Proof Is in the Putting: 2011 Masters Tournament Begins New Era in Golf

Golf has been defined the last 15 years by one man—Tiger Woods.

Woods burst onto the scene averaging 300-yard drives, reading putts like 2nd grade-level books, and had a look that clearly distinguished him from the rest of the field. Over the last decade and a half, Tiger Woods was golf.

Gone are the days of Tiger vs. the field. Gone, too, is the era of a handful of greats.

Just how sporadic and varied, champion-wise, have the majors become since Woods' demise? Try 10 different champions in as many tournaments.

Many have debated whether or not this is good or bad for golf and, honestly, I have no opinion as I feel both have equal pros and cons. The real question is what happened to Tiger Woods? Why has he been unable to win a single tournament, major or not, since returning to golf after his personal leave starting November, 2009?

Putting.

Tiger, like many amateur golfers (including myself), left probably six strokes per round on the greens. Putts that lipped out, broke late, and putts that were really just poorly read or rushed plagued Woods all four rounds of the Masters.

Who putted like a champ? Charl Schwartzel. Oddly enough, he is the 2011 Masters Tournament champion.

Is Tiger back? Ask his putter.