A First Time For Every Swing: Tiger Woods' Major Defeat Offers New Experience

I’ve been watching golfer Tiger Woods on the tube for many years. At the PGA Championship on Sunday was the first time I have ever seen him rattled.

It all the started on the 14th hole when he missed a putt he normally would make in pressure situations, especially in a major tournament.

As the camera panned in on his face you could see a shaken, frustrated man. He never recovered after that putt.

Normally, Tiger is cool, calm and collective. Usually you would see a little bit of anger on his face after missing a putt, followed by intense determination. That uncanny ability he has to block everything out except the task at hand was no where to be found.

Not on this Sunday at a major tournament. All I saw was a golfer going through the motions. For some reason, that determination or will power he always seems to possess was not with him late in the final round.

Instead, a relatively unknown named Y.E.Yang pulled off the shot of the golf tournament on the 18th hole putting his second shot eight feet from the pin. Isn’t that kind of shot reserved only for Tiger Woods? After all, time and time again we see Tiger make miraculous shots when the tournament is on the line.

It caught me totally by surprise!! This time the other guy made the miraculous shot.

Does this mean Tiger Woods lost his drive and determination? Ridiculous!! All it means is that he is human. Tiger is still the greatest golfer in the world and is sure to win many more major championships. It was, however, a new experience. One I’m sure he will use to his advantage.