Biggest jump in World Golf Rankings...
He played well enough to show that, when he can play, he's still extremely good. I'm skeptical that he'll be able to keep a practice schedule that will allow him to get back to winning, but I don't know much about Tiger, or the long term prognosis based upon his prior injuries. It just seems to me that since his prior injuries were cause by his golf motion, he will be more prone to continued injury if he pushes it to the level required for a return to greatness.
johnnydoom unless he changes his swing do that it puts less pressure on his body. There are ways to do that and remain competitive.
johnnydoom as mentioned above, if he changes his swing, he just might be able to maintain his abilities. His injuries were caused by his [previous] golf motion. As we've seen, this new swing is a bit different from the Tiger of old.
- Edited
How so?
As was mentioned by the blowhards on Golf Channel - his swing aggression with driver "appeared to be greater" than in years prior, outdriving his playing partners "regularly." His ball speed was equal with that of Justin Thomas's for the most part. And Thomas isn't exactly one of the shorter hitters on tour.
So is he healthier? Is his back more "healed" than in years past? Or is he just throwing caution to the wind for one last chance to become relevant again, knowing that he needs to keep up with the longer players to remain competitive?
Understand - I have never discounted Woods' desire to win. But on that same token, his "desire" to keep up with the longer hitters on tour over the last 3-4 years has ultimately become his demise... that his history of back injuries and subsequent surgeries have ultimately led him down the road to being non-competitive.
That's why I suggest pumping the brakes on his "return."
He can only be competitive if he's healthy, which means swinging the club in a more non-aggressive manner. Keeping up with the longer players on tour in his hit-and-giggle Hero World Challenge doesn't mean a whole lot.
Let's see where his health is 6 months from now, whether he's still competitive, or closing it down for the season because he can't sit upright for a 30-minute interview.
It's not about my dislike for Tiger... I don't dislike the guy. It's about the reality of where he is physically, which isn't all that different from where he's claimed to be physically during his last three "comeback" tours.
His swing aggression has ultimately led him to the injured state he's been in the past several years. And judging by what I observed the last four days in the Bahamas - he's the same 110% swinger he used to be.
That doesn't exactly warm me over to his "comeback tour" success, no matter how much the blowhards at Golf Channel think how great it is that he's somehow keeping up with one of the longer hitters on tour.
In my mind - that's not a good thing. It just tells me that he's incapable of disciplining himself to not swing as hard as he used to, and I don't think that bodes well for a guy who's had 3 major back surgeries in the past 5 seasons.
I think Jason more so than Henrick... Jason only knows one speed - which is 150 mph, whether it's driver or a gap wedge from 150 yards.
Henrick, at the very least, utilizes the type of swing that doesn't put so much torque on his midsection and back. He has more of an upright swing, which alleviates some of the stress on the innards and midsection of his torso, which has to be supported predominantly by his back muscles and spine. His swing is sustainable imo, whereas Jason's is completely different.
I'd be surprised if Jason is playing competitively 5 years from now. His swing is much too violent imo... he's already got a history of back problems.
These guys, however, know that their shelf life of competitiveness is limited, which is why they play the way they do.
I agree that Stenson's swing is more likely to hold up than is Jason Day's.
I might be wrong in my observations, but Day swings the hardest of any player on tour. I just don’t see him being physically capable of maintaining it.
The one thing he does have going for him imo is that he doesn’t appear to be a gym rat. Some might recall that Duval didn’t struggle with back issues prior to his decision to slim down and become more fit.
Nicklaus wasn’t a fitness freak, nor was Norman, Faldo, Trevino, Watson, etc.
They simply went out and played within their physical limitations. None of those guys swung the club hard and overly fast.
Jason Day seems to only know one speed, and I don’t think that speed is sustainable as it relates to longevity.
- Edited
Maybe these young bucks will swing for the fences and make shit-tons of $ while they can and then move on when the injuries pile up. I'm not sure that any of the youth on tour are thinking of, or planning for long term fitness. I have no evidence of such, but I hope someone is coaching them on the topic.
- Edited
PA-PLAYA As was mentioned by the blowhards on Golf Channel - his swing aggression with driver "appeared to be greater" than in years prior,
I saw a swing completely different from what they were seeing, I guess. Even my wife said something about it and she knows little of a golf swing. This swing (imo) will tolerate that aggression as it is the fusion that made the swing, no? (in golfing respects) I think he is (now)a bit smarter than most of us.
I think his back is fixed. But, let's not forget the other moving parts that have to endure the swing, particularly the knees. Maybe even the ankles. He's over 40, so the pains will come like it does to a lot of people, golfers and non-golfers alike. Don't think it will be fair to
say everything that happens with his body from now on is a direct result of his swing/playing. Look at the younger guys that are having a lot of physical(& mental
) problems the past couple years. They don't get pointed at because their initials are not TW, but they are most certainly not in the shape they thought they were.
I don't necessarily agree, but that's not to say that I hope I'm right in my observations.. I would love to see him become more than the ceremonial player he's been resigned to the last few years.
I hope his back holds up, I hope he works on his short game and does well. It would only increase the interest in the game substantially.
I just think it's gonna take more than a couple of tournaments to figure out where he lands in this latest comeback, whether he can maintain a sustainable level of competitiveness or continue with the injury-prone nature of his swing aggression. I'd prefer to see him swinging more softly... but then again - that's not easy to change. In fact - it's damned near impossible.
Last week was encouraging, nevertheless.
Time will tell.
I agree. I think you pegged the nail on the head.
These younger players have a much narrower window of oppotunity to be great these days. The money is there for them, they're not as hungry to win like those who came before them. Not to say that they don't want to win... just that the money makes it a lot easier to take a month off and enjoy the fruits of their occasional successful labors.
But still.... the days of being great for longer than 4-5 years, imo, is pretty much gonzo except for the rare exception. I liken it to the one-and-done in college hoops... make hay while you can. Everything after that is icing on the cake.
Par4QC I saw a swing completely different from what they were seeing, I guess. Even my wife said something about it and she knows little of a golf swing.
I was only able to watch a few holes, so I don't know what he looked like overall. On the holes I watched, his swing looked smoother and really looked less violent than his old swing. Not sure how he was still achieving the distances, but it did (IMO) look different and smoother than what I remember. I still don't think his back will hold up to the repetitive stress anymore, but I hope I'm wrong in that thought.
I thought Tiger unleashed the swing of old midway thru the Sunday round. I was mentally thinking Tiger feels 100% after the first 3 rounds and said to himself 'lets see what I got'. Even one of the commentators observed it and said 'look at that follow thru' (Tiger swinging hard and snapping the club back in front of his body).