OT - Tiger Woods withdraws...again....again.
After a blistering 77 on Thursday, Tiger withdrew late last night from the Dubai Desert Classic with "back spasms."
I think it is time for Tiger to call it a day. There can be reasonable debate over the legitimacy of his injuries, and whether or not he suddenly comes down with back issues of varying descriptions whenever he is playing really poorly. However, there can be no debate that, as of right now, everytime he tees it up and burns it down, it takes something away from his legacy as a golfer.
Personal exploits aside, he is probably the greatest golfer to ever live, or a least a coin flip with Jack, but I do think he is bordering on all of that being essentially forgotten at this point. Too bad. Bad for him and for the game.
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:22 PM ^
knows he doesnt have "theee game". Its all in his head now.
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:24 PM ^
It is in his head, but it's also in his back.
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:25 PM ^
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:28 PM ^
I think it's all in his pharmacist. Or lack thereof.
Allegedly.
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:33 PM ^
Yup. I loved Tiger during his years of dominance. It was the best thing for golf. However, I think he was juicing during those years and it has broken his body down.
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:43 PM ^
Except the "golden age" of interest in baseball came at the height of the roid era in late 90's. Same with golf and Tiger IMO. His body breakdown is so similar to that of long-time users in baseball (tendons, back, ligiments, soft tissue in general) that simply wasnt designed to handle the amount of force a roided-up athlete can deliver.
Yet ironically we the viewing public seemed to like watching that a lot. I can tell you that personally I could give two shits about golf right now (undless Phil is on the leaderboard) and the only reason had any interest in baseball last year was because the Tribe made a late run. But I didnt go to any games. Those 90s Indians teams (which I attended a bunch of games to) we're about as roided up as a group could get (allegedly) and hellofa lot of fun to watch.
I think I miss roids.
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:58 PM ^
I think you're missing out right now if you aren't watching a lot of golf. The amount of young talent out there right now is incredible. I understand that guys like Jordan Spieth and Justin Thomas might not draw the eyeballs that Tiger did, but the level of play from the young guys is terrific.
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:09 PM ^
1. I'm sure you are correct. There is and always will be a lot of excellent golfers on the tour. They just don't interest me that much (other than the Ryder Cup - I'll watch anybody play in that and enjoy it)
2. I'm anything but alone. Take a look at any one of the many articles written on the "tiger effect" regarding rating for golf. If Tiger is on the leaderboard - especially on days 3 & 4 and the rating skyrocket. Tiger not playing in tourny or miss the cut and rating absolutely collapse.
https://www.google.com/webhp?sourceid=chrome-instant&ion=1&espv=2&ie=UT…
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:03 PM ^
they are only Tiger fans. Not that there is anything wrong with that. I am not an NFL fan, but I will watch when Tom Brady is playing.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:11 PM ^
am a big golf fan and play and watch a lot, but I have watched less since Tiger has not been a factor. I don't think I watch less of the majors, but I unquestionably watch less of standard tour stops where Tiger would have played once upon a time.
Not only that, but for me, Rory is the second biggest draw in golf and he has been in and out of competition with various injuries the last couple of years as well, and his performance has been very spotty when he does play.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:08 PM ^
Totally agree on the Tiger effect on ratings and such. I don't think golf "exploded" overall even with Tiger as it is still very expensive and a hard sport to do well at.
In regards to steroid use, strength still can't match the touch needed within 150 yards or so and on putting which has absolutely nothing to do with strength.
February 3rd, 2017 at 5:15 PM ^
Gimme a break. That's the same argument baseball players used. "Steroids don't make you a better hitter." No, but if you're a good hitter, the ball will go 20% farther!
February 3rd, 2017 at 5:53 PM ^
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:14 PM ^
They're probably pretty good but they don't come close to matching Tiger's dominance. One where he was the favorite in any tournament, on any course. It was that dominace of the game that attracted people and viewers.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:00 PM ^
and the young guys are great talents, but they are soooo boring. They are all cookie cutter country club boys. I like me a blue collar guy who wasn't raised to be a professional golfer from birth. I'm hoping a young guy with personality will come on the scene soon.
