Tiger Woods: Why He Shouldn't Have Played at 2011 PGA Championship

I think it is safe to assume that Tiger Woods has become well acquainted with regret over the past two years. Looking on the bright side for Tiger, that process should help him understand the dump truck full of regret headed his way over his decision to play in the 2011 PGA Championship. 

The PGA Championship is just Tiger's second event since returning from injury, and it is now painfully clear that he should have just sat this one out.

Entering this tournament, it seemed like Tiger had hit his floor. While there was legitimate concern that he may not be able to pick himself up from that floor, it seemed unfathomable that he was not yet on the floor. I simply did not think it was possible for him to sink any further. 

Silly me.

You'd think I would have learned better than to doubt Tiger. Tiger owns "impossible" like the rest of us own "mediocrity." And, once again, he proved the impossible was possible.

Tiger has hit a new low. 

Woods just finished the most embarrassing round of his amazing career. Things started out well for him. He came storming out of the gate by going three-under through the first five holes. Then the wheels, axles, brakes and engine came off the bus.

Tiger went 10-over through the remaining 13 holes. The 10-over included three double bogeys. That is an amazing, hackerific (his performance deserves a new word) performance for Tiger.

Prior to today, Tiger's play had been well below his standards. But that still meant he was performing at an average PGA level, and an average PGA level is an amazing level for mere mortals. Today Tiger dipped below the golf Mendoza line. 10-over through 13 holes is Sunday-hacker-at-the-local-links-course level. 

That is not just a bad round for Tiger, but just a bad round. Tiger now needs a miracle just to make the cut. Out of the 114 golfers that have taken to the course (many are still on the course as I type), only five golfers have gone farther over par than Tiger.

That is an amazing fall for a man that once seemed invincible.

Tiger's image and psyche undoubtedly would have been better served to have sat this one out, and simply spent the time on the practice range.

The good news for Tiger is that it can't possibly get any worse than this. Wait, yes it can. Tiger can do anything.