His first few tournaments he will be.
But it if he comes back and plays 5/6 in a row where he has no injury problems but plays like he last did, then he will only be box office 2/4 days of the event......
Tigers back
- Thread starter Trojan615
- Start date
His first few tournaments he will be.
But it if he comes back and plays 5/6 in a row where he has no injury problems but plays like he last did, then he will only be box office 2/4 days of the event......
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
Will be nice to see him on our screens again playing injury free and to see what level of competitiveness he's capable of
I heard a hint a couple of weeks back that he'd be in Turkey but thought it might just be a slip of the tongue from the guy but turns out it was true
I heard a hint a couple of weeks back that he'd be in Turkey but thought it might just be a slip of the tongue from the guy but turns out it was true
Except it is big news and there are no bigger players (yes, there are better ones)
You've only got to look at media reaction to understand just how important he still is to golf. He still pulls sponsors and viewers like no other player. Hotel prices went up 300% in the hours after he announced his return says it all! GM pushed a whatsapp msg to my phone, PGATOUR pushed a notification, my twitter tl blew up. Wouldn't happen with anyone else and after a pretty poor year for golf (barring the Open) it's just what was needed.
D
Deleted member 1418
Guest
Better hope he starts wearing that in rounds 1 or 2 then!!!
Personally I thought "so what" when I read the news. I think he's finished as a serious threat in majors. Given what he's done for the game would be a shame to see him struggling amongst the also rans. Part of me wishes he'd just announced his retirement.
That's because he's a marketable brand and nobody can afford to treat the news any less or they'll get left behind, in fact, he could be announced as the starter on the 1st tee and they'd still come to see him!
Personally I wouldn't follow him around a course, I'm not a hater but there's far many more players I'd rather see/watch, he's way past his best, if he can't compete at the highest level then I think he should have bowed out gracefully rather than potentially making himself look like the chomper in field, imp.
But he's a marketable brand because he's quite simply the best golfer we've ever had the chance to see every shot of. Not because of anything off the course - in fact in spite of it!!
Agree that he wouldnt be who I chose to personally follow - but the masses would and you'd get even closer to the others :thup:
I'd hold of on any 'way past his best' assumptions though. Sure he wont reach previous heights, but he had 5 wins on tour in 2013 which was the last time he was fully fit. He's finally taken advice to properly recover from injury rather than rush back and, if (BIG IF!!) he is back to full fitness, he will compete.
Jimbop90
Assistant Pro
It seems absolutely ridiculous that people are so ready to write him off.
Tom Watson nearly won the open at 59 in 2009. Bernhard Langer started this years Masters final round 2 shots off the lead, at 58.
If Tiger stays healthy, and doesn't try to out-drive DJ, Rory, Jason Day and Bubba every tee shot, and is just happy to be top half of the driving distances (which I'm fairly sure he still would be), he's got a good 10 years to have 4 good rounds in a row and he'll win things. He probably won't break Jack's 18 majors, but if he enters the next 40 major championships, fully healthy, he will win at least 1 of them.
Tom Watson nearly won the open at 59 in 2009. Bernhard Langer started this years Masters final round 2 shots off the lead, at 58.
If Tiger stays healthy, and doesn't try to out-drive DJ, Rory, Jason Day and Bubba every tee shot, and is just happy to be top half of the driving distances (which I'm fairly sure he still would be), he's got a good 10 years to have 4 good rounds in a row and he'll win things. He probably won't break Jack's 18 majors, but if he enters the next 40 major championships, fully healthy, he will win at least 1 of them.
D
Deleted Member 1156
Guest
I admire your optimism but the reason Woods will be a big draw is because people are expecting a car crash to happen. Remember the awful short game issues a couple of years ago? That is what people will be tuning in to see.
After a few missed cuts, people won't be flocking to see the world #711.
Piece
Tour Winner
Whilst I agree it will be difficult to come back and dominate, he must be encouraged that golfers of his age and generation, usually written off as being 'too old' are winning tournaments and majors. You only have to look at The Open: Stenson, 40 and Mickelson, 46. The younger guys are only dominating in small patches, no-one really standing out over a long period of time.
