Watched the Masters and have to respectfully disagree. Tiger had a chance to take the lead on 15 with a 5 ft eagle putt and missed. Even the commenter (Faldo I think), noted how tense Tiger looked while standing over the putt.
The Tiger of old was fearless and the best putter in the world. Tiger is no longer the best putter in the world and in crucial situations today, he could not deliver the big putt. Missed on 16 as well when he had a chance to at least time for the lead.
Yesterday, Tiger missed a three foot putt. I have never seen him miss that short a putt at Augusta in all the years I have watched him (since 1997?)
Tiger hit some great shots, but Augusta is probably his favorite course in the world, so that is to be expected. When the pressure was on, the young guns made the putts and Tiger did not. If he can’t regain his ability to hit the clutch putt, he will not be above the rest, just one of them.
I agree, the putting shows he is not ‘back.’ He’s a hell of a lot closer after Friday and today’s showing. He has continued uncharacteristic putting since his domestic issues, and when we see that fall into place, he’ll be winning again.
Tiger, at one time, was 7 up on his round. He finished 3rd. For a player that’s struggled these past 17 mos. or so, that’s one hell of a feat. No, he didn’t win, but it has to be a shot in the arm for him.
I wanted to see him win. Not for Tiger, but for America. He was the only American besides Bo Van Pelt who came close to the final finish. That’s the disgusting fact. All you people who want to diss Tiger, think about that.