Tracing the 5 On-the-Course Symbols of Tiger Woods' Fall from Immortality

Sometimes, objects that are well-constructed fall apart all at once.

Other times, it's a piece-by-piece destruction.

That's a pretty good description of how Tiger Woods fell from the the dominant position in the world of golf to a player has struggled through swing changes, coach changes, injuries and a Tour of competitors who no longer shrivel up and go away when he glares at them.

Here are five ways that has taken place.

Consistency, Thy Name Was Tiger

One of the hallmarks of Tiger Woods’ career, it was his ability to make cuts. That word really wasn’t part of his vocabulary.

But in his first start following his father’s death on May 3, 2006, Woods missed the cut at Winged Foot Golf Club in the U.S. Open.

He shot a pair of 76s to seal his fate, giving him his first MC as a professional in 39 major championship starts.

Tiger's Powerful Swing Eventually Took Its Toll on His Body

Tiger Woods took very good care of his body, working out and training to be the best he could possibly be.

His attitude toward that area of the game spawned a revolution in the mindset of his competitors, requiring many of them to see the inside of a gym for the first time ever.

But when he had a knee scope after the Masters in 2008, doctors discovered his ACL was completely torn.

That was repaired and it was discovered he had two stress fractures in his injured knee. He was advised not to play in the U.S. Open won months later at Torrey Pines, but insisted and eventually won in a playoff over Rocco Mediate.

He had to withdraw from the Players Championship in 2011, citing a lingering neck injury seven holes into the final round.

He didn’t round back into form until the end of that season.

Golf Shocked When Tiger Couldn't Hold off Y.E. Yang in 2009 PGA

Another part of the mental and physical dominance Tiger Woods owned over his counterparts was his ability to close out tournaments when he was ahead.

In majors, Woods was 14-for-14 when leading after 54 holes.

At Hazeltine Country Club in the 2009 PGA championship, Y.E. Yang ended that streak, punctuating it with a beautiful hybrid shot to 10 feet on the 72nd green for the clinching birdie.

Woods' Putter Stopped Being a Dominant Force

Tiger Woods, in his heyday, was being compared with the greatest putters of all time. His overall game was superior to everyone else’s, but he really put the hammer down with his work with the flat stick.

It was in that same 2009 PGA Championship that Woods needed 33 putts in the final round.

That was a few too many to hold off Y.E. Yang and signaled a run on un-Tiger-like putting performances. By 2010, Woods was ranked 167th in putting.

As Tiger's Game Eroded, It Was Tough Being a Green Leader

Tiger Woods played the game with the deadliest of accuracy, especially with his long irons.

From 200 down to 75 yards, Woods was the best.

In 2007 and 2008, Woods led the PGA Tour in the greens in regulation statistic.

In 2009 he dropped to 16th on that list and in 2010, he went all the way to 167th.