Maybe Tiger Woods does care after all

Smyth

Cool picture I stumbled across

http://www.fanattic.net/sports/picture-maybe-tiger-woods-does-care-after-all

This picture says all it really needs to say.

Tiger Woods isn’t perfect. He will always have his doubters — those that think that he doesn’t care anymore, that he’s thrown in the towel.

To me, this picture says otherwise. He was on the driving range at the U.S. Open this morning by himself, well before anyone else has even arrived.

It’s also an excellent statement of just how alone he is in a world that has its eyes fixed on him constantly. His every move is criticized, and his every action evaluated, yet at the end of the day, he’s on his own.

Alone in a sea of people.

Hat tip to Nike Golf.

Jul3s

Smyth wrote: »

Cool picture I stumbled across

http://www.fanattic.net/sports/picture-maybe-tiger-woods-does-care-after-all

This is nothing new, it's always been known that he practiced more than than everyone else.

speeding

Would love it if he won the uspga to shut up the doubters. It's not going to happen though. 12-18 months before he wins again i think. Though the cream always rises to the top eventually. During the last Tiger slump people said he was finished. He loves proving people wrong.

SM746

speeding wrote: »

Would love it if he won the uspga to shut up the doubters. It's not going to happen though. 12-18 months before he wins again i think. Though the cream always rises to the top eventually. During the last Tiger slump people said he was finished. He loves proving people wrong.

Very true how he was so written of during his 2 previous swing changes that I can recall. Not even 12/18 months imo. If you seen the first 9 of the last round of the masters he was close to getting it all together again. If he misses the playoffs I think it would suit him better to have a few months away from the spotlight with nobody only Foley around him to help him get that swing functioning. As a massive Tiger fan, I would happily see him not participating in them if he could come back and play his best in the spring next year.

FixdePitchmark

SM746 wrote: »

Very true how he was so written of during his 2 previous swing changes that I can recall. Not even 12/18 months imo. If you seen the first 9 of the last round of the masters he was close to getting it all together again. If he misses the playoffs I think it would suit him better to have a few months away from the spotlight with nobody only Foley around him to help him get that swing functioning. As a massive Tiger fan, I would happily see him not participating in them if he could come back and play his best in the spring next year.

I don't think people question his ability, it is a moral and ethical issue .

crazygeryy

imo i think he made a big mistake in screwing with the media(not giving interviews etc etc) before the scandal s about him broke.then when the dirt came out the media screwed him back big time.
when your as famous as he is i think you have to give the media their allotted time wether you like it or not.
then when the scandal came out the public lost respect and the media hounded him.no wonder hes all alone.

k.p.h

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

it is a moral and ethical issue .

Is it ..? I don't think their is much moral or ethical issues going on here at all. Just people trying to make money off the chaps back. Be it "inside documentary's or dodge journalism (private life or golf game)". The issues surrounding Tiger Woods are such common place now days that they are not issues at all just facts of life.

Smyth

Jul3s wrote: »

This is nothing new.

No one said it was.

It's an interesting photo with an interesting message.

omerin

Saw Golf Central yesterday and they said he hadn't turned up for practice while others had and were. Sorry to rain on your parade op

Trampas

when was that taken?

Since it says the us open I presume it was at least 2010 if not a few years before that.

Tones69

Brilliant picture

soundsham

Tiger has always played very early to avoid the big crowds who come with camera etc on practice days
Remember the hassle if caused when he finished practises at the Ryder cup (I think) before fans had even got in the gate and most came to see him
So he avoids more autograph hunters
Also the crazy temperature there means a lot of guys are playing a bit earlier

Hope Westwood or Phil kick his arrogant butt
A leopard (or tiger) never change their spots
The PGA tour would love him to win too no doubt as it's the end of their current contract with the networks so after the big falloff in viewer figures tiger and rory will be a big help for their renewals for next year

Myksyk

"alone in a sea of people"

:rolleyes:

Opics

Trampas wrote: »

when was that taken?

Since it says the us open I presume it was at least 2010 if not a few years before that.

That's a typo. It was taken this morning (or else yesterday morning, my mind is too fried to remember)

Osgoodisgood

crazygeryy wrote: »

imo i think he made a big mistake in screwing with the media(not giving interviews etc etc) before the scandal s about him broke.then when the dirt came out the media screwed him back big time.
when your as famous as he is i think you have to give the media their allotted time wether you like it or not.
then when the scandal came out the public lost respect and the media hounded him.no wonder hes all alone.

