Tiger Woods: Breaking Down Icon's Chances at Remaining 2012 Majors

Tiger Woods is going to have to wait until 2013 to win his 15th major. 

The most enigmatic golfer of our generation has certainly shown glimpses of life this season, but after failing to hold on to his weekend lead at the U.S. Open, he only has two more chances in 2012—the Open Championship and the PGA Championship.

Tiger used to be able to transcend the golf course. His immense talent used to mean that no matter where the tournaments were being played, he would be the clear favorite—and you would be stupid to bet against him.

But he's not that man anymore. The 36-year-old Tiger is still elite, but he doesn't have the same talent he used to. The course matters, and if it doesn't fit him, it will be a tough task to overcome. In that sense, he's mortal. 

Unfortunately for Woods, the remaining courses in 2012 don't fit him well. Let's take a look.

The Open Championship

For the first time since 2001, the British Open will return to Royal Lytham and St. Annes, where Woods finished at one-under par, nine strokes off the lead in a tie for 25th place. 

Certainly not a bad finish for Woods, but that came at a time when he was expected to win every tournament. In fact, he had won the previous British Open and four of his last five majors. 

The only other time woods played at St. Annes at the British Open was in 1996 as an amateur. He impressively finished in a tie for 22nd place. 

What's worrisome for Woods, however, is that St. Annes isn't overly long. It's just 7,118 yards and has just three par-five holes. Tiger won't be able to take advantage of his impressive power.

Instead, with "some 200 bunkers (that) can be very exacting" (via ESPN), Woods will have to rely on his accuracy and sand saves.

That's the part of the game that truly killed Woods last week at Olympic, and it will hurt him again.

The PGA Championship

The last major of the year takes place at Kiawah Island Golf Resort, and it's the first time the PGA Championship has ever taken place there. 

And it's not going to be easy (via ESPN):

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Of course, that is nothing new for this tournament, which in 2007 played to 100-plus-degree temperatures in Tulsa, and last year was far from comfortable in Atlanta. At least Kiawah offers the possibility of an ocean breeze.

The Ocean course was recently acclaimed by Golf Digest to be the toughest course in America, an honor that a resort course might not want to boast about. If the PGA of America so wishes, it can push the yardage for the tournament beyond 7,600 yards. There is plenty of sand, water and heat, however, to make the place difficult enough without length.

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The extra length would benefit Tiger, but depending how the British Open goes, they could ease things up a bit and shorten the course. 

Nonetheless, it's still full of all kinds of traps and hazards to get players into trouble, and just like the previous two tournaments, it will take an accurate player to win. 

And there are more accurate players than Tiger Woods right now. 

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