Is Tiger Woods Losing His Cloak Of Invincibility?
2009 has come and gone - certainly from a golfing perspective - and for the first time in a long long time, Tiger Woods has come up empty handed.
The golfer who stands head-and-shoulders above all others in the game at present is stuck on 14 Major titles - still some 4 behind Jack Nicklaus. Okay, its been an exceptional year - 4 rookie Major winners in one year is incredible - but Tiger hasn't really got close, even missing the odd cut. So, what has gone wrong?
Well, some will point to the fact that the rest of the field have caught him up. To a certain extent that is true - he certainly isn't the longest hitter on tour any more (by a long way), averaging "only" around 300 yards off the tee! His short game, however, is still amongst the best out there - and his temperament has never been in question. Until now, that is.
The thing is, Tiger is going thru the same kind of transition process that you and I - normal average Joes - go thru when we get married and settle down with kids.
Suddenly, the sleepless nights might not be caused by that swing fault he thinks he's got. Instead the kids are screaming with colic or filled diapers.
Now, Tiger doesn't just have to be careful what he says to Steve Williams (his caddy) - he can easily drop his guard and wail off on Elin (his wife) for no reason. And guys - we ALL know how that can wreck your game! Apologizing - even when it's not your fault... THAT can wreck your chilled out state of mind!
So, is Tiger a spent force?
Time will tell. Fact is, he's still World Number One (by a margin) and headed the money list in 2009 with 'only' $10.5 million! So, personal factors aside, he's obviously still got it... and we all know he'll be as keen as ever to put the record straight in 2010.
What price a 'Tiger Slam' just to silence his critics? If I was abetting man, I might just be tempted to put a buck or two on that!
The golfer who stands head-and-shoulders above all others in the game at present is stuck on 14 Major titles - still some 4 behind Jack Nicklaus. Okay, its been an exceptional year - 4 rookie Major winners in one year is incredible - but Tiger hasn't really got close, even missing the odd cut. So, what has gone wrong?
Well, some will point to the fact that the rest of the field have caught him up. To a certain extent that is true - he certainly isn't the longest hitter on tour any more (by a long way), averaging "only" around 300 yards off the tee! His short game, however, is still amongst the best out there - and his temperament has never been in question. Until now, that is.
The thing is, Tiger is going thru the same kind of transition process that you and I - normal average Joes - go thru when we get married and settle down with kids.
Suddenly, the sleepless nights might not be caused by that swing fault he thinks he's got. Instead the kids are screaming with colic or filled diapers.
Now, Tiger doesn't just have to be careful what he says to Steve Williams (his caddy) - he can easily drop his guard and wail off on Elin (his wife) for no reason. And guys - we ALL know how that can wreck your game! Apologizing - even when it's not your fault... THAT can wreck your chilled out state of mind!
So, is Tiger a spent force?
Time will tell. Fact is, he's still World Number One (by a margin) and headed the money list in 2009 with 'only' $10.5 million! So, personal factors aside, he's obviously still got it... and we all know he'll be as keen as ever to put the record straight in 2010.
What price a 'Tiger Slam' just to silence his critics? If I was abetting man, I might just be tempted to put a buck or two on that!
