OT: Annual Tiger Woods Comeback Thread

[chase07470]

Been quite a year for Tiger.

Last seen in competition almost a year ago, in Dubai, gimping off the course after flying over to pick up the seven figure appearance fee, even though he knew he couldn't compete or finish the tournament. Dude loves money.

Then another back surgery, this one the most radical...fusing his spine, something they hadn't tried before.

Then the, "driving while blacked out on pain killers" the ensuing photos were horrific.

Now, reports he's outdriving Dustin Johnson half the time on Friday and blowing it 30 yards past Patrick Reed on every drive this morning in the Bahamas. Tiger saying he hasn't felt better in three years, pain free! Brandel Chamblee is over on Twitter saying this version of Tiger's swing looks as mechanically sound as the best swing he ever played with.

I've had my hopes up before...so I'm hesitant to fall for it all over again. But, damn, it's starting to get me real excited to watch some Bahamas golf come Thursday..

 

[ClassOf02]

He'll WD after an opening round 81.

 

[Caliknight]

Shell of wherever he once was. Too many younger, better players who hit the ball further than he ever did.

The game has changed since he changed it.

 

[RU82]

Tiger went off the rails when his father died and he's not coming back as a dominant force. If he's able to survive on tour at all he'll do so as an also-ran player.

 

[Abro1975]

Will shock the World in2018, win Comeback Player.

 

[DJ Spanky]

His problems started when he laid off the hookers.

 

[knightfan7]

Shell of wherever he once was. Too many younger, better players who hit the ball further than he ever did.

The game has changed since he changed it.

I think it's telling that he is calling for a restricted flight ball now that he knows if even 100% healthy he can't compete with the Dustin Johnson's and John Rahm's of the world.

 

[RU848789]

Unless he simply can't do it physically any more, it's way too early to write Tiger off completely. If he's healthy and puts his mind to it, he'll be highly competitive again.

 

[Knightmoves]

If Tiger can be competitive in tour events it will be good for TV ratings and interest in the PGA Tour.

But it seems like a long shot. I can see him playing well in stretches but not for an entire 72 hole tour event. Physically it will be difficult for him to maintain a tour pace. The young guys like Speith and Thomas have nothing to fear with Tigers comeback. It could turn out to be a side show.

 

[knightfan7]

Unless he simply can't do it physically any more, it's way too early to write Tiger off completely. If he's healthy and puts his mind to it, he'll be highly competitive again.

One of Tiger's greatest traits was he outworked everyone off the course. Doubt after all the physical issues and age he can come close to that anymore.

 

[Caliknight]

Unless he simply can't do it physically any more, it's way too early to write Tiger off completely. If he's healthy and puts his mind to it, he'll be highly competitive again.

A 100% healthy Tiger now won't be able to compete consistently on tour any more. It's the next generations tour now.

 

[chase07470]

A 100% healthy Tiger now won't be able to compete consistently on tour any more. It's the next generations tour now.

Win percentage with 54-hole lead/co-lead on PGA Tour:
Tour average (last 5 seasons): 33%
Jack Nicklaus: 60%
Tiger Woods: 93% (54-for-58)

Never underestimate the Big Cat...dude is a killer. There's a lot that would need to go right with his health, the surgery would have to hold up to the practice required and it doesn't seem logical that it could. But if he somehow catches a break and that surgery holds...he will win many more times. Golfing genius doesn't evaporate.

 

[Caliknight]

Sure it does. That list is long and distinguished.

The one thing he had that intimidated other golfers and made them try shots they wouldn't normally was his length and clutch putting. Plenty of guys hit it further than him now and guys like Jordan Speith are just as clutch.

A healthy Tiger is a mid tier golfer now. He will make cuts, but not seriously contend. Certainly not over a 4 day period or season.

He had a great run, but it's over.

 

[RUScrew85]

Unless he simply can't do it physically any more, it's way too early to write Tiger off completely. If he's healthy and puts his mind to it, he'll be highly competitive again.

He's 42 now - not many people play at a high level on the PGA tour after 40. He's been away for a while. It would be a big achievement to dominate again. Historic. Hell top 20 would be a big deal for him at this point.

