Tiger Woods: Why 2012 Will Be as Disastrous as Previous Years for Tiger

Tiger Woods entered the Masters as the tournament favorite but left it looking like a pedestrian golfer, who will endure problems the entire year.

Woods lacks consistency in his golf game and it leads to erratic results.

Sure, Woods won at the Arnold Palmer Invitational a few weeks ago, but there are telling signs that point to Woods struggling throughout the year.

Woods hit only 32 of 56 fairways in regulation last week at the Masters. That put him at second to last among players who made the cut.

Woods hit 40 of 72 greens in regulation, which also put him close to the bottom of the field in that category among players who made the cut.

Augusta National is one of the courses Woods plays best at. He entered the 2011 Masters coming off an extended break from golf and still managed to finish in a tie for fourth.

Last weekend was a different story. Woods looked uncomfortable all week as he battled his swing. On the tee, he had issues hitting a driver or three-wood in the fairway.

When he managed to hit the fairway, his iron play was just as shaky. He knew what shot he needed to hit. He's done it before at Augusta National, but he just could not execute it.

Confidence is arguably more important in golf than in any other sport, and Woods did not have it.

He looked timid about every shot, whether it be off the tee or in the fairway. He had no control of his game.

Snap hooks were the most common mistake for Woods, and they have been plaguing him since his return. However, he also pushed shots out to the right with his irons.

Shot-shaping is critical at Augusta National with the dog-legs off the tee and pin placements on the green.

Woods could not consistently control his hooks or his draws the entire week.

Woods was fortunate to finish near the top in putting for the week, or he would not have made the cut.

It'd be great for the game of golf for Woods to return to his old form. Fans and analysts keep pushing that the old Tiger is back.

However, he's clearly not and now lacks confidence in his swing.

To make matters worse, Woods irritated people by kicking his club on the 16th hole in his second round and using foul language after an errant tee shot.

When he's winning, it's easier to look past those antics. When he's losing, it looks petty and childish.

The good news for Woods is that he isn't entering a tournament until the Wells Fargo Championship at Quail Hollow at the beginning of May.

There is time for him to work out the major kinks that plagued him at the 2012 Masters.

However, he's been working on his swing for over a year now, and another major tournament has come and gone without a Woods victory.

Woods was perched on top of the golf world for years. He got a taste of greatness. Now, he can't get back to where he once was.

People are scrutinizing him more than ever. When does he start questioning his swing coach and his abilities? It's possible he already has.

Woods was not confident at the Masters last weekend. Woods did not have the same swagger at Augusta National that he has in year's past.

Golfers have to possess confidence when standing over a shot. Right now, Woods isn't sure where the ball is going.

That's a scary thing for a golfer. That's also a scary outlook for Woods in 2012.