Tiger Better Without Usual Length

[jdowning111]

After watching yesterday's clinic, made me remember something that Butch Harmon said about Tiger.  "He only needs 280 off the tee and he can beat everybody with his iron game."  Have to say maybe he was onto something, I mean did Tiger even miss an iron shot yesterday?  Yes it was best ball but think about it...paired with his son who's 12 they shot a 57 and he's no where near 100%?!?  

[Ferguson]

Presently, Tiger could swing with arms only and beat any 4 HC.  

[Feelingofgreatness]

Isn't that usually the case though?

How often do you need to be the longest guy off the tee to win?

The best golfers are the guys with the best iron games that can also putt.

Driver needs to be "long enough" and in play.

[Krt22]

2 minutes ago, Ferguson said:

Presently, Tiger could swing with arms only and beat any 4 HC.  

What if he didn't get to ride around in a buggy? 

[Duct Tape]

3 minutes ago, Ferguson said:

Presently, Tiger could swing with arms only and beat any 4 HC.  

A Golf WRX 4 handicap!??!!      😳😳

Edited December 20, 2021 by Duct Tape

[pingbling23]

Anyone have a breakdown out of their 119 strokes, how many were Charlie’s?

[bscinstnct]

11 minutes ago, Ferguson said:

Presently, Tiger could swing with arms only and beat any 4 HC.  

 

[Toybota]

Colin Morikawa with better putting?

[bladehunter]

3 hours ago, Krt22 said:

What if he didn't get to ride around in a buggy? 

Hell most of the “4 handicaps”  ride too. So would be even.  

[aenemated]

He's never been really known as a GREAT driver of the ball. Sure, he was second to Daly in terms of distance back in the day but if there's ever been any "weakness" in his game - a term I use clearly very lightly - it's being wild off the tee.

 

It's always been his stellar irons play; whether he's 230 out or 20 out. I don't think anyone can argue he's not the greatest irons player of all time - and it's not even all that close. 

 

If I didn't know he'd been out all year with a shattered leg and just saw the darts he was throwing nearly all weekend, I'd have just been like "Well, that's just Tiger being Tiger." 

[straightshot7]

8 minutes ago, aenemated said:

He's never been really known as a GREAT driver of the ball. Sure, he was second to Daly in terms of distance back in the day but if there's ever been any "weakness" in his game - a term I use clearly very lightly - it's being wild off the tee.

 

It's always been his stellar irons play; whether he's 230 out or 20 out. I don't think anyone can argue he's not the greatest irons player of all time - and it's not even all that close. 

 

If I didn't know he'd been out all year with a shattered leg and just saw the darts he was throwing nearly all weekend, I'd have just been like "Well, that's just Tiger being Tiger." 

he was 1st in total driving in 2000

 

https://www.pgatour.com/content/pgatour/stats/stat.129.y2000.html

[aenemated]

9 minutes ago, straightshot7 said:

he was 1st in total driving in 2000

 

https://www.pgatour.com/content/pgatour/stats/stat.129.y2000.html

 

Ehhhh, but his 2000 was basically the absolute peak performance of golf. 

 

Wasn't trying to say he was BAD - hence the qualifier of "term used very lightly" - just that it's the only part of his game that ever caused any real trouble. Aside from the chipping yips he had for a minute in ... was it 2015? 

Edited December 21, 2021 by aenemated

[miamistomp]

And Hogan as good or better iron  player

[bobfoster]

19 hours ago, Krt22 said:

What if he didn't get to ride around in a buggy? 

This is the biggest issue ^^^

 

Actually Krt22, I think he mentioned exactly that in one of the interviews. His swing has certainly come back - probably far quicker than anyone thought it would - but even he said he wasn't yet anywhere close to being in "golf shape". 36 holes in a cart is not remotely the same thing as 72 holes walking. Especially on a leg that (according to him) at one point actually had a 50-50 chance of being amputated (that was one serious freaking injury). Its almost shocking that he is even playing less than a year after an accident like that.

