Don't forget to follow me on Twitter @SholesHomewood or shoot me an e-mail with your questions and thoughts at sshomewood@gmail.com. Hackers, BREAKING NEWS!!!! There is an Eldrick sighting in Firestone! Well, at least he claims that he is Eldrick Woods. I have two legitimate questions: Where did he find that pasty 5' 10 ", 125 lb white nerd carrying his sticks? (And) What in the hell is that furry thing on his chin? Jeez, what type of "rehab" was Eldrick doing? He doesn't look ready to go out there and smoke the field. He looks like he is ready to smoke a fatty and play the bongos with his little pale sidekick caddie! Jeez... shave that catipillar. On the other hand and more serious note, I am extremely excited about seeing what type of game Eldrick brings with him to Firestone. It will be interesting to see how he faces the obstacles that face him, and there are plenty of questions that Eldrick can answer this weekend.
First, I am interested in seeing if he is really healthy. We have all heard the talk before, now it is time to back it up. It wasn't even 2 years ago that we heard, "I am ready to start competing and we will see what happens." That is not a man who was confidence in his ability and body. This time around he is singing a different tune, "I don't feel a thing. It feels solid, it feels stable, no pain. That's one of the reasons why I took as long as I did to come back is that I want to get to this point where I can go ahead and start playing golf again like this." That is a man who is confident, and if he is really 100%; that is one of the scariest things in sports. Before Eldrick starts winning, there are other questions that need to be answered.
What is the state of his golf game? Yes, he is healthy, but has he been playing? If so, what type of swing tweaks has he been working on? Tiger screwed his swing up a long time ago, but has he adjusted anything in his swing that can help him get around the course in a more efficient fashion. I have always been an advocate of "If it ain't broke, then don't fix it!" (I am so sorry for a little "neck" coming out in that statement.) Tiger had the best swing in golf during his "prime"! I mean, it was a thing of beauty, power and timing all rolled into one. It was unmatched. It even made "Captain Negative" (Johnny Miller) drool. Back to my point... with every coach, came a new swing tweak, and with every new tweak, came a less confident Eldrick. You’re talking about a golfer that during his prime, knew he could stick that ball anywhere he wanted to. Since he has lost his confidence, Eldrick also lost his greatest attribute: IMAGINATION. In golf, imagination is everything. Tiger doesn't hit the shot on 16 at the 2005 Masters without it. He doesn't make the putt on 18 at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines. Which brings me to my next point... he needs to figure out how to make putts. (I apologize for leading you down this long road, but this goes to show how one little tweak can destroy your whole game.) In his prime, Eldrick had a way of taking in the moment and willing every BIG putt into the hole. You just knew he was going to make it! If Eldrick can, some how, find a piece of his swing from his old days; it would be the first step to getting back to Tiger form.
The last question: Is his head still in it? Sure, he says he is focused, but is he really? I mean, look at everything he has on his plate... an ex-wife, 1,000 ex-girlfriends looking for their 2 minutes of fame, an ex-caddy ready to make his dime writing a tell all book about the pure debauchery that was displayed while Eldrick was playing his own version of 18 holes in a motel room, and a new caddie who knows this week will probably be his last. That is a lot of EX-Factors (Corny!). On a serious note, that is a lot of situations to juggle. Not to mention, as each year passes, the weight of catching Jack and immortality is slipping away.
Do I think that Eldrick will catch Jack Nicklaus? I think it is 50/50. The first huge step in the right direction would getting his game back to the point where I consistently call him Tiger!
First, I am interested in seeing if he is really healthy. We have all heard the talk before, now it is time to back it up. It wasn't even 2 years ago that we heard, "I am ready to start competing and we will see what happens." That is not a man who was confidence in his ability and body. This time around he is singing a different tune, "I don't feel a thing. It feels solid, it feels stable, no pain. That's one of the reasons why I took as long as I did to come back is that I want to get to this point where I can go ahead and start playing golf again like this." That is a man who is confident, and if he is really 100%; that is one of the scariest things in sports. Before Eldrick starts winning, there are other questions that need to be answered.
What is the state of his golf game? Yes, he is healthy, but has he been playing? If so, what type of swing tweaks has he been working on? Tiger screwed his swing up a long time ago, but has he adjusted anything in his swing that can help him get around the course in a more efficient fashion. I have always been an advocate of "If it ain't broke, then don't fix it!" (I am so sorry for a little "neck" coming out in that statement.) Tiger had the best swing in golf during his "prime"! I mean, it was a thing of beauty, power and timing all rolled into one. It was unmatched. It even made "Captain Negative" (Johnny Miller) drool. Back to my point... with every coach, came a new swing tweak, and with every new tweak, came a less confident Eldrick. You’re talking about a golfer that during his prime, knew he could stick that ball anywhere he wanted to. Since he has lost his confidence, Eldrick also lost his greatest attribute: IMAGINATION. In golf, imagination is everything. Tiger doesn't hit the shot on 16 at the 2005 Masters without it. He doesn't make the putt on 18 at the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines. Which brings me to my next point... he needs to figure out how to make putts. (I apologize for leading you down this long road, but this goes to show how one little tweak can destroy your whole game.) In his prime, Eldrick had a way of taking in the moment and willing every BIG putt into the hole. You just knew he was going to make it! If Eldrick can, some how, find a piece of his swing from his old days; it would be the first step to getting back to Tiger form.
The last question: Is his head still in it? Sure, he says he is focused, but is he really? I mean, look at everything he has on his plate... an ex-wife, 1,000 ex-girlfriends looking for their 2 minutes of fame, an ex-caddy ready to make his dime writing a tell all book about the pure debauchery that was displayed while Eldrick was playing his own version of 18 holes in a motel room, and a new caddie who knows this week will probably be his last. That is a lot of EX-Factors (Corny!). On a serious note, that is a lot of situations to juggle. Not to mention, as each year passes, the weight of catching Jack and immortality is slipping away.
Do I think that Eldrick will catch Jack Nicklaus? I think it is 50/50. The first huge step in the right direction would getting his game back to the point where I consistently call him Tiger!
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