US Open Golf 2011: Top 10 Reasons Tiger Woods Is Furious About Not Playing
The US Open doesn't seem the same without Tiger Woods. Suddenly, Phil Mickelson is the guy to watch, and the most compelling storyline may be Graeme McDowell's potential repeat.
While some of us may be upset about a Tiger-less US Open, rest assured, he's more upset about it than we are.
Here are 10 reasons Tiger Woods is furious about watching the US Open from the confines of his home.
He's Not Just Out, He's Injured
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Look past the fact that he isn't in the field for a moment. Not only is Tiger not involved in the US Open, an injury has taken him out of the action.
He is being bogged down by injuries, and that has to be frustrating for him as he attempts to get back on track. What if resting during this tournament doesn't improve the condition of his knee? He's got to be concerned about the possibility of his injuries shortening his career.
His Major-Less Drought Drags on
2 of 10
There are some who think it would only take one major to get Tiger Woods back to his winning ways. The US Open would have been a great opportunity for him to do so.
As fate would have it, another major has come and will go, without us seeing Tiger hoist a trophy. Another major without a win only adds to the notion that Tiger Woods may have seen his last major victory.
He Could Have Been the Favorite
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Tiger Woods might have been the favorite, had he not pulled out of contention. He's won the US Open before, and unlike some of the previous winners, like Ernie Els and Graeme McDowell, it seemed likely that he could compete for another one.
He may have not been a runaway favorite, but Woods knows what it takes to win the US Open, and is better suited to play the course at Congressional than the top ranked golfer in the world, Luke Donald.
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He May Never Catch Jack
4 of 10
Tiger still has five majors to win in order to hold sole possession of the majors record. Jack Nicklaus is currently sitting pretty, and his record of 18 majors isn't being threatened whatsoever.
Winning that many majors takes golfing at an elite level for a long period of time. It appeared inevitable that Tiger would one day break the record, but now it seems almost like a long shot. Not playing in majors he has a decent shot of winning isn't exactly putting him on the fast track to breaking the record.
He Has to Wonder What Could Have Been
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Tiger Woods has to be sitting at home and wondering what could have been. How would he have approached the tenth hole? Where would his score currently be? How would his knee have held up if he would have tried to tough it out?
Woods may have been in contention for the US Open Trophy at this point, had he decided to remain in the tournament. His health is the most important thing, but it's difficult not to wonder how he would be doing if he were involved.
He's Wanted to Tie the US Open Record
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Jack Nicklaus, Ben Hogan, Willie Anderson and Bobby Jones all have four US Open Trophies to their names. It seems only natural that Tiger Woods would join the group.
He's got three at the moment. While three US Open victories are a wonderful accomplishment, four can put a golfer on a completely different level.
His Confidence Remains Low
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Nothing boosts a player's confidence like winning. Winning the US Open would be an even better scenario. Tiger's confidence seems shot at the moment. The once-fiery Woods was the epitome of confidence during the height of his game.
He's lost his swagger, and pulling out of the tournament entirely might be a worse feeling for him than if he had gone out and failed to make the cut.
He's a Competitor
8 of 10
While every professional athlete in the world is a competitor, some athletes take competition to another level. Tiger Woods wants to win at all costs, and he did for quite some time.
There is nothing worse as a competitor than being sidelined. Being removed from competition recalls the state of being imprisoned. Tiger is tied and bound to defeat by not involving himself in the mix.
People Won't Shut Up About It
9 of 10
I suppose I am guilty of this one. Every media outlet in the world makes Tiger Woods out to be the biggest storyline in every tournament he is involved in, and even tournaments he is not involved in.
He's used to the attention, but negative attention is going to take some getting used to. The most popular golfer in the history of the sport at one time, Tiger has regressed into nothing more than a media lightning rod, and I'm sure he hates it.
Win or lose, play or not, people can't stop talking about Tiger Woods.
His Life Continues to Spiral out of His Control
10 of 10
Okay, the affairs were his fault. You can even blame the majors drought on him.
The injury, though, is an act of God. Call it karma, but Woods' injury has completely taken winning out of his hands.
His personal life is in shambles, and since his father passed away, he has experienced a lot of loss in his life. Regardless of your stance on adultery, it's hard not to feel sorry for what has transpired in Woods' life.
This injury only adds to negative events that have occurred in his life that are beyond his control.
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