It seems that, at last, this time he has taken his recovery seriously, rather than trying to come back too soon because "being Tiger, he can". I remember when he first had the back injury, Goosen had a similar back condition and subsequent surgery, with him quoted as saying he, Tiger, should take a year off as that was the minimum recovery time. It probably took Goosen another 18 months after that to get back near to level he was. Recent quotes (2015) from Goosen say that his back is as good as ever, so may be if Tiger has patience there's plenty of time to win again.
It seems that, at last, this time he has taken his recovery seriously, rather than trying to come back too soon because "being Tiger, he can". I remember when he first had the back injury, Goosen had a similar back condition and subsequent surgery, with him quoted as saying he, Tiger, should take a year off as that was the minimum recovery time. It probably took Goosen another 18 months after that to get back near to level he was. Recent quotes (2015) from Goosen say that his back is as good as ever, so may be if Tiger has patience there's plenty of time to win again.
Slab
Occasional Tour Caddy
It must be a measure of how supreme he was that some folks would rather he retired than attempt a comeback from injury while still at a playing age
I can’t see Zach or Bubba being given the same ‘advice’ to not bother trying as you'll only miss the cut, if they found themselves injured and wanted to play again
I can’t see Zach or Bubba being given the same ‘advice’ to not bother trying as you'll only miss the cut, if they found themselves injured and wanted to play again
U
User62651
Guest
Once the back has gone you're finished as a top golfer, lower back links the core to the quads/glutes so pro golfers put a huge amount of torque through it. Courses are longer and longer so you have to hit it hard and long to keep up. Golf action is unnatural and awkward and with TW having had multiple back and knee surgeries and being 40+ now I just can't see this working out for him. The years of crazy practice and gym work brought him majors but has cost him in terms of career longevity. Think he should quit while he's still ahead and get into more course design and philanthropic stuff. He's had a 20 yr very successful pro career which is not bad and if he did somehow miraculously bag one more major it won't make a significant difference as he can't catch Jack's 18. For me still the greatest player ever anyway, 18 or not.
chrisd
Major Champion
Tiger was almost single handedly the force behind golf becoming a major sport and players having to work to match his level of fitness etc
For me, I'd love to see him win again!
For me, I'd love to see him win again!
Slime
Tour Winner
Wrong!
.......................besides, from what I've heard, he's floundered round quite a few bottoms already!
That's just not the case. The comment just shows a real lack of knowledge of the US golf market (the largest in the world by far.) Sure, you may be a rubber necking Schadenfreude enthusiast, but the wider US golfing public, PGA Tour and sponsors want him back doing well. Whether they will get what they want is another thing entirely.
D
Deleted Member 1156
Guest
I think it is you that is misinformed. The US sporting public love winners and that is who they will devote their attention to. When/if Woods comes back and he fails to win, they will drop him in favour of the next kid on the block.
Well, you think wrong then.
If the US public love a winner, then why, as you have already claimed, will people be tuning into see a car crash loser? You're just contradicting yourself now.
And how long exactly does it take before they move on and drop him? He hasn't won a major since 2008, been through one of the biggest scandals in golf, injured multiple times and he's still the biggest draw on tour!
The US sporting public love legends, they stick with them through everything. 'All American Heroes' or some tripe like that. Just look at the tail end of others careers, Jordan, Favre etc to see the esteem they are held in and press coverage they generate, with the public loving nothing more than 1 last win.
bobmac
Major Champion
If 'he wont reach previous heights', then he is past his best
He will compete, just not at the weekends.
Yes, people have won majors alot older than Tiger but they have been fit.
As has been pointed out, Tiger has had so many problems, it's hard to see him ever being fully fit again.
As for competing in another 40 majors, do people really think he still has the enthusiasm and drive to keep pushing his body for another 10 years, especially as he WILL keep trying to outdrive everyone. It's the only way he knows how
Alex1975
Tour Winner
Win or lose, car crash or quality I am looking forward to seeing every shot, and we will see every shot because hes a superstar and more people think so than don`t or the TV people would not show it.
Not sure he will be fit and strong enough to compete in 40. But I think it's obvious he has the drive and enthusiasm to do so, or he'd of hung up his clubs already.
D
Deleted Member 1156
Guest
How am I contradicting myself? I said people will tune in to see him fail not to see him win. It is human nature, I'm assuming you have never been held up on a motorway because of people rubbernecking at a crash on the opposite carriageway?
Tiger is a spent force, he should concentrate his efforts where he can have success such as his foundation which has done tremendous work to get kids into golf.