Spot on. He treated the press with disdain for years and nobody had much sympathy for him when his problems kicked in.

k.p.h

crazygeryy wrote: »

imo i think he made a big mistake in screwing with the media(not giving interviews etc etc) before the scandal s about him broke.then when the dirt came out the media screwed him back big time.

The media should not have the right to screw with anyone. He's a sports person FFS ..! They were just jumping on the band wagon making the $$'s off a the fact that someone famous cheated on their wife. This was fueled further by the political correctness (bible belt and detached) of middle America.

crazygeryy wrote: »

when your as famous as he is i think you have to give the media their allotted time wether you like it or not.

No ya don't and he gave the media plenty of time during this period.

crazygeryy wrote: »

then when the scandal came out the public lost respect and the media hounded him.no wonder hes all alone.

The public lost respect for him ... ?? The public only thought what the media told them. If you think the world is full of free thinkers you are grossly mistaken.

FixdePitchmark

Plently of crazy delusional apologists on here for Woods.

crazygeryy

k.p.h wrote: »

The media should not have the right to screw with anyone. He's a sports person FFS ..! They were just jumping on the band wagon making the $$'s off a the fact that someone famous cheated on their wife. This was fueled further by the political correctness (bible belt and detached) of middle America.




No ya don't and he gave the media plenty of time during this period.



The public lost respect for him ... ?? The public only thought what the media told them. If you think the world is full of free thinkers you are grossly mistaken.

get a grip the public lost respect because they thought he was an angel and had the utmost respect for him ,and also for the way he played golf(goes without saying),and then he went and cheated on his wife 5 million times.doesnt matter what the media says he lost the respect of the majority of the public.

your right the media dont have the right to screw with you but if you do it to them they aint gonna sit back and take it thats for sure.and all i said was if your famous, sportsperson or rockstar, you have to learn to deal with the media its rule number one or you end up like amy winehouse etc

and by the way if you DONT give the media their allotted time they will hound you more id imagine.its not right and if i was famous id hate it but again you have to learn to deal with it.

tbayers

He didnt just cheat, he was a **x addict FFS. He did it numerous times. You cant say that it is a common thing amongst people today. And most of your "average" people are not looked up to as mush as people did to Tiger! Guy deserves everything he gets thrown at him!

Figo69

I hope Tiger wins this weekend!!!

Golf hasn't been the same without him.

foxyboxer

Figo69 wrote: »

I hope Tiger wins this weekend!!!

Golf hasn't been the same without him.

Agreed, he is the sports (flawed) superstar. Golf needs Woods whether we like it or not. I don't care what his opinions are or what philosophies he belives in. I just love watching him play the game.

CaptainPendulum

FixdePitchmark wrote: »

I don't think people question his ability, it is a moral and ethical issue .

Whilst I admire what Tiger has done on the course I've never liked the guy. From a moral and ethical issue though, it hardly ranks up there with murder, child abuse and the like though. He cheated on his wife and kids. He's not the first and won't be the last. Even if he is well known, at the end of the day that's his business. I think golf would get a great shot in the arm if Tiger was in the hunt on the back 9 Sunday evening. I'd love to see him play well have a Dual in the Sun with Rory..

Live4Ever

Has nobody here seen the South Park episode about the Tiger Woods scandal?? It was hilarious, yet strangely true.

Basically it centered around Tiger and other famous people. Being famous turned them into sex addicts as amazingly hot women are throwing themselves at these famous guys, at some point you crack, it's gonna happen.

I don't blame him. I reckon 98% of men would crack, and don't start posting you're faithful to your missus etc etc. I'd like to see how faithful you are where your out in some plush club or resort with birds looking like Angelina Jolie, for example, stroking your inside thigh and whispering sweet nothings in your ear!!:D

SARZY

foxyboxer wrote: »

Agreed, he is the sports (flawed) superstar. Golf needs Woods whether we like it or not. I don't care what his opinions are or what philosophies he belives in. I just love watching him play the game.

In fact golf needs him so badly, and westwood spoke this week about the MONEY he has brought with him, that the games bosses are willing to COMPLETELY FORGET about his 'Doctor' who was caught crossing to Canada with a boot load of ILLEGAL DRUGS.

No wonder he has gone from the BEST putter the gamer had EVER seen to a very average if not below average.

To me he stinks.

mchammer

SARZY wrote: »

In fact golf needs him so badly, and westwood spoke this week about the MONEY he has brought with him, that the games bosses are willing to COMPLETELY FORGET about his 'Doctor' who was caught crossing to Canada with a boot load of ILLEGAL DRUGS.

No wonder he has gone from the BEST putter the gamer had EVER seen to a very average if not below average.

To me he stinks.

wonder if he was using the "beta blockers" supposedly in use in golf to reduce performance anxiety???

