Tiger Woods: 15 Things He Needs to Do to Get Started on the Right Foot in 2011

Tiger Woods has been known for starting the year strong. Obviously, he didn't quite perform as strong in 2010 as he has, but the outlook is promising.

This year more than ever, though, Tiger needs to step up in the start of the year, or his year will quickly go downhill. However, this will not come as easy.

So what goals should Tiger be setting to kick off the year?

Stay With Sean Foley

At this point in the game, Tiger seems to be set on his swing coach. 

That will be key moving forward for Woods. However, he needs to trust Foley, and embrace the swing.

Unlike with Haney, where Tiger was allowed to take some liberties, Foley teaches a much more strict system of the golf swing.

Foley seems very willing to be thrust into the spotlight, and will not leave other students for Tiger. 

This is why he is good for Woods. For once in his life, Tiger is on the same playing field as other players.

Not only is Foley a willing participant, let's not forget he is highly qualified. His swing theory is an excellent rotation-based thought.

He focuses on staying in the same spine, and turning around it, keeping some weight toward the front.

This swing will work for Tiger, as he has had a rotation swing before Haney. Sean Foley seems to be a name that will be heard of more often as the year progresses.

Fine Tune Swing

There is no such thing as the perfect swing. Woods came close when he was with Butch Harmon, but to no avail. His swing was excellent, but shy of perfect.

Which is why Woods should, and is, focusing on making it the best it can be.

Rumors of eight-hour practice sessions daily are not a shock, and this goal should be easy.

The potential road bumps for Woods are few, but still there. His swing change may seem drastic, but his swing plane is changing by a matter of degrees, probably somewhere around five to eight. It is a small change for him to make, especially after the years of Haney.

However, the benefit Woods has is this is not the first time he has been taught a more upright, rotational swing. His swing with Harmon was exactly that, and Sean Foley's method has a few different nuances, but still bases around a rotation.

That feeling for Woods of the "Harmon swing," if Woods can recall some of it, will make the transition easier.

If Tiger keeps up the pace he was on at the end of 2010, his swing will be the talk of the PGA Tour once again (in a good way).

Re-Establish a Routine

Tiger Woods has a pretty good workout routine we can assume. He understands the body and its functions, and is able to plan accordingly for his workouts. 

I'm sure that's what he does with his golf game. However, he needs to alter his practice routine to include more of the putting.

Not only does Tiger need to practice the stroke to develop confidence, he needs to create a routine when he is putting.

When Tiger used to putt, he was a creature of habit. About 95 percent of his putts involved reading the putt (without help), step up, take two practice strokes, looking up at the end of the second to survey the putt, addressing the ball, taking another look at the putt, then his third total look, then hit the putt.

Tiger got out of this routine during the year. The Open Championship Tiger seemed to mull over a lot more putts than he has before, and for putting, you need a subconscious routine that just happens.

Pick a Putter and Stick With It

Pretty much since he turned professional, Tiger Woods has been using his own custom made Scotty Cameron Newport 2.0. He always seems to have struggled with the weight of it, often using lead tape.

This shows a difficulty that he has finding balance consistently, since Cameron's all have removable weights, which would provide more constant results.

Woods cannot switch between the Nike Method and "Old Faithful" all year round according to course conditions. What he needs to do is pick a putter out, and do what he has done... stick with it.

Not only would a single putter make it easier to weight the club properly, it would also make his routine more effective.

Woods does not have to choose the Cameron, or the Method. He just has to chose some kind of a putter. Many will argue that he has won too much with the Cameron to give it up.

However, when a golfer putts poorly, they cannot be afraid to change. Tiger Woods came off a terrible year of putting, and despite his previous successes with the Cameron, maybe it is time for a new twig.

Putt, Putt, Putt

If there is one key to any golfer's success, it's the putter. It can take a round of 50 percent greens in regulation, and turn it into a three-under success. It can take a 85 percent greens in regulation day and turn it into an 80.

Putting is the most important thing for a professional golfer, hands down. All professional golfers, no matter what kind of swing, can hit the ball on average a minimum 270 yards. They can all shape shots, control spin, distance, and keep the ball on the course. 

What sets a good professional from a great one is their putting ability. If you cannot putt, then your chances of winning a golf tournament are one in a million.

If Tiger can choose a putter and stick with that model, he will make this process easier.

The next step for Woods is to budget more time in for putting. He is working so hard on his swing right now, that even he admitted he's lost time with putting. 

That is unacceptable. There is no reason, with all of Woods' free time, that he should be losing time on any aspect of his game.

His putting may have been his savior in the past, but if he continues to lose practice, you will not see his name atop the leaderboard. Of course, choosing a putter will make this goal easier for Woods.

Take a Week Easy

Although Woods needs to work harder now, he also does need to realize to slow down every once in a while.

He has always been the person to work countless hours, and all though he cannot stop, he can deal with a one-week reduction of hours. 

Tiger needs time to center himself, hang out with his friends, have some fun. Good, clean fun. Not the kind he's been having.

It will no longer hurt Woods' image to go out and party a little bit, as long as he does not do anything regrettable, because if he does, he can rest assured that he will be in the spotlight again.

If Tiger were to do this, I think it would be a lot easier for him to come back the next couple of weeks champing at the bit to get back to routine.

Be a Dad

Once Tiger finishes having fun with friends, he can turn to his family life.

Now that he is divorced, Tiger is free to practice as much as he pleases.

However, he should not let this mentality make him neglect his kids. Rumors have said Woods is not around the kids very much, and that is not a good thing.

