Tiger Woods Is Now Merely Average, as Improved Play at Greenbrier Shows Us

Tiger Woods carded a bogey-free final-round 67 (his first since 2013) for a tied-for-32nd finish at the Greenbrier Classic. 

Woods hit 12 of 14 fairways for his final round and 15 of 18 greens in regulation, although his putter was again cold; he lost 1.33 strokes to the field with the flatstick. 

And suddenly, Tiger's good to go for the season's third major!

When you've dominated a sport and are the only golfer still capable of making the world—not just the golf world—talk, such is the burden of having every shot and round dissected.

Kyle Porter of Yahoo Sports: "Woods struck the ball incredibly well this week (for him, recently). He gained over four strokes on the field from tee to green. If he'd putted as well as he hit it, he would have legitimately contended."

ESPN.com's Jason Sobel: "[Woods] did leave Sunday afternoon with renewed confidence, increased momentum toward the year's third major championship and a relieved smile splashed across his face."

This opinion, of course, is in stark contrast to the mood following Woods' third-round 71. Saturday, TW hit seven of 14 fairways and hit 13 of 18 greens. Likewise, similar takes were offered regarding Woods' second-round 69, which saw him hitting a similar number of fairways and greens. 

Here's Nick Faldo offering a doom-and-gloom take following Woods loose driving performance Saturday (h/t the Irish Times):

"

When Tiger is under pressure, [his swing] is a completely different speed. There are plenty of pressure tee shots at St Andrews to avoid the gorse and put it in the right places. Under pressure he doesn’t like certain shots and he’s unable to deal with them. That is the mind game. Puts him under pressure and then the tempo is completely different.

"

Perhaps it's the loftiness of Woods-related expectations when the golfer was winning three straight U.S. Amateurs, the magnitude of his breakthrough win at the 1997 Masters or the impressiveness of his periods of dominance that account for the hyperbole in any assessment of Woods' play. 

Still, the non-needle-moving reality we stare in the face is this: Tiger Woods is an average to slightly above-average golfer. 

Save for his inability to activate his glutes at Farmers, Woods hasn't had any stated physical issues or limitations on his ability to practice. He's had plenty of time working with "swing consultant" Chris Como and hasn't shown any real progress, aside from picking up some distance off the tee. 

Steve Helber/Associated Press

Again, Woods finished tied for 32nd. He was 55th in driving distance. He tied for 61st in driving accuracy. He tied for 14th in greens in regulation. He tied for 52nd in strokes gained: tee-to-green. 

Tap the brakes on the "Tiger is back talk." His showing at Greenbrier: slightly above average. That's the reality dictated by the numbers, not a hyperbolic freak-out by Tiger fanboys or eternal detractors. 

It's worth noting that none of the extreme takes on the state of Tiger's game have had much staying power. Forget about the wild fluctuations we've seen across his career and just consider this year. Here's my rough approximation of the consensus take on Mr. Woods. 

Hero World Challenge (T17): Tiger may have the chipping yips!

Waste Management Phoenix Open (CUT): Tiger definitely has the chipping yips!

Farmers Insurance Open (W/D): Tiger's back is still an issue; he'll never be whole again. 

The Masters (T17): Tiger's third-round 68 proves he's still a major force. 

The Players Championship (T69): Nevermind, he can't find a fairway (hit 50 percent) or a green (hit 61 percent). 

The Memorial Tournament (71): Tiger really can't find a fairway (hit 44.6 percent) or a green (hit 48.6 percent). He'll never be the same!

U.S. Open (CUT): Tiger shot 80 in a major! In a major! He's absolutely, totally, completely lost! He ought to hang up his Nikes for good. 

Here's the reality of the situation: Woods turned in a vastly better performance at the Greenbrier compared to his U.S. Open finish. He had two good rounds and two not-so-good rounds for an average finish that left him six strokes off the lead. He was better. But he wasn't "good." And he definitely wasn't win-another-major good.

Turning our gaze from White Sulphur Springs to St Andrews: Reality would suggest Woods will finish somewhere between 15th and 30th at the British Open. Our hyperbolic friends will surely suggest he's destined to win his 15th major at a track he's won two majors at or see indications that he's destined to miss or barely make the cut. 

For now, until real consistency returns to his game, let's appreciate Woods' past glories and understand his current position at age 39 in the world of golf. He's neither ready for retirement nor on the precipice of winning a major championship. He's Ernie Els. He's Padraig Harrington. He's not a challenger to Jordan Spieth or Rory McIlroy. 

And after 79 career wins and 14 major titles, that's just fine. 

Stats via PGATour.com.