Tiger Woods...Yup, it's the Yips

Tiger, Tiger burning bright
In the forests of the night,
What immortal hand or eye
Could frame thy fearful symmetry?


-William Blake (1757-1827)


Tiger Woods easily dominates the golf world's attention even today. All eyes were on Abu Dhabi (a land far away!) when he and the highest ranked players in the world were playing in it a few weeks back and not in the PGA Tour event the same week. The attention was back on the PGA Tour event a couple of weeks later when Tiger was playing here and the rest of the world's top ranked players were playing in Dubai!

His aura is justified as he is probably the most awesome golfer playing today when you compare his career achievements to those of current players. But is he a great golfer today? I don't think so. He is still very good but just not in the class that he was in before.

I don't think it is his scandal or his injuries are the main issues. I think the reason is far humbler than that. Age. He is not old. Just older. Older enough for the arm to be that little less steady, the eyes that little unsure. Miniscule. Marginal. The Yips, as they are called in the golfing world. However, that's all that it takes at the highest level.

Tiger's trademark, in my mind, has been the 'tiger charge' in the final round. His ability to sink putts in a pressure keg situation left one struck with awe. You just knew that if Tiger was anywhere close to the leader, he will charge.

It's just not there anymore. Tiger, in the last few months, has come into contention a few times due to strong plays in the second or third round. More often than not he wilts in the fourth round. In my mind, this started before the scandal. In the 2009 PGA Championship Tiger lost the lead in the final round to a then unheard of Y.E. Yang. Unheard of! Unthinkable!

He has come back now, scandal and injury free, with a new swing but the absence of  his key weapon... the 'tiger charge'. He is possibly shocked more than anyone else leading  to a compounding effect on the final day. His fourth round scores are now usually the weakest. Robert Rock (who??) beating him in Abu Dhabi, fading after striking distance at Pebble Beach last week...

Age is an inconsiderate beast that everyone grapples with. As time marches on it will be interesting to see how/if Tiger responds. I am an incurable Tiger enthusiast and hope he finds a new mantra for success. Realistically I can see Tiger win a few tournaments in the future but not many.

Still burning bright, but I don't have to wear shades to protect my eyes anymore!