Tigers last round at the Honda

[Piece]

Sorry but someone like Woods isn't back untill he wins a couple of WGC events or a major. Not sure how anyone can say otherwise. If Tiger didn't win another event, would he be happy and say he was back to his best? Of course not. That is the point you're missing.

Perhaps you misunderstood what I meant. If Tiger goes on and wins next week and The Masters, then doesn't win for three months after but gets good placings, does that mean he was back and then he wasn't? No. Of course not. I'm saying, right now, looking at his current season form, getting better each tourno, he is back as of now, IMHO. In his career, even Tiger has periods where there was no W. I'll totally agree if there is no W at the end of the season, then he isn't back and I'll buy a Rickie Fowler orange ensemble!

Tiger was still pretty unhappy untill the final round. He didn't look really pleased with his game untill yesterday. Time will tell if yesterday was a one of or a sign of whats to come.

Again, I'll disagree. Perhaps looking through my tiger-tinted glasses, it seemed alright to me. There were signs in previous events. If you listen to what Tiger says and not the press nor Sky nor the Golf Channel, he'll tell you the swing is there, the putting is nearly there. The PGA national course is one of hardest on tour, tight and obviously the Bear Trap, blah. There's going to be many mistakes on the course and I thought he held up very well compared to other form players.

This is totally differently to previous rebuilds. He never went 3 years without a major and 3 years without a PGA Tour win either.

A swing rebuild is a swing rebuild. The difference is that this time it isn't helped by his ACT and changing coaches throughout this time too. Did you know he didn't win a Major in 2003 or 2004 when he was fully fit?

I've been impressed with him so far this season, his game tee to green is solid, however he buckled under pressure in Abu Dhabi and again when Phil smashed him at Pebble Beach. His putter has been letting him down which is not an easy thing to change. He holed a few yesterday but he has to do that on a regular basis to win.

Phil had a golden round and hats off for that. Two weeks prior to that, he failed to make the cut and putted like Stevie Wonder with fogged-up sunnies.

TBH, I do see your points and I'm happy to agree a difference of opinion. I'm sticking my neck out by saying what I saw over the last few days was Tiger at his best and if that continues a W is going his way.

 

[MegaSteve]

One swallow doesn't make a summer...

Yes, it was a good scoring round... But I am not entirely convinced that all his 'good shots' were as intended...

 

[JustOne]

One swallow doesn't make a summer...

Yes, it was a good scoring round... But I am not entirely convinced that all his 'good shots' were as intended...

Me neither................ but were Rory's BAD SHOTS as intended?

 

[MegaSteve]

Me neither................ but were Rory's BAD SHOTS as intended?

Most probably not... But he didn't look at anytime about to implode as he has done in the past...

He did exactly what needed to do to complete the job...

 

[jammag]

I think you should take players on what they have done recently, there is very little point in saying Tiger is back as he probably never will play as well as he did back then and he didnt have the competition as he does now so things should be a closer fought thing. I think it should be seen as Tiger is now back in contention after some good rounds recently and its about what happens in the 4 rounds over all not just 1 an that applies to McIlroy as well as any other player, you should compare like for like.

I mean lets be honest the world rankings mean absolutely nothing, you dont win anything for being top for any length of time. Its just a way someone has calculated it by saying oh if you do well in these certain events you are the best player in the world. It means nothing. I would rather judge people on the tournaments they have won at the time as everyone experiences form, its exciting times ahead to think that we have a group of golfers who can all mix it with each other rather than 1 guy leading it from hole 1. Woods, Donald, McIlroy, D.Johnson, Bradley, Kaymer, Westwood are all people who will compete if they bring there game and I cant wait for the golf this year.

Do remember to not hype McIlroy too much yes hes won a major and hes world no1 how ever things can soon change and he could tumble back down the rankings as quickly as he got there. Lets rate him in a few years time on majors and then we can talk about him, now lets just leave him to his golf and not be harsh when bad things happen.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

One swallow doesn't make a summer...

Yes, it was a good scoring round... But I am not entirely convinced that all his 'good shots' were as intended...

Tiger's already admitted he got lucky a couple of times, the drive on 18 being one of them, he said he thought he'd be in the rough and have to lay up.

The 2nd shot however, which I thought he pushed because no-one in their right mind would have gone for the right side of that pin, he's taking credit for. What he actually says is he wasn't aiming at the flag, he was aiming at the tunnel the players walk off of the green through and he knew it would fade because of the hanging lie - he says h flushed it so who am I to argue.

 

[HomerJSimpson]

Is Woods back? Not yet in my book. Does he have to win to prove himself? Again not for me but what he does have to do is play consistent golf on a regular basis. No-one is going to win every week and I do think Woods has a tour win or three left in him. As for majors, thats a tougher call and with the crop of players now taking over from him I don't think he'll breakthrough. I can't see him winning one but would like to be proved wrong.

Putting is usually the first thing to go in all the great players and although we are a long way from that, he doesn't seem to be able to coax it in when it matters as often as he did. The short game has looked a lot more britle than it use to be and that can't be down to the swing rebuild so there are definitely parts to admire, parts that are still a work in progress, and parts that need an MOT.

Whatever side of the Woods fence you sit, I think the 2012 journey he's going to be on will be fascinating not only as a viewer but as someone who loves the game of golf and I can't wait to see what he does.

