Tiger Woods: Five Reasons Playing Firestone May Ruin Him For 2010

Tiger Woods' return to the PGA Tour has come with its ups and downs. This week, Tiger looks to get back on track at a course he knows very well.

Tiger heads to Akron to again tackle the Firestone Country Club at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational.  

This weekend, and this course, appear to be the best opportunity for Tiger to feel comfortable, play well, and grab a win.

Not only is he the defending champion for the event, but he has won seven times on this course—a PGA record for most wins on one course.

But is it too much comfort for Tiger?

Are the expectations too easy and could they send Tiger further off the tracks for the rest of 2010?

Disappointing Open Carry Over

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ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - JULY 17: Tiger Woods of the USA tees off on the 18th hole during the third round of the 139th Open Championship on the Old Course, St Andrews on July 17, 2010 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by David Cannon/Getty Images)

Tiger hoped to get on the right foot at St. Andrews for the Open Championship, a course he knows very well and has achieved titles on before.

However, it never materialized.

Stepping on the course at Firestone and failing to win, or at least place in the top five, on a course he knows extremely well could be enough of a ego-bruiser. 

Maybe It's Too Easy?

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ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - JULY 13: Tiger Woods of the United States putts during practice for the 139th Open Championship on the Old Course, St Andrews on July 13, 2010 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Stuart Franklin/Getty Images)

Tiger is 5-for-7 at shooting at least 10-under par in his seven wins at Firestone. 

For him, it is an easily drivable course without too many difficult bends or lies. 

Could that be counterproductive?

Is a course that must feel like a backyard course for him, the right one to get him back on track?

The links golf of St. Andrews took him out of his element, but Firestone may present a false reality for Tiger and where his game currently is.

Driver Control

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ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - JULY 16: Tiger Woods of the USA hits his tee shot on the 18th hole during the second round of the 139th Open Championship on the Old Course, St Andrews on July 16, 2010 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Andrew Redington/Getty Ima

The one part of Firestone that could prove tricky for Tiger is its narrow fairways. 

That could be a concern for Tiger and his driver, which he has inconsistently controlled so far this season. 

Much of Tiger's dominance, especially at Firestone, is his ability to keep his towering drives straight and true. 

Tiger has not shown much of that in his 2010 appearances.

Failing to do so at Firestone could accelerate his existing frustration with the driver and take his game further off-kilter.

Meeting Expectations

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NOVEMBER 15: Tiger Woods of the USA tees off on the 12th hole during the final round of the 2009 Australian Masters at Kingston Heath Golf Club on November 15, 2009 in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Mark Dadswell/Getty Images)

Already newspapers, magazines, and television shows are decreeing that THIS is the week Tiger gets back on track.

It's all set up for him.

The course, the experience, the previous wins. 

Tiger is going to be bombarded with high expectations of his performance at Firestone.

Failure to win at Firestone and all the questions come flooding in.

"If he can't win a course he's dominated, when/how can he win?"

Tiger will be inundated with even further questions about his lack of victories.

The pendulum swings in his favor this week, but a poor or even mediocre finish at Firestone could very quickly swing it back in the other direction.

Compounded Pressure

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ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND - JULY 16: Tiger Woods of the USA tees off on the 11th hole during the second round of the 139th Open Championship on the Old Course, St Andrews on July 16, 2010 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)

Every other golfer on the tour can go a week or a month without winning and the collective public eye wouldn't blink twice about it.

Tiger?

Well that's a whole different story. 

Each event Tiger fails to win, the quicker he backslides to the rest of the Tour.

Tiger is not only losing his once iron-clad grip as the world's top golfer, but each time he steps on a course and fails to hoist a trophy, the quicker he falls back to the pack.

It wouldn't be the same for every golfer. Every Tiger shortcoming is compounded with interest.