2010 PGA Championship: 10 Reasons Why Tiger Woods Hits Rock Bottom at the Major
Tiger Woods comes off the worst performance of his life at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone Country Club. But the (barely) world's No. 1 golfer gets no respite.
Tiger is back out there this week and must tackle the PGA Championship in the hopes of righting his personal sinking ship.
I'll take pride in foreseeing Tiger's downfall at Firestone, but this weekend may be even worse for Tiger who must overcome Whistling Straits to cap the geyser that is his golf game.
Yet, there are still 10 reasons why the PGA Championship will further bury Tiger in a hole he seemingly can't dig his way out of.
Lack Of Mental Fortitude
1 of 10
For over a decade Tiger was credited as being the most mentally tough athlete in the world, assuming the distinction from Michael Jordan.
He has seemed anything but in 2010. On the course or in a press conference, Tiger has come across soft and lacking the killer instinct or look in his eye that says he will come out firing
Talk About Pressing
2 of 10
Tiger has been pressing the entire time he has been on tour this season. It's obvious in his outward frustration, his sometimes risky and not thoughtful play and the physical way he has carried himself.
Now he comes off unquestionably the worst performance of his career and must show that he is not the player we saw last week. He must do that while trying to compete in the PGA Championship.
Going back to the previous slide, that lack of mental fortitude plus his pressing combined with Whistling Straits is the perfect cocktail for another meltdown.
He`s Never Been Here Before
3 of 10
Coming off a week in which he shot 18-over par? That has never happened before. Tiger had to get used to questions about his personal life, his wife, his kids, his mistresses and everything else surrounding his scandalous affairs.
But now Tiger has reporters asking him about his state of mind and whether he sees a therapist. The media is asking Tiger if he even has his head on straight. He has never been exposed to such questions.
Only a very strong week will get those questions to subside. A poor opening round on Thursday and all of that will just be compounded.
Swing Coach Won`t Help
4 of 10
Tiger brought along swing coach Sean Foley to Wisconsin to get some last minute tips before he tees off Thursday morning at 9:20 a.m. local time. However, Foley is not Tiger's go-to guy. Tiger admitted he has contacted other coaches to help him out. In just a few days Foley will not be able to correct Tiger's wayward swing.
Crisis Of Confidence
5 of 10
Tiger couldn't do anything right last weekend. He couldn't drive, chip, or putt. His irons were terrible and he was all over the course. There isn't one item that he can pinpoint that will alleviate his troubles. Tiger is in a situation where he is sticking one finger in the dam only to see another leak burst.
Whistling Straits
6 of 10
Wisconsin's Whistling Straights may be the closest example of links golf in the United States. Situated on Lake Michigan, the course is a beast at 7,514 yards with four par fours over 500 yards. The shortest par five clocks in at 569 yards. That is a beast even for Tiger's driver.
And, oh yea, there are over 1,000 bunkers on the course.
Throw in the likelihood of a stiff wind coming in off the lake and there is a recipe for another poor showing. Obviously Whistling Straits is no St. Andrews, but we saw how Tiger fared with those elements at The Open championship.
The conditions will not be exactly the same, but close enough that will make it tough on Tiger.
Take a Year Off?
7 of 10
The chatter is already starting to fill the ether that perhaps Tiger should at least take the rest of the season off. Last weekend's ego-shattering performance at Firestone had to at least put the thought in his end that a hiatus from golf may be best. Once that thought creeps into an athlete's head, it is very tough to undo it.
Par 4 Ugliness
8 of 10
Tiger has shot 25-over par this season on par 4s. That is all you need to know about his ineffectiveness in the medium game. This does not bode well for a course that is littered with absolutely giant par 4s. If his struggles to save par 4s continue, it is going to be a very, very long weekend.
Green Irregulation
9 of 10
Tiger just hasn't been bad at getting shots on the green in regulation...he's been awful.
Tiger ranks on average 190th on tour in greens in regulation from 75-125 yards. That is not going to cut it on the monstrous Whistling Straits.
He also ranks 170th and 179th at getting on the green in regulation from 125 yards and 175 yards respectively.
Bad Putting
10 of 10
Tiger's never been the greatest putter from long distance, but now the short ones are giving him issues. So far this season, he has made just 52 percent of his putts from 5-10 feet. That's just ugly. He cannot give away shots with poor putting from short distance.
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