Tiger Woods Loses in Match Play First Round: Is He Really This Bad?

The last thing you’d expect at the Accenture Match Play happened: Tiger Woods lost in the first round to Thomas Bjorn.

It was some kind of karmic moment, as Bjorn is one of the few golfers who has beaten Woods in stroke play.

But that was 10 years ago in Dubai. Bjorn had excellent results from 2000 through 2006 and then slid a little bit in performance. However, Bjorn just won in Qatar.

Though Woods’s loss was surprising, it was not the only first round loss he has had at Accenture. He was also out early in 2002.

It was not any less disappointing that Woods went 18 holes and had to play sudden death. 

“Through the middle part of the round was pretty darn good,” Woods said after his loss. “I was hitting every shot I wanted to hit. Got myself back in the ball game, took the lead.”

He missed two up and downs on the back nine.

“The putt at 17 I should make every time,” he added. “I didn't do that. The ball I should have put in play on 19 and consequently I'm out of here.”

His drive on the 19^th hole was in the desert, another example of what has been plaguing Woods for nearly a year: accuracy off the tee. But accuracy was never particularly a strong suit for Woods, except with the putter, and lately that has failed him also.  

Think about it: other than length, are Woods’s drives what you remember—or are his recovery shots out of trouble and miraculous putts the things that make highlight reels? It’s trouble shots and impossible putts that he somehow willed into the hole. That is what he is missing.

Still, according to Bjorn, Woods is not a player anyone wants to face.

“When you look at a field and certainly a match play field, that's one person you don't want to play, because you don't know what's coming at you,” he said. 

That said, Bjorn’s assessment was that the match was a battle of bad shots.

“The golf today wasn't pretty at all from either one of us,” Bjorn added.

“Certainly early on we kept giving each other holes, and that's not really the way to do it. But it became more a match of—you know, more battle for both of us—but it became a tough match in the end because you just didn't know what was going to happen. Didn't know who was going to hit a bad shot next.”

Bjorn and Woods had some private words after the match, which Bjorn said will remain private, but he did offer a Cliff Notes version.

“What I will say is that the game of golf needs him back at his best,” Bjorn explained.  “And I've always been a great friend of his, and we've always had a good relationship. And I want to see him back at his best because I think it's much more fun to go up against him when he's absolutely at his peak.”

Bjorn had a first hand view of the current state of Woods’ game. Since he has played Woods at the peak, who better to assess the valley?

“There are certain things he looks like he's not comfortable with,” Bjorn began. “But certainly when he got up in the match, he started swinging the golf club a lot freer, and put some really good swings on it on the back nine. And certainly with the driver, it looked a lot better than it's done for a while.”

Bjorn was sympathetic to the length of time it takes to make changes because he has recently reshaped his own game.

“He's just going to need a bit of time to get those things sorted out,” Bjorn added, dismissing those who question Woods game. 

“I think we all know that he's going to win golf tournaments again. And when he lands on one, there's no stopping him. He'll go back and he'll get his confidence up and then he'll get straight back to where he plays his best. But it can take time. And sometimes it changes in a week, you know, that's all you need sometimes is just one week where it comes together. You feel comfortable and then you can be off again.”

In other words, somewhere inside Tiger Woods’ mind and body, there is a golf swing waiting to be released. Perhaps Woods needs just needs to reflect on the famous POGO Earth Day cartoon saying: “We Have Met The Enemy and He Is Us.” Then get out of his own way. Or have an out of body, out of mind experience and shoot a 63.

Right now, Woods is playing like he’s ranked in the 30s.  However, with the results at Accenture, he has only slipped to fifth. Amazingly, it is his lowest ranking since the week before the 1997 Masters which he won in commanding style.

Woods will be back, sooner or later.  Will it be Doral Cadillac Championship? Will it be Bay Hill? Woods has had success on both courses, and if he is able to get to the winner’s circle before The Masters, it’s a game changer for everyone else.