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beta_blocker#Anxiety_and_performance_enhancement

denishurley

"Maybe Tiger Woods cares after all" - what a stupid thing to say (criticism towards the headline on the link rather than OP).

Man famous for being single-minded and dedicated towards being as close to perfect as he can practises his skills. I don't recall anybody ever saying Tiger had become apathetic about golf.

Myksyk

Live4Ever wrote: »

I don't blame him. I reckon 98% of men would crack, and don't start posting you're faithful to your missus etc etc. I'd like to see how faithful you are where your out in some plush club or resort with birds looking like Angelina Jolie, for example, stroking your inside thigh and whispering sweet nothings in your ear!!:D

A cynical friend of mine often says that a man is only as faithful as his opportunities.

k.p.h

It's seems to me that is no point in arguing/debating it too much anyway. Some people like him some don't. And to be fair those who don't like him are not questioning his golfing ability (at least not in this thread) anyway. TBH thats fair enough.

I don't want to drift into the realm of amateur psychology but TBH I do think that thats where a lot of the controversy lies. I think the guy has some genuine issues and is not just a dick-head. Coupled with that he is one of the greatest golfers of all time. Some how I find it easy enough to overlook the guys flaws if even just for the reason that everyone has them.

He is the richest sports person of all time and as it currently looking to become the golfer with the most majors ever. Even jack Nicklaus has been quoted earlier this year saying "He’s so determined....I still think he’ll break my record."

For some reason I always feel an undertone of envy when people talk about Woods. And rightly so we are mere mortals compared to him .

As my mate said once "Billionaire , plays golf for a living , sexy women everywhere, lucky bastard.."

useurename

+7 today.maybe he should have waited to make his comeback next year.

durkadurka

He will probably miss the cut and consequently the play offs, and will probably be out of the world top 50 in about 6 weeks.

SARZY

Hes not the golfer he was up to the US Open in 2008 when he beat Mediate in a play off.

That was his last major win. He was out after that for 8 months I think with a dodgy knee.

Oh yeah that was the week before they introduced RANDOM DRUG TESTING.

The b****x.

Trampas

I was waiting on an injury complaint when he came in.

He wont drop out of the top 50 otherwise they might need to change how you get into the wgc

durkadurka

He's probably exempt from any tournament due to winning them at some point but it is a stunning decline to be out of the top 50.

Based on my slightly suspect maths it will happen around the end of September.

k.p.h

Tom Callahan wrote: »

In the spring of 2010, Hank Haney didn't believe Woods' travails on the course had very much to do with golf. "I don't know how anybody can look at him," Hank said, "and say the problem is his swing or his swing thoughts or his mechanics. What's changed? ... I'll tell you what's changed: Tiger."

At least for the moment, Hank reckoned, Woods had lost himself, not his game. "Maybe he'll never be the same," he said. "Who knows? But what he's done already puts him on everybody's short list of the greatest athletes in history, doesn't it? The phase of the game in which Tiger really excelled was the mental part. 'Putting to the picture' is pretty cool stuff." When Michael Jordan's father pulled over to the side of a highway to sleep and was murdered for his car, Michael turned momentarily to baseball, James Jordan's favorite sport. Michael was mourning.

"That's a very real phenomenon," Haney said, "and I don't think there's any doubt at all that Tiger had a notion to do something along the same lines. Ken Hitchcock's a friend of mine [the hockey coach who led the Dallas Stars to a Stanley Cup in the '90s]. Ken said they see it in hockey all the time. Guys are making $3 million a year, their father dies and they want to go to work in a coal mine. When Earl died, I thought there was a strong possibility Tiger was going to give it all up to go in the service."

As early as 2004, Tiger started jumping out of airplanes at Fort Bragg, where Lt. Col. Woods took his Green Beret training. Earl told Doug Ferguson of the Associated Press, "He probably wants in the recesses of his mind to walk the steps I walked."

That year, the day after finishing in a tie for 22nd at the Masters, Tiger flew to North Carolina in his private jet for four days of special-operations training. In a 400-man formation, he ran four miles, singing cadence, as he said, "at the top of my lungs." Tiger participated in close-quarters combat drills and trained in a vertical wind tunnel with paratroopers. Then he made two tandem jumps with the Golden Knights. Two because, after the first one, he asked jubilantly, "Can I go again?"

To Ferguson, Earl said, "Tiger is an independent individual who plays an independent sport, and he's quite frankly not in the business of people telling him what to do. This will be a new experience for him. Somebody is going to be telling him when to eat, when to sleep, when to go to the bathroom. He'll learn about dedication, service, being a member of an organization and a team. Teamwork. Self hardships. Individual hardships. He'll learn an awful lot about himself. And he better watch out. Because it's going to change him."

