... finishes in the top-10 at Firestone this week, where he's done extremely well over the years... Performs reasonably well in the PGA Championship next week, as in comfortably makes the cut and earns another top-10 or top-15 finish... plays reasonably well in his first two FedEx playoff events... then perhaps becomes more than just a sentimental pick for the Ryder Cup, but is playing well and developing more confidence...

Lot's of if's. But just asking - "IF" he were to finish the season on a strong note, would you be more inclined to give him a reasonable chance of winning a major next season?

New putter seems to be giving him some confidence. His short game is much improved. His iron play and distance control seems to be improving. Tee game has always been suspect, but it seems like he might be in a good place at the moment with regard to his health, where he can go at the ball again without worrying about injuring his back again.

Or is there just too much scar tissue there, too many good players these days, to get #15 in the books?

Gotta admit - I was very impressed with how he controlled his game at the British. He struggled on Sunday, but so too did a lot of players ranked much higher than him in the world rankings. Tough course, lots of wind, very difficult conditions that last day.

Not convinced that he's at that level yet, but "IF" he were to finish the season strong - I might be a bit more inclined to not necessarily conclude that he can't win another major.


    I think he can. I don't know if he'll ever be the favorite again, but he has a window. The main problem with fusion surgeries is that they tend to increase the stress on the next free joint, so it will be interesting to see if he can go long before another injury. Hopefully he'll be able to stay healthy for many more major opportunities. One thing for sure, he'll be working on the driver until he finds a solution, and he almost certainly will improve that part of his game before the next Masters.

      PA-PLAYA He struggled on Sunday, but so too did a lot of players ranked much higher than him in the world rankings. Tough course, lots of wind, very difficult conditions that last day.

      And that makes him just as good as the next guy; not the Tiger of 10 yrs. ago......the next guy. Quite capable of winning any tournament. Same as......the next guy.

      Not sure why everyone keeps expecting to see 'that guy' from 10 yrs. ago. Gone. 10 yrs. ago.(I think😉)

          johnnydoom

          Years and years ago, Johnny Miller said something that I found very interesting. I'll paraphrase.

          "Swing aggression seldom changes. How some guys learned to swing the club just starting out, the amount of swing aggression they utilized - it's like a permanent swing blueprint wired into their competitive DNAs. Freddy Couples has always swung easy. Look at Ernie... never looks like he's trying to kill the ball. Then you see a guy like Daly, huge swing, goes well past parallel... he's trying to crush it. Why? Because that's how John has always swung the club since he started playing. And when you're young - you can manage it. But when you get older? There's a price to be paid. And it's almost impossible to lessen that swing speed and be successful after a number of years. These guys have spent their entire lives swinging the club the way they do, they've perfected their timing. Most guys that swing the club 110% never make that adjustment."

          Tiger's swing has been very aggressive his entire career, and as a result he's paid an enormous price. He only knows one speed off the tee with driver, and that ain't gonna change. You change his timing sequence, the aggression with which he strikes the ball - he's lost.

          He seemed fine two weeks ago, but then again - he did have the high-tech stress pad thingie on his neck for all four rounds. Just makes me wonder whether he was trying to play the ailing golfer, or whether there was a need to wear it.

            It will be a British if he does.....still a solid wind player, very good at controlling trajectory; not as crucial to hit it crazy long and high, ie driver not necessary!

            I give him little chance to win The Masters. He isn't good enough off the tee with the driver, especially the high and long draw.

            I would say never to a US Open, but seems as if USGA going to sprinkle in some non traditional venues, traditional US Open=little to no chance, Erin hills or Pinehurst....maybe slightly better than little chance. The US Open and PGA will be venue specific, those he's faired well at he will have an ok chance to compete, but I simply don't see him being able to go low enough over 4 rds on more friendly courses.

            Par4QC

            Even if 'that guy' were to resurface - there are a lot of players on tour who have just as much talent today as he did back then. What they don't have today that Woods had back then however is being dissatisfied with 2nd place and a nice check when they're in contention on Sunday.

            Rickie Fowler, roughly 10 events into his PGA Tour career, 2010 Phoenix Open, near the lead that Sunday in the final round for his first tour win, the par5 15th, had 235 yards into the green for his second shot.
            Laid up.
            Ended up finishing T5.

            And I like Rickie, seems like a genuinely nice kid who has everything together.

            But that day has become a common theme for him the 8 years since in the majors. Just seems unprepared to take the next step. Perhaps top-5ing it and getting great paydays, for some of these guys, involves a lot less risk and a lot more comfort than suffering from the humiliation of falling on their swords on Sunday and having to address the media.

