Well, one needs look no further than this week. On Friday, Woods came to the 17th -4 and on the cut line. If he parred the final two holes, he would make the cut. On 17, he blasts a huge drive down the middle of the fairway, and, for some unknown reason, tries to hit the green of a 650 yard par-5, which had only been reach twice before in major championship history (and at shorter lengths). There was ABSOLUTELY NO REASON to go for the green in two. What happened? Woods missed his second shot and carded a bogey, forcing him to birdie 18 to make the cut. Incidentally, sitting in the clubhouse at -3 would have looked a lot better on Sunday, wouldn't it?
Bad course management. He should have laid up, hit a wedge to approach, and scored a birdie or, at worst, a par. Poor course management. I blame his caddy, too. He hits driver WAY too often. He's in trouble off the tee more often than almost any other player, just because he wants to hit the ball 375 yards. He can hit his three wood 330--why is he using the driver, especially when he gets into trouble?
It happened at the Masters this year, when his driver almost cost him the tournament--he's just lucky that everyone else around him choked, otherwise he wouldn't have won that one, either.
Fair enough, it was +4 but let's take a peek anyway.
>>On 17, he blasts a huge drive down the middle of the fairway, and, for some unknown reason, tries to hit the green of a 650 yard par-5, which had only been reach twice before in major championship history (and at shorter lengths).<<
Not unknown at all. Tiger was trying to make eagle which would have been implausible under your scenario. Contrary to what you say, reaching the green or getting close to the green in 2 was no big deal for Tiger once he got off the monster drive.
>> There was ABSOLUTELY NO REASON to go for the green in two. What happened? Woods missed his second shot and carded a bogey, forcing him to birdie 18 to make the cut.<<
Beautiful hindsight and totally results oriented but irrelevant to the point. Woods was a victim of what is known as "That's Golf". He wound up in an impossible lie 6 feet from the green and 15 feet from the pin. That could have happened if he used nothing but wedges to reach the green. How can you say that someone "missed the shot" when he hit a 300 yard shot 6 feet from being perfect.
>>Incidentally, sitting in the clubhouse at -3 would have looked a lot better on Sunday, wouldn't it? <<
Actually, if he had made eagle instead of bogey, 5 under would have looked a lot better.
You'd no doubt make a great caddy for Fred Funk or Jeff Sluman but don't try it with the big guys.