 

[ScarletKnightRider]

A 100% healthy Tiger now won't be able to compete consistently on tour any more. It's the next generations tour now.

Sure it does. That list is long and distinguished.

The one thing he had that intimidated other golfers and made them try shots they wouldn't normally was his length and clutch putting. Plenty of guys hit it further than him now and guys like Jordan Speith are just as clutch.

A healthy Tiger is a mid tier golfer now. He will make cuts, but not seriously contend. Certainly not over a 4 day period or season.

He had a great run, but it's over.

lmao. This.... does not make any sense.

First of all, the whole reason why Tiger hasn't been able to compete is because of his injuries. So if you're saying that if you somehow gave Tiger freakn Woods of all people a clean bill of health and invincibility that he still wouldnt even compete, well you wouldn't be fooling anyone but yourself.

Second, you're acting like Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson win every tournament. They don't. In fact even combined with all the other young guns, they don't come anywhere near as close to the level of domination that Tiger has shown in his heyday. They lose...a lot. And no they are not as clutch as he. So I don't really get what you mean by compete consistently. If you are staying in tourneys and making all the cuts, you are competing.

hell if you're on the PGA tour, youre competing. You make it seem like any golfer that isnt in the top 5 will never sniff a tour win. According to your logic, every mid tier golfer should just give up because they will never win anything and "the young guys" will beat them every single time.

Look, obviously '04 Tiger is gone, but you're being kinda ridiculous here. Injuries are the only thing that have ever held this guy back. When healthy he is simply not human.

 

[RUScrew85]

lmao. This.... does not make any sense.

First of all, the whole reason why Tiger hasn't been able to compete is because of his injuries. So if you're saying that if you somehow gave Tiger freakn Woods of all people a clean bill of health and invincibility that he still wouldnt even compete, well you wouldn't be fooling anyone but yourself.

Second, you're acting like Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson win every tournament. They don't. In fact even combined with all the other young guns, they don't come anywhere near as close to the level of domination that Tiger has shown in his heyday. They lose...a lot. And no they are not as clutch as he. So I don't really get what you mean by compete consistently. If you are staying in tourneys and making all the cuts, you are competing.

hell if you're on the PGA tour, youre competing. You make it seem like any golfer that isnt in the top 5 will never sniff a tour win. According to your logic, every mid tier golfer should just give up because they will never win anything and "the young guys" will beat them every single time.

Look, obviously '04 Tiger is gone, but you're being kinda ridiculous here. Injuries are the only thing that have ever held this guy back. When healthy he is simply not human.

And now he's 42 years old. And not proven healthy.

 

[Caliknight]

lmao. This.... does not make any sense.

First of all, the whole reason why Tiger hasn't been able to compete is because of his injuries. So if you're saying that if you somehow gave Tiger freakn Woods of all people a clean bill of health and invincibility that he still wouldnt even compete, well you wouldn't be fooling anyone but yourself.

Second, you're acting like Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson win every tournament. They don't. In fact even combined with all the other young guns, they don't come anywhere near as close to the level of domination that Tiger has shown in his heyday. They lose...a lot. And no they are not as clutch as he. So I don't really get what you mean by compete consistently. If you are staying in tourneys and making all the cuts, you are competing.

hell if you're on the PGA tour, youre competing. You make it seem like any golfer that isnt in the top 5 will never sniff a tour win. According to your logic, every mid tier golfer should just give up because they will never win anything and "the young guys" will beat them every single time.

Look, obviously '04 Tiger is gone, but you're being kinda ridiculous here. Injuries are the only thing that have ever held this guy back. When healthy he is simply not human.

There is no such thing as infallibility or invincibility. Certainly not forever. It would take Tiger in his hay day to compete with the guys on tour now. Some like DJ in their prime, and some like Speith coming into it. And they don't win every tournament, which is even more to the point. Golf in our lifetime has never had the amount of talent on tour that is on it now. At the start of any any tournament there is a legit 20 guys that can win it. In Tiger's time it was like him, and maybe 3 other guys. Tiger is 41, a month from 42. He is broken down. The game and players have passed him by. He comes back, injury free, it still won't change that. The guy likes to compete. That is reason enough for him to come back. He probably also doesn't want his last memory to be stabbing clubs in the ground as an anchor to get out of a bunker because he can't move.