 

A scorecard on the Tour is 65 or 70 golf shots, but also (on average) a six or seven mile walk. Doesn't seem too athletic, but if you think about it probably half of America couldn't just get up and walk seven miles, let alone seven miles four days in a row. 

 

That's what I took out of this weekend. His swing itself, at times, looked very close to being back to the level he'd need to be seriously competitive again. What is not yet close to being there is the endurance. By the final day of walking a tournament I doubt that leg would support that swing (even though he has clearly adjusted his swing to take pressure off the leg). Right now he'd probably be in a lot of pain if he tried - though I'm sure he is working on this, and can obviously afford the best PT people on the planet. 

 

The interviews this weekend were, to me, possibly more interesting than even the golf. He bluntly said what probably most were thinking. He still thinks he can play PGA tournaments, but thinks his recovery time after them will be much longer. He'll pick the tournaments to play very carefully, and it will only be at most a handful a year. He outright stated that he'll never return to being a full time Tour player. 

 

Personally? I'll take it. I've been golfing for over five decades, and have gotten immense pleasure out of watching him play, watching what he did to the sport itself. Very few, in any sport, are that transformative, that electric. Michael Jordan. Barry Bonds. Wayne Gretzky. Ronaldo. Federer. 

 

Strangely, the fact that he'll only be playing a few tournaments a year will likely massively boost the numbers for the ones he does play. He probably doubled the eyeballs this last weekend. 

 

I'm personally happy he'll still go out now and then. And will watch every time I have a chance to do so. Love him or hate him (as some do), he is simply one of the best that has ever played this game we love.

 

 

Edited December 21, 2021 by bobfoster

[straightshot7]

4 minutes ago, aenemated said:

 

Ehhhh, but his 2000 was basically the absolute peak performance of golf. 

 

Wasn't trying to say he was BAD - hence the qualifier of "term used very lightly" - just that it's the only part of his game that ever caused any real trouble. Aside from the chipping yips he had for a minute in ... was it 2015? 

just saying, there was a period where he was definitely known as a great driver of the golf ball. 

[bscinstnct]

5 hours ago, Toybota said:

Colin Morikawa with better putting?

 

Ha! When you put it that way I thinkin like

 

Tigerrrrrr! Gonna smoke these chumps.

 

Again!

 

🤣

[TheNutman]

Tiger can win with different swings, bodies, lengths it just doesn't matter. He's Tigerrrrrr. Expect an epic St. Andrews victory. 

[Hawkeye77]

6 hours ago, jdowning111 said:

After watching yesterday's clinic, made me remember something that Butch Harmon said about Tiger.  "He only needs 280 off the tee and he can beat everybody with his iron game."  Have to say maybe he was onto something, I mean did Tiger even miss an iron shot yesterday?  Yes it was best ball but think about it...paired with his son who's 12 they shot a 57 and he's no where near 100%?!?  

His proximity was good and not so good, hit his 5w fat, Charlie was closer on several including a 170+ par 3. He played okay, they had fun. 
 

Long, long way to go and if he comes back and he’s only hitting it 280 off the tee he’s giving away way too much to the elite players. 
 

Edit: looking at a post below he’s giving up too much to everyone. Besides that, he likely won’t be cream of the crop with his irons if he comes back. Age is a thing and these latest injuries would probably have someone other thanTiger still trying to walk - but major level tournament golf? Hope he gets to a high level, but odds are stacked really high against him. 

Edited December 21, 2021 by Hawkeye77

[Mr.Cleeks]

I'm sorry but you aren't much contending on tour with 280 off the tee. Not in 2021 at least. 280 would be ranked 192nd on tour in driving distance.  The average driving distance on tour 296, 16 yards is almost a 2 club difference for pro's.  

Here are some guys who average more then 280 off the tee in 2021: Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Kevin Kisner. 