February 3rd, 2017 at 5:51 PM ^
I've got your blue collar guy right here. Dude was an inspiration to us all...
February 3rd, 2017 at 7:46 PM ^
out of his mind. look at that physique.
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:08 PM ^
Baseball was exciting in those years. Especially when McGwire and Sosa were battling to beat Maris's HR record. It was an interest level that hasn't been matched since.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:01 PM ^
Totally agree man, those were the days.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:33 PM ^
instead of the players.
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:15 PM ^
He had knee issues when he was 6'0, 160. This whole steroid thing is ridiculous. If someone was roided up and worked out as much as he did, they would have been much bigger than he was. Sure, he was pretty jacked up compared to golf standards at the time but he was also lifting 2-3 times every single day. He was hardly some sort of freak show.
Just watch a lot of these younger players. Very few will play far into their 40s because of the stress they will put on themselves. The Champions tour will be made up of a bunch of guys that weren't that great on the PGA Tour because the great ones are shot and they've already made enough money. Both things due to Tiger Woods.
I also assume Graham Delaet was on roids as well because he had the exact same back injury. Again, hardly a unique injury to golfers.
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:05 PM ^
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:14 PM ^
"PEDs" work to allow muscle development above and beyond that which the human body can achieve on its own. What they do not do, however, is increase tendon or ligiment strength or help the back support the immense amount of torque a super-charged golf swing can elicit.
PEDs cannot "strengthen" those support mechanisms so when they are stressed over a long period of time they break down and hence, the typical injuries hard-core steriod users incur.
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:16 PM ^
It depends on which PED. There are definitely PEDs (HGH for example) that also speeds recovery of soft tissue injuries.
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:23 PM ^
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:29 PM ^
It's (allegedly) roids that gave him physical ability beyond what his soft tissues could handle. It's the ridiculous torque he puts on his body when he swings. It's his body compensating in unnatural ways after the knee injuries. And that all makes it harder for him to perform to the level when he wasn't roiding, which is unfathomable to him when he used to dominate just by showing up and winning by 10 strokes, and that's professionally destabilizing.
Of course, the dude's a billionaire and led to the full-blown monetization of golf, so I guess he kinda did ok. Heckuva run.
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:10 PM ^
You obviously know nothing about steroids and their impact on non-muscle tissue
February 3rd, 2017 at 4:13 PM ^
February 3rd, 2017 at 4:54 PM ^
he was juicing during his hey day. His body breaking down today is usually what happens after many years of being on the juice. The guy had such a violent swing that his back just couldn't hold up forever. Now at 41 it has really taken it's toll. I never cared for Tiger, but I think he would be wise to just stop trying to come back and move on with his life. He has plenty of money and endorsement to last him and his kids the rest of their lives.
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:25 PM ^
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:30 PM ^
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:32 PM ^
saw him at the Buick also. He hit a low bending fade 2 iron from 250 around a tree not 20 yards ahead of him, to within 15 feet on the 13th green. The shot honestly looked fake to me. Like somebody was punking me because golf can't be played that way. He was really something to see live.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:16 PM ^
I was lucky enough to see Tiger play at the 96 US Open, the '04 Ryder Cup, and the '08 PGA Championship, all at Oakland Hills. I count myself lucky to have seen the man play in person. Even at that US Open, before he had broken into the imagination of American pop culture, you could tell that there was something special about him. An aura of intensity that none of the other golfers could match.
I for one couldn't give two shits about his personal life. I never watched him play so I could watch a great husband swing a club. I watched because he would rip apart a golf course with the kind of aggression and creativity and competition that the world of golf had never seen. He was a master and in my opinion the greatest golfer to ever play the game. I know he hasn't won as many majors as Nicklaus, but that only really represents Nicklaus' career longevity. Nicklaus certainly didn't have the level of competition to play against that Tiger did. And when Tiger was in the zone, there was never a doubt that he was going to destroy the field.
I was really hoping that this extended break from golf could allow him to heal up and get back to where he needed to be physically and mentally. I saw a couple of his swings yesterday and it was obvious there was something physically wrong with him. I don't think this was "I can't win so I'm going home." I think this could be a realization that his injury just isn't going away. It is starting to look more and more like this might just be it. Which would be a goddamn shame. Because he was a sport god.
