Tiger Woods: Reason For All Pro Golfers To Be Afraid, Even If You're In Europe

No single player can deny the dominance Tiger Woods has experienced as a professional golfer. Depending on how you stack them, he is in the top three players ever to touch a golf club (along with Bobby Jones and Jack Nicklaus).

The past two years has seen the "bottom" of his career, but take it this way: do most professional golfers over a two-year span win six tournaments, make over $11 million, while playing at their worst? Yeah, didn't think so.

This week, although not exactly what he wanted, Tiger Woods proved to the world that he still is here to stay. So how has he shown that he is poised for a comeback season, and what's in store for Tiger?

Sean Foley

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KOHLER, WI - AUGUST 14: Tiger Woods works with golf instructor Sean Foley on the practice ground prior to the start of the third round of the 92nd PGA Championship on the Straits Course at Whistling Straits on August 14, 2010 in Kohler, Wisconsin. (Phot

Tiger Woods' swing has undergone a great evolution. From the swing era with his dad, to the dominant years with Butch Harmon and the rotation swing, to the years with Hank Haney and and the hands dominant flat swing plane, all the way to Sean Foley, this is by no means a new thing. Tiger's swing seems to be somewhat reminiscent of his Harmon swing.

But it is by no means an exact replica of this swing. Harmon's swing was a rotation based, on plane swing, whereas Sean Foley's swing is slightly upright, and even has a little bit of Stack and Tilt sprinkled in.

While it may not be the swing which Tiger owned the 2000 US Open, it is a swing that will breed consistency. With considerably less motion laterally than Hank Haney's swing, and less club face manipulation, his miss zone will shrink.

As well, a slightly upright swing plane versus flat will change Tiger's miss to more of a fade.

Now let's also address his work ethic. Rumors of an eight-hour workday would not be a shock with Tiger, as he is the hardest working player, no offense to anyone else.

And with no direct family commitments, except when he has his kids, Tiger has the time to take this new swing and perfect it. However, in this time, Tiger may also want to work on a few other things, specifically...

Putting

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THOUSAND OAKS, CA - DECEMBER 5: Tiger Woods reacts as his birdie putt attempt misses on the first playoff hole during the final round of the Chevron World Challenge at Sherwood Country Club on December 5, 2010 in Thousand Oaks, California. Graeme McDowel

All though his putting was a ghastly 29.07, ranking 58, versus his 2009 stat of 28.44 which was 22 in the PGA Tour, Tiger has shown there are days where he has it.

The first two days at the Chevron this week Tiger putted impressively, and scored accordingly. However, in the final round, Tiger opened by missing two of three putts inside of five feet. That is not the Tiger Woods who performs best when leading.

However, what has to be taken from this is potential. Tiger Woods had three great rounds at the Chevron, but he easily could have run away with the tournament if he had made some very simple putts. That is what is bad for others.

Only Graeme McDowell, current US Open champion, posted four rounds that paralleled, and defeated Tiger. Why did McDowell win? Clutch putting. Sounds a little reminiscent of Tiger of years past. Putting wins tournaments.

If Tiger Woods puts out the effort he has, with ice in his veins, there is no chance for his opponents. Tiger's green in regulation percentage was over 80% this last week, and if he makes some more of those birdie putts, you can guarantee his name will be at the top again.

Losing World No. 1 Ranking

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SUN CITY, SOUTH AFRICA - DECEMBER 05: Lee Westwood of England tees off on the fourth hole during the final round of the 2010 Nedbank Golf Challenge at the Gary Player Country Club Course on December 5, 2010 in Sun City, South Africa. (Photo by Warren L

Yes, I am saying it. Losing the No. 1 ranking is a great thing for Tiger Woods. It is a reality check that he needed, and by the time it came, he expected it. It needed to happen.

The last time Tiger Woods lost this ranking in 2004, Woods re-took his throne by storm in 2005, winning five tournaments, including the Masters and the Open Championship. 

The motivation Tiger Woods has to win is unbelievable. He no longer needs to play for pay, as many professional golfers do. Instead, Tiger now plays to win, no other focus. This mentality is a real reason that any professional golfer should be afraid of Tiger. 

Don't think that just because Lee Westwood, Martin Kaymer, and Rory McIlroy favored staying in European Tour over the PGA Tiger will not prove his dominance.

They will all still be playing in every major, and Tiger will look to prove he is better than they are with the small window he will have. His biggest motivation is his biggest loss in this aspect.

This is not your ordinary golfer. He is Tiger Woods. And for that reason, every golfer, including Lee Westwood, needs to watch out for Tiger Woods.