            Can't say that I blame them. Playing it safe, knowing you're gonna pocket at least a quarter of a million for 4 days work, not having to live up to everyone else's expectations? Damn. I'd have probably laid up too, Rickie.

            But the difference is Tiger sure as heck wouldn't have. And that was a huge part of what made him so great. He was never, ever afraid to lose.

                Justify broke a 139 year old curse by winning this year's triple crown. In recent memory, the Mets and Cubs broke curses. I think Tiger can shed his personal albatross, the curse of Elin.

                  PA-PLAYA He was never, ever afraid to lose

                  He had 10 mil in the bank before he hit a ball as a pro, so the "not afraid to lose" was never an issue as far as getting paid goes.

                  As Par said, he's a reg tour guy and I will add a "for now" because he's an old tour guy getting older.

                      PA-PLAYA there are a lot of players on tour who have just as much talent today as he did back then.

                      Somewhat disagree. None have he shots he had/(still has). He was always in trouble, even back then, nearly every tourney, even while driving the ball better than now. But, he knew he could get out of it with the shots he had. These guys today don't have those shots when in trouble, therefore, they are not as consistent as he was at scoring. They may win 1, then place top 15-20 a couple, then miss cuts. That's not consistent, nor dominating at all. And they will not be. DJ is a good example. Bubba is also. 3 wins each. Missing cuts(important cuts). JT, inconsistent. Jason Day(who??). These are the best of today. As good as they ever will be. These guys are......those 'next guys'. And can and will be beaten up by others.

                      I'm impressed by Molinari, plodding along, nothing fancy, no 'special' shots. But it cost him the JDC, imo.

                          Spuzz He's still not afraid to lose from a few of those (dumb driver choice) Open teeshots I saw.

                              mikeintopeka

                              The curse of Elin? You act as if she is the bad guy, really? Tiger caused 100% of the crap that has come his way. I hope he never wins again, he was an asshole...and is still an asshole.

                                  Spuzz

                                  True, but I don't think money motivated him. He wanted to win just as much as he wanted the winner's check.

                                    RobertThomas ...and is still an asshole.

                                    Do you think his back problems are from a 9 iron hitting a back window? Was that the 1st hit that club made that night? An asshole would have let us know long ago why he hit that tree.

                                        Par4QC

                                        We look back on his career and marvel at what he accomplished. But it wasn't just his ball-striking. He still sprayed shots, even with irons. It was his putting.

                                        Another Johnny Miller quote: "Folks, this guy makes more putts dead-center of the hole than anyone who has ever played the game."

                                        Tiger knew he could miss and still make par or birdie. 16th at Augusta kinda typified his short game and putting brilliance.

                                            RobertThomas I hope he never wins again, he was an asshole...and is still an asshole.

                                            Yep, I'm guessing that is a quote from Elin too. I'm guessing some fanboys claim Tiger is now cursed so I had to call it something.

                                            I was giving Tiger another chance to clean up his act when he was trying to rehab but when Lindsey Vonn bailed on him for alledgedly cheating on her too, I personally don't care if Tiger wins another tournament.

                                            PS Your sarcasm / snark detector needs a new battery.

                                                Par4QC An asshole would have let us know long ago why he hit that tree.

                                                Nicely stated.

                                                There are a number of things I believe folks neglect to mention, about Tiger - sorta like that comment above. While maybe he was more an ass than we know in his private life, he had the discretion to be so. Perhaps we actually less than we know, think, or speculate. But, who of us does not have some things we've done, known only to a select few others (perhaps good friends) of which we'd like none broadcast? Yeah, he has acted like a dick now and again. And, as a polarizing kind of figure (athlete/star), it's not as if every eye or camera was focused on him - not. I like the way he's tended to carry himself of late. I observe him far more humble.

                                                    professor

                                                    I believe it is taking everything he has to project to others that he has changed. Is he good for golf- absolutely! But I do not have to like him.

                                                        professor Agree, Prof. I just finished reading the unauthorized biography that is out now. His childhood and upbringing seems to explain a lot. No excuse but the public seems to enjoy it when a celeb hits the rocks. He seems to have developed a better attitude toward others, his family and golf.

                                                          PA-PLAYA

                                                          The same talent as Tiger? I suppose it’s plausible that it was all drive, but I’m just not buying it. You don’t have the Tiger vs the Field odds if you aren’t obscenely talented.