Tiger has to realize that although his golf game is struggling, he should not cause any further stress on his children. 

I'm not saying he has to split care equally, but he should make an effort at least every other week he is not playing to go and see them, or have them over. He does have room in his house.

No one expects Woods to be the main parent for Sam and Charlie, but he certainly can't, and I don't think will, disappear from their lives.

He needs to be there for them, because when they are older, they will resent him if he doesn't see them.

Losing the respect of fans is one thing. Losing the respect of your children is unbearable.

Be Outgoing

It is time for Tiger Woods to make a new group of friends. 

Yes, it is fun to watch he and Bubba play together at practice rounds, however, there are many people not fortunate enough to play with Woods.

Tiger is at the age where is wisdom of the game is great, yet not nearly as great as the likes of Fred Couples. Tiger could show the younger generation of golfers something he has found out, but still learn as well.

I don't expect Woods and Mickelson to be best friends, or even friends. 

However, it would be nice to see Tiger step out of the jungle and into the open, where he can be seen and liked by the public.

Act Like He Doesn't Care About Sponsors

Woods has become closer to losing his title as most wealthy athlete year-by-year, however, even a drop of over $30 million could not prevent him from taking the title with a sum just over $70 million.

However, this loss in income really doesn't matter to Woods, so it is best to leave it to his agent to the sponsorship.

Tiger needs faith in him, and that's what EA Sports and Nike are providing. Now, it will be down to a company to find Woods some viable suitors for his empty holes.

This one is easier said than done. Act like you don't care, or maybe stop caring about the money flow.

Relax On Course

As much as people wish to avoid comparisons, Tiger Woods and Sergio Garcia are a lot alike. By this, of course, I don't mean with winning, I mean attitude.

They both carry the same demeanor to the course, and that is, "I come here to win. Anything less is unacceptable." This mindset creates a lot of tension for these two (and other golfers, obviously). But specifically with these two, you can see it in them more often than most.

You can't beat yourself up for every shot that does not go your way, so why do it? Golf is a game of mistakes, and the goal is to minimize mistakes, something Woods has always been good at.

Seeing a new, more relaxed Tiger at later tournaments most likely helped him, but also relaxed many viewers sick of the antics. If he commits to this and minimizes his anger, life on the course will be a much easier walk.

Talk With The Media

Tiger Woods should not talk at the media, but with it. He needs to carry on a conversation, answering questions as honestly as he sees fit. 

And he should see it fit to answer every question honestly.

Woods should no longer make the goal to control the media as he has before, but let the media direct conferences. He can still have a say as to the direction of it, but he should let the press conferences take shape according to questions asked.

Doing this will show he is beginning to give up this dominant role which he has assumed in and outside of golf. He will still control things on the golf course, but with what people read, they may finally get a small tidbit of Tiger Woods.

Focus

Tiger needs to find his zone on the golf course. He came very close at the Chevron World Challenge, but Graeme McDowell proved to be the one with the golden touch.

Tiger was in position, multiple times this year, to make a move up the leaderboard on the third or final day of a tournament. But instead, he stalled or reversed.

The key to moving forward is his focus, his mentality. Woods needs to harness whatever he did when he won the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines.

Although it may not have been his best time on the course, the resiliency he showed was unbelievable. Only Tiger Woods has the blueprints to his mind, and he ought to find them and use them to his advantage.

Play As Much As Possible

It's understandable to avoid the media by pushing off the start of the season. It is even understandable to take time off to try and save your marriage.

However, neither of these problems are issues for Tiger Woods anymore. Being divorced has given Woods the opportunity to buckle down, play some tournaments, and make a run for a third prime of his career. 

The media has ceased talking about Woods' personal life as well, as it finally hit them that it is more likely to steal from Fort Knox than get Tiger to talk. 

Woods now has a plethora of time to enter tournaments earlier than normal, or play some stretches outside the normal schedule he seems to keep.

Win

Tiger needs to take the PGA Tour by storm next year, and it is no understatement to say this year is one of the most important of his career. 

This year, the most important thing every week is winning. And not just thinking of it, but believing. If Tiger can regain the confidence he has shown on course for so many years, he will rule Bay Hill once again, along with many other of his favorite courses (Torrey Pines).

It is easy to see a victory early for Tiger, because he plays his favorite courses early on.

However, winning once will not be enough. It should serve as a catalyst for Woods' 2011 tour schedule. Tiger has shown no reason to doubt his ability to compete, but as with the average golfer, sometime it takes one spark to start the fire. 

The potential was proven at the Chevron that he can play great golf. All he needs back is that go for the kill mentality that he carried into the final round, and that is what a win will give him.

Chalk this up as Tiger's No. 2 goal behind the next one, however.

Win a Major

What has eluded Tiger for two years now needs to be found.

Two years ago, Tiger was poised to win at least one major, while being in contention in all of them.

However, last year saw Woods make a move, then fall back too far to contend.

What Woods needs to do is get at least one major. This is not going to come easy, but it is the most important thing. If Tiger does not win a major again this year, Nicklaus' record is not impossible, but grows in improbability.

Yes, Woods has plenty to time to get to 18, but at a prime age for golf, he cannot afford to lose important ground to Nicklaus.

The No. 1 ranking was NOT included in this list for a reason. If Tiger does these things, he will not only gain respect, but the No. 1 ranking.

A major, plus other tournament wins, will be more than enough to supplant Lee Westwood, the current world No. 1.

Tiger's future looks bright, and now it is about making the most of his chances.