Tigers out, thoughts please!

[TonyN]

Ok Guys, I know its a mixed reception regarding Tiger, but this thread isn't about your love or detest for him, just what you think about him being knocked out this early in the comp by a guy whose name I can't even remember

Are you shocked/surprised?
Did you think this would happen?
Did you think he would go further?

Me personally didnt see much of the coverage so cant really make too many comments. I am surprised he is out. I really did think that when Tiger come back, he would be unstopable. Did he play poorly, was he beat by a better player.

Let the fun begin!

 

[mikeyh]

Tiger just lost to a better guy on the day! Tim Clarke hasn't dropped a shot all tournament. Thats the beauty of matchplay.

Tiger can't be brilliant every round, thats why he usually takes 4 rounds to win! Have an off day and your out. Might make the tournament a bit better to watch now as they will not focus soley on Tiger.

 

[TonyN]

Great point about having an off day. According to Tiger he only hit 1 bad iron shot and 1 bad drive!

Tim Clarke must have played well.

 

[Macster]

I'm Glad. He's human.

 

[jeffc]

Don't really give a stuff,

- all the brit lads are through, now thats worth talking about

 

[KeefG]

I'm dissappointed that he's out to be honest, however i'm not at all shocked.

Watching his 1st round it was clear he's not firing on all cylinders and his 2nd round yesterday was littered with far too many naff approach shots.

Tim Clark however didnt play brilliant, but was consistently good and fully deserved to go through.

This all paves the way for one of the Brits to win it now though as looking at the field, there isnt a player left that any of our lads should be concerned about.

 

[MarkE]

For the good of this tournament, i think it's a good thing he's out early. He was definitely well below his best, which was to be expected. We should now get a fairer spread of coverage of all competitors.
But you just know it's going to be the same again for the next few tournaments he plays. The sooner Tiger wins again, the sooner the rest of the field will get a look in on the tv.

 

[OldWindy]

While physically fit I don't think he was entirely match fit so when he came up against a player on form the odds were a little stacked. Also, I don't think he played well, perhaps concentrating too much on playing the opponent instead of the course.

There were much better matches out there yesterday so perhaps the coverage will be that bit richer on day 3.

 

[tincup]

I think it will be a lot better for the tv coverage, yesterday I probably saw more of Tigers shots than the rest of the field put together. I like watching him but there were 31 other guys out there. And when it did show anyone else it was mainly putting that it showed.
Craig

 

[TonyN]

As much as I value the replies guys, I dont want to get into the whole Tiger hogs the Tele debate.

I want to know what you expected from Tiger on his return?

If your not interested, you dont have to post, and thats not me being funny, I just dont want topics to become repetitive.

Me personally expected Tiger to clear up, I honestly did. I didnt think for a minute he would come back unless he knew he would win. I also expected a few excuses from him too but seems he hasn't made any which is good. I hate the fact that when Tiger is beat, the other guy almost always doesn't get credit for playing well, it was just that Tiger played badly.

Not seen his schedule yet, but the masters is just around the corner, should he be worried?

 

[DCB]

I think it's about right. He's had 9 months off and has to find his A game again. His tim ing was a bit off yesterday which was only to be expected really. It's ok pounding away on the range, but it's different taking it into a real match and expecyting it to work perfectly.

I think, if he plays enough he will be a force to be reconned with at the Masters.

Hope we get a good, worthy winner at the WGC now.

 

[Imurg]

As its Matchplay, anything can happen and it has. Clark played better on the day and Tiger wasn't good enough on the day. Doesn't mean he's not ready. Just means he lost on the day. To be honest I'm glad he actually made it back and won a match. I had no real expectations that he would clean up but maybe thought he'd get a little further.

We can all play well and still lose.

 

[viscount17]

so Tiger admitted to one bad drive and one bad iron? I think I saw more than that.

so he got beaten, that's no bad thing, certainly for the competition (the event not the players), though I bet the gallery (what there was of it) will thin out.

(when a 'fan' shouted during another match, Faldo's comment was that he'd got lost from Tiger's match)

was it unrealistic that Tiger would come straight back to winning? very probably, will he win the Masters - I doubt it.

 

[toonarmy]

I don't know what the likes of HTL and any others with knowledge of biomechanics think, but I'm not convinced that he's anything like as physically strong as he was in his lower half.

I don't mean in a 'trying to play within himself' kind of way. The bits of him that I watched suggested to me that the knee is nothing like what it used to be (and being a multiple knee operation long-time injury man I know the signs!). And this is regardless of his blindingly obvious 'I'm stronger than I ever was' guff that a few of us at the time suggested was the lady protesting too much.

Got to be honest, I'm not entirely convinced (yet) that he'll be the same.

And *if* this is the case, I think that's him pretty much stuffed for total dominance. Why? Well, he'll lose some yards off the tee and not ever being the straightest driver ever, this will put him further back in the rougher stuff more often. Couple this with the groove changes and all of a sudden he can't play 160y wedges out of the rough and get them to stop on a sixpence.

I'm not saying he'll fall off but I think it might be the end of his dominance. The way he played the 72nd hole at the US Open just won't happen again and that's the difference between winning and losing for him.

Just a thought...

 

[henrym]

I agree he lost to the better man on the day, but overall Tiger is back and is looking good and I think he could win the Master.

Check out my opinion on Tiger:
http://www.golf-monthly.co.uk/tours-and-news/opinion/office/310955/tiger-woods-impresses-me.html

 

[Dodger]

He will have seen this as a valueable exercise and a couple of games under his belt where really his score to par didn't matter like it would in a medal event.
I still think the guy will be back to his best come Masters time and I will be putting my usual wager on him completing the 'slam'......he will do it one year of that I am convinced Tony.

 

[medwayjon]

Tiger out? Good.

 

[davykyle]

He got beaten by a better player on the day - even if he had got through he would have been chinned by McIlroy anyway. Now that would have been one to watch !

 

[KeefG]

I've got to disagree there Davy....Rory would've choked big style if he'd had to play Tiger!

 

[TonyN]

Dodger, I think your right. Is this just his 60 minutes of match fitness before the champions league final? I hope so.

When Tiger plays at his best, he is a joy to watch, he is mezmorizing. There is no doubt he had the ability to do the slam, the question is, will he discover that ability again? I hope so.

Was it just me, or does Tiger look a little scrawny compared to last year?