Tiger Woods: Missing Cut Would Be a Blessing for Troubled Superstar

In almost all cases, I think that the best way to break out of a slump is to play, not sit. A batter mired in a 0-for-30 streak, a wide receiver with the dropsies, a forward who has missed his last dozen shots—each benefit from working out the kinks, not sitting on the sidelines and stewing. 

But I don't think that philosophy applies to Tiger Woods' current conundrum. 

Part of the reasoning behind that stems from the way he's played in the last hour or so. After a pretty horrific stretch on the front nine—which included that bizarre half-putt that landed well short of the hole and a bogey at a reachable par-5—he's strung together some good shots and grabbed birdies at eight and nine.

At even par through 10 holes, he has a chance to close out the day with a round in the 60s and even though that likely won't be enough to make the cut (you'd figure he has to shoot at least a 67) it would be something to build on. 

Much more important than that, however, would be the hall pass he would be given by the PGA Tour. 

Tiger wouldn't be eligible to play in the next few high profile events on the Tour, the ones associated with the "chase" (although, aside from the $10 million payday, to the players it's more of a casual stroll) for the FedEx Cup. 

The Barclays, the Deutsche Bank, the BMW Championship and the Tour Championship would only give him more opportunities for more scrutiny, something he doesn't need if his game isn't capable of producing a victory...which it doesn't seem to be right now. 

This wouldn't be nearly the same type of self-imposed hiatus that he went through from November 2009 to April 2010 and again from May 2011 to last week. It's not injury-related  or "personal issue" related, it would be all about his game and how it needs work.

We've seen Tiger overcome that type of problem before, following his "slump" of 2003 and 2004. He went back to the drawing board and with golf as the only monkey on his back, he overcame it. 

If at the end of today, he is sent home from the PGA Championship, and essentially the PGA Tour season, then he is can at least say it's because of his golf and not his knee, Achilles or the scandal. And for the foreseeable future, he needs that type of tunnel vision.