 

[MegaSteve]

The 2nd shot however, which I thought he pushed because no-one in their right mind would have gone for the right side of that pin, he's taking credit for. What he actually says is he wasn't aiming at the flag, he was aiming at the tunnel the players walk off of the green through and he knew it would fade because of the hanging lie - he says h flushed it so who am I to argue.

And, neither will I then... Total respect to him...

When he is on his A game he is as good as anyone I've watched [well maybe not as good as Seve]... Don't think he'll dominate the game again as he has in the past... Yes, he'll win again but there's a whole load more players now capable of giving a good run for the money...

 

[Bomber69]

Awesome round.

BUT there was no pressure on him. He was 10 behind so could attack without any risk. In the winds, his low stingers suited that course down to the ground.

He played very well in Abu Dhabi untill the final round when he bottled it. For me he has to deliver on a final day with the pressure on.

Spot on, think he still has a very long way to go and some folk are looking through their Tiger glasses:whoo:

 

[jammag]

I think the problem is people dont judge Tiger on what he is now. People either dislike him so slate him and say oh the round didnt have no meaning no pressure etc, yet they wont compare other players like this, does that mean it was the same for westy? Donald was highly rated over the last 12 months yet has never won a major yet some people want to say Tiger isnt that good until he adds to his 14 already? Like him or not even though he hasnt wonn yet he has been in contention for a few tournaments, judge him on the whole 4 rounds not just 1 that apparently means nothing. He finished 2 or 3 shots what ever it was behind McIlroy which is a lot better than 95% of the field so this is how it should be judge in my opinion.

 

[HawkeyeMS]

I think the problem is people dont judge Tiger on what he is now. People either dislike him so slate him and say oh the round didnt have no meaning no pressure etc, yet they wont compare other players like this, does that mean it was the same for westy? Donald was highly rated over the last 12 months yet has never won a major yet some people want to say Tiger isnt that good until he adds to his 14 already? Like him or not even though he hasnt wonn yet he has been in contention for a few tournaments, judge him on the whole 4 rounds not just 1 that apparently means nothing. He finished 2 or 3 shots what ever it was behind McIlroy which is a lot better than 95% of the field so this is how it should be judge in my opinion.

I for one am not slating him, I'm a massive Tiger fan but I have to call it as I see it. The two times he has really been in contention this year playing in the last group or so he played really poorly. Now don't get me wrong, playing in the last group is a definate sign that he is almost back to winning ways but you can't deny that on those two occasions his swing deserted him and hit some really bad golf shots.

On Sunday he played some excellent golf but there wasn't he same pressure. Tiger himself will no doubt tell you that where it all matters is being in contention coming down he stretch on Sunday and right now, his game hasn't stood up to the test.

However, rounds like Sunday, and lets not forget that 62 is two better than the course record before the week started, will give him massive confidence and the more confidence he gets, the more he will believe he can close it out with the new swing.

It's only a matter of time if you ask me

 

[MashieNiblick]

I think part of the problem in assessing whether Tiger is "back" is that at his best he played to a level way above anyone else. He could hit the most amazing shots and destroy the best fields in the world on the toughest courses. Can he ever get "back" to that kind of level?

I think he will win a big tour event this year. I think he may well win a major, if not this year then soon. He knows how to do that better than anyone else out there and he is still too good player not to. To that extent, yes I think he's back.

But in a way he isn't back either. For the reasons mentioned in the posts above I don't think he'll reach the same heights or hold the same dominant position in golf as he did when he was at his peak.

 

[Imurg]

Tiger, at the moment, is on the level of a "Journey-man" .
If you disregard all that he has done in the past, if he was a Rookie on Tour this year, there would be little interest.
He played some stunning golf on Sunday but as has been said there was little pressure, his chances of winning were slim at the start. Previous events have seen at least one poor round when compared to others - shooting par when your rivals are 4 or 5 under isn't a sign of Tiger's return.
Arguably, the Chevron events shouldn't carry World Ranking points. If they didn't, even with his 2nd place at the weekend, Tiger would only just be in the top 50.
There are signs of improvement and if he's to get back to anywhere near where he was there needs to be much, much more.

10 under par for the Tournament.
8 under on Sunday....
If Tiger's back, what was happening on Thursday, Friday and Saturday.......

 

[PhilTheFragger]

He has shown that he is in contention and therefore the law of averages dictates that he will win again fairly soon and this is surely good for Golf

What I dislike is the Tiger bandwagon that the media have, other players might as well not exist.

And with the rise of the "Celtic Tiger " in young Rory, he is going to have a lot more competition,

Fragger

 

[shivas irons]

I think some people are missing the point here,I never said Tiger was back what I said was he is taking a big step in the right direction to get he`s game back which was pretty evident on Sunday evening.Tigers no where near anything like he used to play but its pretty dam obvious he`s started to show a huge improvement.How can he he be discribed as a journey man pro when he`s 16th in the world....Journey man pro labels are given to touring pro`s who stay on tour(just) but dont get anywhere,even with he`s current game he cant be described as a journey man.Like ive said before i`m not a Tiger fan but people are going to have to face the fact that this guy is getting closer and closer to he`s best and I would be amazed to see him out the top 10 in this weeks Cadillac event.