"Not all the time, just from time to time, Tiger kept up this training," Haney said. "People don't realize how seriously he took it. He wasn't going to some recreational sky-diving schools. He was hanging out with Navy Seals. He took martial-arts training, self-defense, firearms training, the whole deal. I don't think he could ever quite work it out in his mind how to make it all come together. How he was still going to be Tiger Woods, how he was still going to be a father, how he was still going to be a husband, and yet go out and be a soldier like his dad. But I know that's what Tiger wanted deep down. He wanted to be a Navy Seal. For sure that was on his list. I don't know how close he came. How close is close? But I thought at the time there was a good chance it was going to happen."

Read More http://www.golfdigest.com/magazine/2010-11/earl-woods-tom-callahan#ixzz1Ul6XgjOU

durkadurka

When did earl die?

SARZY

k.p.h wrote: »

Read More http://www.golfdigest.com/magazine/2010-11/earl-woods-tom-callahan#ixzz1Ul6XgjOU

Great men dont have Ego's. They surround themselves with strong characters and encourage frank discussion and open and constructive criticism.

Tiger got rid of those men and Haney and his ilk moved in and that article demonstrates my point exactly.

Mostly every man buries his father and lucky for their families and society in general they dont all lose everything they spent their lives building.

No, this Tiger thing is more chemical than emotional.

k.p.h

SARZY wrote: »

Great men dont have Ego's. They surround themselves with strong characters and encourage frank discussion and open and constructive criticism.

Tiger got rid of those men and Haney and his ilk moved in and that article demonstrates my point exactly.

Mostly every man buries his father and lucky for their families and society in general they dont all lose everything they spent their lives building.

No, this Tiger thing is more chemical than emotional.

Very perceptive .. ..

LostPassword

SARZY wrote: »

Oh yeah that was the week before they introduced RANDOM DRUG TESTING.
.....
No, this Tiger thing is more chemical than emotional.

Nice evidence-free defamation there. Not a good idea considering he is one of the most litigious people in history. Also, I would suggest that your hypothesis is highly unlikely. There are, to my knowledge, no drugs that would significantly improve performance in golf (and if there is, why hasn't somebody told me - I want some )

SM746

SARZY wrote: »

Hes not the golfer he was up to the US Open in 2008 when he beat Mediate in a play off.

That was his last major win. He was out after that for 8 months I think with a dodgy knee.

Oh yeah that was the week before they introduced RANDOM DRUG TESTING.

The b****x.

A but weird since in 2009, despite being out for a few months and hence not fully up to speed when he came back, he topped the money list with 10million + and won 6 titles, came close in the Masters and US Open and led the PGA for 2 or 3 rounds! By your theory, it appears Tiger didn't get randomly drug tested that year

SARZY

LostPassword wrote: »

Nice evidence-free defamation there. Not a good idea considering he is one of the most litigious people in history. Also, I would suggest that your hypothesis is highly unlikely. There are, to my knowledge, no drugs that would significantly improve performance in golf (and if there is, why hasn't somebody told me - I want some )

A hypothesis indeed. They are popular here.

SARZY

SM746 wrote: »

A but weird since in 2009, despite being out for a few months and hence not fully up to speed when he came back, he topped the money list with 10million + and won 6 titles, came close in the Masters and US Open and led the PGA for 2 or 3 rounds! By your theory, it appears Tiger didn't get randomly drug tested that year

its a hypothesis.

durkadurka

It's a baseless slur

SM746

Odds for 2012 Masters up with PaddyPower and Woods 6/1 favourite. Still a lot of money out there going on him. Those odds will stretch well out though so will be interesting to see what they are offering come February. imo if he gets a good winter with Foley he will come very close at it

k.p.h

SM746 wrote: »

imo if he gets a good winter with Foley he will come very close at it

Read about Foleys methods when Tiger originally started out with him and have been reading bits and pieces here and their ever since. TBH I think Foley could get any pro going well tee to green. His methods are simple (only relative) to the extent where a professional golfer with the talent of Woods could use them to get rid of his miss shots and extend the longevity of his career. Things Tiger would especially be looking for .. Still need his wedge/short game and putting to come together but IMO I don't think he has lost it that much so .. Who knows

Fingers crossed Harrington skips Cowan and tries to get Foley on board.

Milton Fine

Tiger's current basics aren't exactly a good advert for Foley. His alignment and posture look really poor.