You must not see how much a mid tier guy who doesn't win much makes. There are pleeeeeenty of reasons for them to not give up.

 

[WhiteBus]

It seems many don't remember that Tiger declared himself healthy at this same exhibition last year and than played just 3 more times. Let' pump the breaks on a comeback just yet.

 

[ScarletKnightRider]

And now he's 42 years old. And not proven healthy.

Gee thanks captain obvious

"A 100% healthy Tiger now won't be able to compete consistently on tour any more. It's the next generations tour now."

^^^ This is the comment I had responded to, pay attention.

There is no such thing as infallibility or invincibility. Certainly not forever. It would take Tiger in his hay day to compete with the guys on tour now. Some like DJ in their prime, and some like Speith coming into it. And they don't win every tournament, which is even more to the point. Golf in our lifetime has never had the amount of talent on tour that is on it now. At the start of any any tournament there is a legit 20 guys that can win it. In Tiger's time it was like him, and maybe 3 other guys. Tiger is 41, a month from 42. He is broken down. The game and players have passed him by. He comes back, injury free, it still won't change that. The guy likes to compete. That is reason enough for him to come back. He probably also doesn't want his last memory to be stabbing clubs in the ground as an anchor to get out of a bunker because he can't move.

You must not see how much a mid tier guy who doesn't win much makes. There are pleeeeeenty of reasons for them to not give up.

There it is again though, the contradiction. Out of one side of your mouth youre saying that Tiger sucks now because of his physical state, which is a very fair assessment. But Then out of the other side you say That even if he was 100% healthy he would still get wrecked because there's too much... TALENT? Have you lost it? You honestly believe that DJ and Spieth have close to the talent that prime Tiger had? DJ at his absolute best is essentially geriatric poor man's Tiger Woods wrapped in a 33 year old's skin. Prime Tiger would eat them alive, no beverage. A past prime Tiger could atleast get their attention on occasion and win once in a while, barring injury.

 

[RU848789]

lmao. This.... does not make any sense.

First of all, the whole reason why Tiger hasn't been able to compete is because of his injuries. So if you're saying that if you somehow gave Tiger freakn Woods of all people a clean bill of health and invincibility that he still wouldnt even compete, well you wouldn't be fooling anyone but yourself.

Second, you're acting like Jordan Spieth and Dustin Johnson win every tournament. They don't. In fact even combined with all the other young guns, they don't come anywhere near as close to the level of domination that Tiger has shown in his heyday. They lose...a lot. And no they are not as clutch as he. So I don't really get what you mean by compete consistently. If you are staying in tourneys and making all the cuts, you are competing.

hell if you're on the PGA tour, youre competing. You make it seem like any golfer that isnt in the top 5 will never sniff a tour win. According to your logic, every mid tier golfer should just give up because they will never win anything and "the young guys" will beat them every single time.

Look, obviously '04 Tiger is gone, but you're being kinda ridiculous here. Injuries are the only thing that have ever held this guy back. When healthy he is simply not human.

Agree. I don't think we'll ever see the Tiger from the early 2000s, but IF (and this is huge hypoethetical) he were to be 100% healthy, there's no doubt in my mind that he'd be back in the top 5 and winning a few tourneys including a couple more majors. It wasn't all about strength - people forget how goddamned good his short game was, as well as his imagination and course management.

 

[Caliknight]

Gee thanks captain obvious

"A 100% healthy Tiger now won't be able to compete consistently on tour any more. It's the next generations tour now."

^^^ This is the comment I had responded to, pay attention.





There it is again though, the contradiction. Out of one side of your mouth youre saying that Tiger sucks now because of his physical state, which is a very fair assessment. But Then out of the other side you say That even if he was 100% healthy he would still get wrecked because there's too much... TALENT? Have you lost it? You honestly believe that DJ and Spieth have close to the talent that prime Tiger had? DJ at his absolute best is essentially geriatric poor man's Tiger Woods wrapped in a 33 year old's skin. Prime Tiger would eat them alive, no beverage. A past prime Tiger could atleast get their attention on occasion and win once in a while, barring injury.

