Meet the latest WUP “intern,” Shoshana, who is a prolific tweeter and history-trained sports junkie, not to mention a huge Tiger fan, which you may find hard to believe after reading her post below…
It appears that Tiger's knees are back
Tiger Woods is coming into the Chevron World Challenge following a year in which he’s dealt with injury and poor form, but recently he’s been playing well. He just had a strong finish in Australia and annihilated his opponent in Sunday singles. Except that I am writing about 2010, not 2011.
Last year Tiger rode some late-season momentum to a 2nd place finish (including coughing up a Sunday lead to G-Mac) at the Chevron. That form though did not carry over into 2011.
Once again it is Chevron week and momentum is in Tiger’s corner, with his form apparently on the upswing. Certainly the last month (and even to an extent Frys) has shown many hopeful signs, being in contention, a large number of quality shots, and looking healthy – jumping out of bunkers at Royal Melbourne and dancing on the green when the last putt didn’t quite drop in Saturday four balls (he’s been paying attention during his daughter’s ballet classes). However, all that doesn’t mean we should read too much into this week’s performance.
While a win this week would surely be another step in the right direction — and poor play in the other — no matter how Tiger plays this week, it doesn’t mean he is “back” (i.e., best golfer in the world, seemingly contending nearly every time he tees it up) or that we know what 2012 will hold. Last year should have taught us that.
Shoshana
His career as a dominant presence on the PGA Tour is over. But he will continue to provide topic for those who write about him for a living.
The total number of majors won by 36 yr olds is half of the total won by 35 yr olds. And, the total never rises again as some gets older than 36.
Age gets them all. It is the most powerful variable affecting golfers (related to physical breakdown and to the fact that new talent appears on the scene and a never-ending steady rate).
Woods’ fate is in the statistics. The window continues to shrink depite suggestions that he is on his way back.
Having poked fun at him for a good part of the last couple years, the guy is moving in the right direction. No golfer will ever again have that kind of domination. (Unless the prson’s name is Yani.) Tiger can and should be a force for a number of years. I mean as far as the age thing goes (yes- you have to consider his injuries), today’s athlete is a different breed. If guys can still play high end hockey at 40, golfers will stretch out their prime years. If Tiger accepts his physical limitations and keeps the ball in the fairway in 2012, he should have a good year.