddyy]

Give Tiger few more tournaments to build up confidence on his swing/back. May be he will make the cut soon.

[The Mad Bomber]

Man it's painful to watch. He's a shadow of his former self. Like so many others, I believe a motivated, healthy Tiger is great for the game. And if there's no pain like he says, it would be great to see him swing like he believed that. He's got the weakest, swipey driver swing we've seen on tour. He'd be better off just hitting that 3 wood all day. Lets hope the Friday round is under par so that there is at least marked improvement to take forward.

[tigers9iron]

DONE. There is no longer any reasonable, rational argument to conclude otherwise. Its a sports tragedy what this man has done to his career.

[farmer]

It's too early to say that Tiger is finished or that he will not be competitive ever again. He needs to play tournaments, not friendly matches and worst ball games with himself. My concern is the way he's getting back. Even flying in one of the Emirate suites, it's still 17 hours. Sleep 8 hours, if that's possible on an airplane, and that leaves 9 hours sitting around. He could stroll around, I'm sure he did, but it's still 9 hours in a restricted space. Do the easy stuff first, then work into a more complex schedule. He has to reprise the 17 hour ordeal to get home, he'll be wiped out for a few days, then will have a week to really work to get ready for LA. This cannot be a solid plan for a recuperating player.

[chippa13]

https://www.emirates.com/us/english/flying/cabin_features/first_class/first_class.aspx

 

Such an ordeal.

[cdnglf]

I wonder if Tiger is as flush as most think he is. Yachts, expensive home. Perhaps he had to pay off some of the skanks to keep their stories out of the magazines.

 

Or the stories of managers laundering or pissing away money on poor investments. Fred Taylor springs to mind, when his childhood friend embezzled all of his rookie contract.

 

Seems very unlikely to me.

There are more than a few stories like that in pro sports, but for Tiger to be in that situation is a whole other level.

By all accounts, he's made more than a billion dollars. At his peak, he was making more in a few months than Taylor made in his entire career.

And there's no indication he's got the big "payroll" of family and friends that is usually at the root of these stories.

[DrSchteeve]

No one watching that can think "that could have been a good round if he had just putted better". He had 33 putts because he never put the ball close to the hole, and put many shots in places missing the green that made up and down impossible.

 

It looked like he was in pain with every step, and his swing was mostly a weird flailing of the arms with the same stuck body rotation (as in limited). First tee ball was 70 yards offline left, then there were the usual right misses creating two way miss issues. I agree that round wasn't bad: it was horrible. Painful to watch, and obviously painful both physically and mentally for Tiger.

[tigers9iron]

how long before we start seeing the WD's? maybe LA or Honda. Is Bay Hill in the equation yet, hard to imagine him not playing there.

[bscinstnct]

No one watching that can think "that could have been a good round if he had just putted better". He had 33 putts because he never put the ball close to the hole, and put many shots in places missing the green that made up and down impossible.

 

It looked like he was in pain with every step, and his swing was mostly a weird flailing of the arms with the same stuck body rotation (as in limited). First tee ball was 70 yards offline left, then there were the usual right misses creating two way miss issues. I agree that round wasn't bad: it was horrible. Painful to watch, and obviously painful both physically and mentally for Tiger.

 

Well, that's just nitpicking, isn't it?

 

[tigers9iron]

if tiger misses 6 cuts (including Bay Hill) does he even play the Masters?

[toddnt]

if tiger misses 6 cuts (including Bay Hill) does he even play the Masters?

 

If he's healthy, I hope(believe) he'll be a Augusta!

[dannyuk32]

He can't be 100% because that swing is horrid. Were some really bad full swings out there - he must be hurting. :( .

[Harob11]

I really liked what I saw in the Bahamas. He was swinging very easy, was decent off the tee and his approach shots were mostly very good but at Torrey and now this, he looks to have reverted back to his 2015 self minus this yips around the green.

[ShutSteepStuck]

Tiger's game looks pretty iffy, esp. the putting.

 

With all the work he's had done on his back, more than likely he's going to have a dirty looking swing for the rest of his life. I still think IF he can stay healthy he'll figure out how to score again.

 

NO ONE in the history of the game WAS better at scoring with a B-/C+ game then Tiger.

 

The problem is he's got his C/C- game right now.

[starsail85]

The guy hit 10/14 fairways . The issue was poor putting (33 officially but more from the fringe) 33 putts when you miss 7 greens

 

Should be having 25 putts at that level with that many GIR for a 69 without good iron play . Needs to hit irons better of course but the putter was the main issue today

[Holy Moses]

Tiger, go back to Butch Harmon. Please!

[Golfnutgalen]

Really poor iron play coupled with even worse putting. That was indeed hard to watch.

[tigers9iron]

its the demeanor, the scared to death look in his eyes, the disinterested affect. Its him walking around like he is 80. There is nothing that even remotely resembles a guy thats just a little rusty or a bit off form.

[sheldonjhacker]

One thing is for sure, I would've never thought leading up to Tiger's 20th anniversary of his first Master's win that we would see him in this shape. With his game, his personal life, and his body. Never in a million years

Self-inflicted wounds + steroids = now ranked #666 in the world. :russian_roulette:

 

Tiger, go back to Butch Harmon. Please!

 

Thanks, but I'll pass. best, Butch

[chippa13]

if tiger misses 6 cuts (including Bay Hill) does he even play the Masters?

 

If he's healthy, I hope(believe) he'll be a Augusta!

 

Somebody has to take Arnold's place in the ceremonial first group so Tiger will be in Augusta.

[SilverBullets]

The guy has played 3 rounds of golf in 'real' PGA events (I don't count the Hero) since returning from over a year off of competitive golf and from dealing with basically 3 years of serious back problems. I think everyone needs to hit the pause button.

 

The expectations for Tiger should have been exactly what he is doing. Making the cut would have been an achievement. Look at how long it has taken a guy like Graham Deleat to come back from a similar issue (though his wasn't as bad a Tiger's) and Deleat is what? 10 years younger?

 

Yes, Tiger is a shell of himself. He's 40 years old and has been playing on tour for over 20 years. The game has changed, the talent he's competing against has changed, and he's old. Even if healthy, he would be a shell of himself. Phil Mickelson is a shell of himself.

 

If Tiger can stay healthy, I firmly believe he gets competitive again. At 40 years old, there was no way he's going to dominate the game even without a back issue. But I firmly believe if he gets healthy he can compete.

 

Expectations for a 40 year old coming back from multiple major back surgeries were way too high. 3 rounds after injury is also not nearly enough to write the book on him.