Number 1, yea, they do. Speith is every bit the putter that Tiger was in his prime, and DJ hits the ball farther than Tiger ever did on his best days.

Tiger 100% healthy at 42 is not the Tiger at 30 100% healthy, and the competition is way better now than it was when Tiger was dominating.

Tiger in his prime would not be doing today what he was doing back then. The guys now are just too good, and there are too many of them for that to happen. Tiger isn't dumb. He saw what was happening and what was coming. It's why he kept changing his swing. He felt he needed to to be able to compete with this wave of talent.

Watch what happens if he gets healthy enough to try and compete. For real. Not some made-up tournament that bares his name, but a major. It won't be pretty. A healthy Tiger, right now, is a mid tier guy. No shame in that though. Being a mid tier PGA tour pro is pretty awesome.

 

[RUMBA-JK]

not exactly 100% healthy - if you have had a spinal fusion you have taken (at a minimum) two vertebrae and joined them together as a solid construct & the stress of flexing that previously occurred at the site of the fusion is now shouldered by the adjacent segment of the spine - thus there has been a slight compromise in the optimal function / flexibility of the original normal spine
- granted, a successful spinal fusion will make thing vastly better than a situation where you have nerve impingement & a severely painful back - and maybe the function / flexing 'compromise' for Tiger will be inconsequential (Peyton Manning won a Super bowl with more of a compromise)

but a 42 year old guy with a spinal fusion is not exactly a 100% healthy athlete

 

[RUfromSoCal?]

Waffle House stock up 0.2%............

so, I'll give it a 20% chance............

 

[RuSnp]

Sure it does. That list is long and distinguished.

The one thing he had that intimidated other golfers and made them try shots they wouldn't normally was his length and clutch putting. Plenty of guys hit it further than him now and guys like Jordan Speith are just as clutch.

A healthy Tiger is a mid tier golfer now. He will make cuts, but not seriously contend. Certainly not over a 4 day period or season.

He had a great run, but it's over.

No chance in hell IMO Tiger in his prime would hit two in a row into the water on 12 at Augusta like Spieth did.

 

[RickB113]

Number 1, yea, they do. Speith is every bit the putter that Tiger was in his prime, and DJ hits the ball farther than Tiger ever did on his best days.

Tiger 100% healthy at 42 is not the Tiger at 30 100% healthy, and the competition is way better now than it was when Tiger was dominating.

Tiger in his prime would not be doing today what he was doing back then. The guys now are just too good, and there are too many of them for that to happen. Tiger isn't dumb. He saw what was happening and what was coming. It's why he kept changing his swing. He felt he needed to to be able to compete with this wave of talent.

Watch what happens if he gets healthy enough to try and compete. For real. Not some made-up tournament that bares his name, but a major. It won't be pretty. A healthy Tiger, right now, is a mid tier guy. No shame in that though. Being a mid tier PGA tour pro is pretty awesome.

You're nuts. Tiger in his prime would dominate these guys. They hit the ball longer today because of technology. Not ONE player on tour has anywhere near the all around game Tiger possessed in his prime. Spieth can put like Tiger. Johnson can drive it like Tiger. Rory's long iron game is close to Tigers. Tiger had all of those qualities. I would argue there is not even a Mickelson in his prime on this tour. There are not more quality players today. Everybody just has flaws to their game that bring other players to the top. If you took Tiger or Tiger and Phil out of golf it would have looked like there were tons of good players 20 years ago too. the top ten all would have seemed great and they would have won more. The last FULL season Tiger was completely healthy, 2013, he finished number one in the world and player of the year. That was four years ago at age 38. If he is healthy and that is a big if he will win again and win big.

 

[Caliknight]

Hard to say. He had very little competition in his prime.

Willet played insane that tournament. He was very deserving. And JS still finished second.

Jordan and Tiger both won 10 PGA's before age 24. If Tiger never wins another tournament again, which is highly likely, let's see where Jordan ends up at his age.

One thing this has all done. Jack Nicklaus is the greatest golfer to ever live, so at least we don't have to have that discussion anymore with Tiger.

