Tiger Woods Honda Classic: Fallen Star Has No Shot of Winning This Weekend

For more than a decade, Rule No. 1 of golf was simple: Never, ever count out Tiger Woods.

Well, today I'm saying rules be damned and declaring something that would have caused the 1999-2010 versions of myself to punch me in the face: Tiger Woods has no shot of winning the Honda Classic.

There, I said it. No shot. As in there's a better chance of the leaders of Palestine and Israel holding hands and skipping down the Gaza Strip. 

Don't get me wrong, Woods is actually playing decently in his first venture to the Honda Classic. After a rough Round 1, he rebounded by shooting a 68 on Friday. In the third round, he put up a respectable 69, placing him at two under par for the tournament.

Unfortunately, he's nowhere near the top of the leader board because of some spectacular performances by his counterparts.

Rory McIlroy is playing like a man possessed, dropping birdies like it's nobody's business. He looks determined to become the second-youngest player in history to claim the world's No. 1 ranking, which he will do with a victory on Sunday.

He's currently tied for first place at nine under par and is shooting two-under through his first six holes in Round 3. He had a bogey on the sixth hole, but before that he strung together three consecutive birdies. And he's not the only golfer playing out of his mind.

Tom Gillis is doing surprisingly well, matching McIlroy stroke for stroke. Just behind those two is Justin Rose and a surging Keegan Bradley. Bradley is just two strokes off the lead and shows no signs of slowing down.

Woods has strung together a solid 50-plus holes at the Honda Classic, but at seven strokes back, there's no chance of him taking the title.

It would be a dream comeback and exactly what Tiger's faltering confidence needs. However, the reality is that he's got no shot at winning this weekend.