Tiger's Too Big

[GolfFitPro]

People make me laugh.

In the August 6 issue of Sports Illustrated in the Golf Plus section, there was a section called "PGA Championship Confidential- Under the condition of anonymity, a PGA Tour pro riffs on Tiger's troubles..."

Tiger's troubles?

The blurb went on to say, among other things, that "Tiger has fallen in love with bodybuilding, and all that muscle is messing up his swing.  When I look at what's different from last year, when he won the last two majors, my answer is that now he looks like Popeye the Sailor Man."

That week, Tiger went on to win the Bridgestone, and as of this writing he tied the record for lowest score at a major (PGA Championship at Oakmont Hills).  He lipped out on 18 for what would have been the only 62 ever at a major.  He leads the tournament by 2 strokes.

Tiger is not too big. 

You know who is too big?

John Daly is too big.

Tim Herron is too big.

People make me laugh.

http://fitnessforbettergolf.typepad.com/be...f_with_fitness/

[preston08]

Boy these guys really know their stuff. I wish I could win a major with a messed up swing.

[scores]

The only thing big about tigar is his bank account!!!

[diablojoe]

Yeah...it's pretty funny. Every day, I see fat guys who think they're "big strong guys." No, they're just big and fat.

 

Then, when a guy who does have a little muscle on him loses some body fat (which brings out muscle definition), people think he's too muscular.

 

I lean out every summer by about 10-12 pounds to peak for long-course triathlon season. Every year, somebody will comment about how I must be lifting weights. I never lift weights. It's just that, by leaning out, my muscle definition shows more.

 

Tiger is not unusually muscluar. He's fit, that's all. And, his moderate leanness allows that fitness to show.

[darryk91]

the usga better jump on a hybrid of oakmont and southern hills... oakmont hills

[tji]

The only thing big about tigar is his bank account!!!

 

While I don't agree with the original article's premise, I wouldn't say that Tiger is not "big". I saw Tiger up close a couple times out in Utah skiing (at the coffee shop, not out on the slopes) and he's not a small guy. He's a true 6'1" I think I've got him by a quarter inch.. the only area where I can eclipse Tiger. With the form fitting ski under-shirt, you could see he has big shoulders -- which, when combined with his small waist, look even bigger.

 

When Tiger talks about his workout regimen, he talks about stretching and running as much as lifting. If he continues that, I'm sure he'll have no problem. I think the people that have problems are the ones that don't also keep aerobically fit and work hard to maintain flexibility. When they keep adding pounds with age they end up pretty bulky.

 

I think part of what stokes that kind of article is how the TV announcers mention stuff about his fitness & workout schedule. I have heard many times about how Tiger can bench press 350lbs. I don't know if that's true or not (that sort of thing often gets exaggerated). But, benching 350 is pretty impressive for a taller guy like Tiger. Then, that leads to the bulking up thoughts (e.g. the last guy I knew that could bench 350 was a muscled up roid freak).

 

 

K.J. Choi was a serious power lifter before his golf career. So, apparently the two are not mutually exclusive.

[rosskoss]

Tiger is not too big......he's just too fit. I bet some of the other Tour Pros wish they had that problem.

[jjvasquez650]

if tiger was too big then camilo is pretty close too. oh wait, size doesnt gauge how many wins you have.

 

two similar bodies, two different swings= two different records on tour.

 

 

camilo and tiger both can hit shots with more ease than say phil or herron cause of theyre fit bodies and athletic shape.

 

i notice myself when i am more in shape i can take better swings and i dont get tired as quick.

 

 

i think the game will continue ask more from us to play our best. if you look at sports such as baseball and basketball that are all based on balance, the players now more than ever are faster and stronger and more in shape. golf is soon to be the same..

 

golfers,get the sneakers and shorts ready.. the gyms could soon become your new best friend

[gators78]

I don't know if he is too big, I just think what they are trying to say is that now he is SOOO strong that when he tries to compensate a swing he has the muscle to almost overdo it. I think that is also why he hits it off target with his driver now, simply because when he gets all that muscle firing its easy to lose some feel and just spank the crap out of it, without much regard for where it is going. I used to be 145, then one winter put on 30lbs of muscle and after I would hit it so crooked because I actually had muscle.

 

He's getting used to the bigger body, so he'll be fine (obviously)

[crew_138]

Muscle for show... putts for dough....

 

something like that right?

[againstthegrain]

I don't know if he is too big, I just think what they are trying to say is that now he is SOOO strong that when he tries to compensate a swing he has the muscle to almost overdo it. I think that is also why he hits it off target with his driver now, simply because when he gets all that muscle firing its easy to lose some feel and just spank the crap out of it, without much regard for where it is going. I used to be 145, then one winter put on 30lbs of muscle and after I would hit it so crooked because I actually had muscle.

 

He's getting used to the bigger body, so he'll be fine (obviously)

 

 

Tiger has always sprayed the ball off the tee........even when he was 160lb.

[gators78]

I don't know if he is too big, I just think what they are trying to say is that now he is SOOO strong that when he tries to compensate a swing he has the muscle to almost overdo it. I think that is also why he hits it off target with his driver now, simply because when he gets all that muscle firing its easy to lose some feel and just spank the crap out of it, without much regard for where it is going. I used to be 145, then one winter put on 30lbs of muscle and after I would hit it so crooked because I actually had muscle.

 

He's getting used to the bigger body, so he'll be fine (obviously)

 

 

Tiger has always sprayed the ball off the tee........even when he was 160lb.

 

 

I dunno, in 2000 that may have been the best that anybody has ever driven the ball under pressure. It seemed that every swing was in perfect rhythm, almost never out of balance. And obviously when you hit it that far you're not going to battle fred funk in driving accuracy.

[againstthegrain]

In general even before he was a pro he sprayed the ball off the tee. He readily admits it, using the term "army golf." The addition of 20-30lbs over the last 10 years has nothing to do with this tendency.