Tiger's greatest strength for years was his single mindedness and belief in himself but it's now his greatest weakness. He's surrounded himself with yes men who are afraid to stand up to him. Anyone who offers a dissenting opinion is marginalised from his inner sanctum.

When the scandal broke the experts were called in to manage the media aspects of it. Tiger was advised to reveal the extent of his extra marital activity, to effectively kill the story with one big splash rather than allowing the women to drip sell their sensational stories into the press. Tiger overruled them and had the relevant IMG people marginalised. That ridiculous blue curtained press conference was entirely his idea and his advisors were vehemently opposed to it.

Right now Woods needs a steady hand to manage him for his own good. The plan should have been:

- Under no circumstances should he have come back for Firestone and the PGA. Too soon. Right off this season and spend the winter getting the game primed for next season.
- Get the best caddy he can find (rather than his lawyer mate). Billy Foster comes to mind.
- Make peace with Butch Harmon and get working with him. Pathetic stubborness on both side is preventing this.
- Lose the entourage. Cut everything back. Travel light with one security guy and one manager. Eye of the Tiger Rocky III style. Time to remember that skinny kid from California who took the world by storm and resurrect him.

The greatest golfer to have ever played the game. 35 years of age. He'll be back. I almost had tears in my eyes watching him last night. Duffing putts, snap hooking pretty much everything. It was embarrassing.

sollar

I'm no swing expert but for a few years now tiger dips his shoulders and head coming into impact. He didn't do that earlier in his career.

ionadnapokot

k.p.h wrote: »

Read about Foleys methods when Tiger originally started out with him and have been reading bits and pieces here and their ever since. TBH I think Foley could get any pro going well tee to green. His methods are simple (only relative) to the extent where a professional golfer with the talent of Woods could use them to get rid of his miss shots and extend the longevity of his career. Things Tiger would especially be looking for .. Still need his wedge/short game and putting to come together but IMO I don't think he has lost it that much so .. Who knows

Fingers crossed Harrington skips Cowan and tries to get Foley on board.

I think Tiger will turn it around. He will surpass the 18 majors.
Do you think any coach can "save" Harrington?

Martin567

ionadnapokot wrote: »

I think Tiger will turn it around. He will surpass the 18 majors.
Do you think any coach can "save" Harrington?

I think Tiger will probably still win one more Major. The chances of him winning 5 more are almost negligible. Do you really think he will match what only 18 players in history have done in their whole career (to win 5 or more Majors) from where he is now. I would never write him off entirely but it is perfectly possible he won't win any more. Seve Ballesteros, Arnold Palmer & Tom Watson were all younger than Tiger is now when they won their last one.

mchammer

sollar wrote: »

I'm no swing expert but for a few years now tiger dips his shoulders and head coming into impact. He didn't do that earlier in his career.

like u said - i'm no expert but what i don't get about tiger now is that he is missing some fairways by 60-70 yards... would have thought Foley should have sorted out those errors by now.. also he looks like hes trying to kill the ball every time - if he just reigned the power back..... anyway i'm all for the luke donald "rather be straighter than longer" mentality;)

ionadnapokot

Martin567 wrote: »

I think Tiger will probably still win one more Major. The chances of him winning 5 more are almost negligible. Do you really think he will match what only 18 players in history have done in their whole career (to win 5 or more Majors) from where he is now. I would never write him off entirely but it is perfectly possible he won't win any more. Seve Ballesteros, Arnold Palmer & Tom Watson were all younger than Tiger is now when they won their last one.

Didnt know that about those guys. interesting. Old Jack was 46 when he won his last though! I thik tiger will probablly be winning into his 40's. He has another couple of Masters & brit opens in him.

Martin567

ionadnapokot wrote: »

Didnt know that about those guys. interesting. Old Jack was 46 when he won his last though! I thik tiger will probablly be winning into his 40's. He has another couple of Masters & brit opens in him.

In comparison to Tiger, Jack's career was remarkably injury free. Even at that, his final Major was completely out of the blue. Jack stopped being a regular contender in Majors at around 40. Tiger only has another 16 Majors before his 40th birthday. 5 out of 16 would have been more than possible a few years back but very unlikely now I would say.

If you look at players who play well in their 40's, you will usually find that they did little or nothing in their 20's. Vijay Singh, Steve Stricker, MA Jiminez & Kenny Perry have all won more events since turning 40 than the rest of their career up to that date. All were fairly ordinary players in their 20's. Tiger was so good, so young that I can't see him continuing to perform well at the highest level after turning 40. Simply put, he is a very old 35 compared to other players of the same age. Tom Watson is still amazingly competitive at 61 but his record shows that he only won 3 regular tour events and no Majors after the age that Tiger is now.