 

[phlop87]

In his prime Woods was the most dominate athlete in sports. From 1997 through 2008, Woods was a combined 126 under par in majors. There are 138 other players who played at least 40 rounds in major championships in that span. Among that group, Woods was a staggering 189 shots better than anyone else. Second on the list: Joe Ogilvie, at 63 over. If he is healthy (big if) he will be able to compete

 

[chase07470]

Woods in his prime, towered over everyone he competed against. Take something away due to age and injury and he still figures to have a game to compete against the best that are out there now. Four years ago he was player of the year. He's not 55.

If he's healthy and pain free, he will be a top ten player. The desire is there.

 

[RU848789]

Hard to say. He had very little competition in his prime.

Willet played insane that tournament. He was very deserving. And JS still finished second.

Jordan and Tiger both won 10 PGA's before age 24. If Tiger never wins another tournament again, which is highly likely, let's see where Jordan ends up at his age.

One thing this has all done. Jack Nicklaus is the greatest golfer to ever live, so at least we don't have to have that discussion anymore with Tiger.

Ok, we always disagree on politics and we used to almost always agree on sports. But not here. You simply don't know what you're talking about. A healthy Tiger at 42 would still be in the top 3-4 golfers (and would threaten #1) just like he was 4 years ago and would still likely win a few more majors. Spieth, Johnson, Rory et al are all still a decent ways away from being as good as Tiger was and they'll all tell you that, too.

He had the most complete game physically and mentally of any golfer ever and, in his best years, was a little better than Jack, IMO. However, Jack will always be considered the best, unless somehow Tiger gets several more majors, which is looking very unlikely.

 

[T2Kplus10]

Tiger's 10-year run was the most dominate run in the history of golf. At his best, he was the greatest ever, and second place is a mile behind.

 

[knightfan7]

I don't particularly care what he does but I'd rather he didn't embarrass himself.

 

[Caliknight]

This speculation is fun and we will never know what would have been.

I will take any wager he never wins another major though.

 

[WhiteBus]

I don't particularly care what he does but I'd rather he didn't embarrass himself.

This. It really has to be his last attempt at a comeback. If he fails he should announe his retirement and go out gracefully, at least until he turns 50.
On the plus side if he can get back to at least making cuts and being on the leader boards golf fans will love it.
Unlike 10 years ago the tour no longer needs Tiger (or Phil for that matter). It would be nice to have him back but the game has found new great players. Hoping for the best.

 

[Knightmoves]

Woods in his prime, towered over everyone he competed against. Take something away due to age and injury and he still figures to have a game to compete against the best that are out there now. Four years ago he was player of the year. He's not 55.

If he's healthy and pain free, he will be a top ten player. The desire is there.

If he’s healthy and pain free, he will make the cut in most tournaments.

Top ten thoughts are pipe dreams. That ship has sailed.

 

[chase07470]

If he’s healthy and pain free, he will make the cut in most tournaments.

Top ten thoughts are pipe dreams. That ship has sailed.

What you're making is a prediction, which is fine. But it's not logical to say that there is no chance when the guy demonstrated a domination over his peers as recently as four years ago.

 

[jtung230]

He will shock people with how far he can hit it but it’ll be a while to get the feel back. He was winning with the flat stick. Sure all the attention was on how far he can hit it but not the reason why he won.

 

[Caliknight]

Tigers short game was already suffering, and that wasn’t his back. That’s age.

 

[WhiteBus]

What you're making is a prediction, which is fine. But it's not logical to say that there is no chance when the guy demonstrated a domination over his peers as recently as four years ago.

Won Player of the Year. Didn't dominate. Hasnt won a major in 10 years

 

[kapyoche]

I was watching TGC and it is amazing how good he was. He had that swagger on the course.
He does not have it and players are not scared. They know they can lick him.
He reminds me of that character Jimmy Ringo in the movie "Gunfighter" where young turks are going to make a name of themselves by taking him down.

 

[scarletrider]

was listening to Franchesa about 30 min ago and he had Randall Chamblee on. supposedly he is one of the most harshest critics of tiger. was an interesting discussion. he said that tiger is the best golfer in history and i agree with him. Mike asked him how about Nicklaus. Randall said that statistically, if you compare tigers vs. Nicklaus, it is not even close.

i am a golfer and i have seen tiger play from his college days as an amateur. in my life time, tiger and Jordan are the most dominant in their sports.