Oh, yeah, and he probably took PEDs. I personally think professional athletes should be allowed to if they want to. You are never going to eradicate it completely, so then you're left with a situation where some people will cheat to get to the highest possible level and those that don't want to get thrown out of the league won't. Give everyone the opportunity and then it isn't cheating.
/rant
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:29 PM ^
PED thing. The thing is, Tiger really didn't need them, if he did take them. In fact, they may have actually been an impediment. He played his best golf in 2000, he was still scrawny Tiger. He didn't really start to bulk up until a couple of years after that, when he did actually train with Navy Seals for two years and probably did substantial damage to his body.
I think he probably did use PEDs, but I don't think it had a whole lot to do with golf. In fact, conversely, I think it is much more likely that it resulted from whatever emotional issues that lead to his issues with women. Pushing the envelope, getting MORE, doing MORE, being MORE. Reckless behavior. Complete and total lapses in self-control.
Take his on-course outbursts, his questionable drops, his clashes with fans, outbursts over cameras. I think they are symptoms of the same thing.
People tend to equate it like he used steroids to win golf tournaments. I tend to think of it as he won golf tournaments despite using steroids, abusing his body, abusing prescription drugs, engaging in extremely reckless sexual activity, etc. etc. In his "prime," 2001-2009, I think he was an extremely troubled individual who managed to win golf tournaments based on incredible ability while the rest of his existence slowly crumbled around him.
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:28 PM ^
In similar news, George Foreman announced he will not compete for this year's heavyweight title.
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:28 PM ^
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:03 PM ^
Is it because he made a huge mistake for marrying a woman who couldn't satisfy his sexual needs?
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:22 PM ^
No, because he let a string of poor personal choices destroy him professionally and arguably personally as well.
February 3rd, 2017 at 4:09 PM ^
February 3rd, 2017 at 4:58 PM ^
is a first class ass. His Marital discretions are just the tip of the iceberg with that guy.
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:31 PM ^
Reminds me of Willie Mays, where he was undoubtedly the greatest, and a whole generation witnessed how dominant he was, but he hung on too long and a second generation witnessed him suck after his body started breaking down, and had no idea how great he had been.
February 3rd, 2017 at 2:21 PM ^
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:32 PM ^
I hope he hangs them up. I'm really tired of having to see every one of his shots, his interviews, etc. when there are clearly A LOT of better golfers than him that they should be showing. I know "he attracts the ratings" but watching him when hes 5 back of the cut line and 12 shots off the lead is miserable.
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:42 PM ^
only that, but I think it is honestly the worst thing for him as a player. I think it is a domino effect. He needs competitive rounds in order to attempt to regain form, but he headlines every event he is in. A lot of other players can suck anonymously when they are playing poorly. The cameras just don't follow them so they can work on things without constantly having to talk about how he is not playing well. Even Phil. When he isn't playing well, you can go a whole tournament without knowing that Mickelson is playing if he is not close to contention.
Everytime Tiger plays there is endless coverage about him, speculation about him every shot is covered. I really think that sometimes it is too much pressure for somebody who knows he does not have his best stuff and needs some space in tournaments to try to get it back.
February 3rd, 2017 at 3:06 PM ^
February 3rd, 2017 at 5:00 PM ^
he's not even competitive with the golfers of today, yet gets all the attention when he is in the field. I just assume he go away and let golf fans enjoy watching todays greats go at it every week.
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:43 PM ^
Tiger Woods hasn't been relevant as a good golfer in forever...it's over. It's been over.
Maybe he can make a run on the senior tour one day.
February 3rd, 2017 at 12:48 PM ^
news though. This was shaping up to be his one last go of it. For as poorly as he played at Torrey Pines, he looked healthy and there did not seem to be any back issues. This is somewhat suprising given how long of a hiatus he took to address these very issues.
February 3rd, 2017 at 1:23 PM ^
I understand...I just let go of any idea of "old Tiger" years ago when he couldn't make a come back, everything else is just living off his legacy.
Federer was at least competitive before winning recently. He could win another one.
Venus could reach another final as well.
Outside of a couple of good rounds, Tiger hasn't been in the hunt in forever.