Nikon autofocus sucks. This is why most sport photographers use Canon. Look at the ball! Dead center of the photo (a sports photo) and completley out of focus! FAIL.
What was its velocity at the time? I’m not sure any autofocus camera would have handled it much better.
In focus would require a really fast camera. I doubt that even those on the tour have many of those. Maybe 1/10,000 of a second or so minimum...or maybe he had to get some depth for the shot.
At any rate, Woods is not going to be a star in this event or any event for the next couple of years.
Consider how fast the ball was coming at him, and how close it was. To give Nikon some credit, I serioiusly doubt that a Canon 1Dmk3 could do any better in this particular case.
[[BTW, no Nikon fanboy here. Mostly Canon SLRs going back to 1967.]]
Allow me to add...
Your point about most sports photogs choosing Canon is certainly true. It’s their lens lineup and their pro customer service that tops Nikon’s offerings.
Whenever one sees a gaggle of gigantic white lenses, they’re Canons.