Edited December 21, 2021 by PHILsThemannnn

[bscinstnct]

7 minutes ago, TheNutman said:

Tiger can win with different swings, bodies, lengths it just doesn't matter. He's Tigerrrrrr. Expect an epic St. Andrews victory. 

 

What you using my Tigerrrrs now?

 

🤣

 

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/b331ea84-0762-4841-b396-260f9b4e88d2

 

[Mr. Grumpy]

10 minutes ago, bscinstnct said:

 

What you using my Tigerrrrs now?

 

🤣

 

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/b331ea84-0762-4841-b396-260f9b4e88d2

 

Your'e Greeeaatt!

[Quasimoto]

Obvious to me how much practice Tiger has put in from less than 100 yards. His wedges were stellar.

[Quasimoto]

20 minutes ago, PHILsThemannnn said:

I'm sorry but you aren't much contending on tour with 280 off the tee. Not in 2021 at least. 280 would be ranked 192nd on tour in driving distance.  The average driving distance on tour 296, 16 yards is almost a 2 club difference for pro's.  

Here are some guys who average more then 280 off the tee in 2021: Zach Johnson, Matt Kuchar, Kevin Kisner. 

Presumably by the time he is ready to return he will be at 300 or 310.

[getair23]

TW grimacing a few times on the back 9 Sunday was unfortunately very telling where he currently is. If there is anything left in that leg we know he will find it. 
 

If history is due to repeat itself. I’m hoping this generation’s 86 Masters wasn’t in 2019, and still on the horizon. 

[iBanesto]

7 hours ago, Duct Tape said:

A Golf WRX 4 handicap!??!!      😳😳

 

4 handicap but with a 400 yard average driver though.

[m d g]

8 hours ago, jdowning111 said:

"He only needs 280 off the tee and he can beat everybody with his iron game."

If any other top 50 player is hitting it 310, that's roughly 3 clubs (at least it is for us normies).

 

Tiger would have a tough time if he's hitting 6-irons into greens when everyone else is hitting a 9-iron.

 

He's good...not sure if he's that good.

 

The biggest benefit might be taking bunkers out of play that he'll no longer reach.

[AndersUK]

Tiger was producing 170+ ball speeds.  That is comfortable 280 carry plus roll out.  He knows how to control spin and hit a penetrating ball that will roll.

 

He can compete at most courses with that and he is not hitting a 6i against another players 9i unless he is playing with the very longest hitters on tour that can produce 190+ ball speeds.

Edited December 21, 2021 by AndersUK

[m d g]

5 hours ago, AndersUK said:

Tiger was producing 170+ ball speeds.  That is comfortable 280 carry plus roll out.  He knows how to control spin and hit a penetrating ball that will roll.

 

He can compete at most courses with that and he is not hitting a 6i against another players 9i unless he is playing with the very longest hitters on tour that can produce 190+ ball speeds.

Not a golf mathematician...just going off the number in the original post. Maybe it's only 2 clubs. It's still a lot. And I qualified it against a top-50 player, not a hacker...

[bscinstnct]

5 hours ago, AndersUK said:

Tiger was producing 170+ ball speeds.  That is comfortable 280 carry plus roll out.  He knows how to control spin and hit a penetrating ball that will roll.

 

He can compete at most courses with that and he is not hitting a 6i against another players 9i unless he is playing with the very longest hitters on tour that can produce 190+ ball speeds.

Ya, he should be able to average 295 maybe 300 given the tech these days.

 

That’s what he was doing in 2019 and he killed it. *But, he drove himself into the ground to get his game there. Not sure if he’s willing and able to do that this time around.

 

Prolly take a different approach. Play less overall, more down time, really ramp into majors. Something like that. 

[sevenputts]

He’s not hitting it 280 lol.. He’s producing 170+ mph ball speeds, he’s hitting it around 300 yards. Or more..