Tiger Woods will return to golf after missing 11 weeks with a left knee injury to participate in the Word Golf Championships - Bridgestone Invitational. In the past, no one would argue that Woods would be the favorite to win the tournament seeing as he has won it seven times. However, in 2011, Woods is no longer the dominant force of the golf world he once was.
Statistics do not lie, and Woods' 2011 statistics are a mere shadow of what they were prior to the scandal when he dominated his competition like a tiger prevails over the forest. Even in 2008 when Woods' season was shortened by reconstructive surgery on his left knee in June, his numbers on the golf course look lofty compared to his more par looking statistics this year.
However, injuries may only tell part of the story of Woods' declining golf game. It might be a coincidence, but since Woods returned from the scandal and his divorce last year, his golf numbers have been dwindling.
The one man who feels like his golf game is not past its prime is Tiger Woods himself. In an article by Mark Soltau on web.tigerwoods.com, Woods "says he feels the fittest he's been in 'years'." Woods went on to say: "It feels good to go out there...feel nothing and walk around and pretty much do anything I want on the golf course." One might argue that Woods' golf game was at its best when he was pretty much doing anything he wanted in life, so maybe this is a good sign for the once widely revered golfer.
Tiger's Golf Statistics Suggest a Fading Career
2011 so far...
- Six events, five cuts made
- Two top 10 and three top 25 finishes with zero first, second or third place results
- A scoring average of 70.75
- Official World Rating is 28th
- FedEx Cup Standing is 135th
- Total earnings of $571 363
2008 injury shortened season before scandal...
- Six events, six cuts made
- Six top 10 finishes with four first place finishes and one second place finish
- A scoring average of 68.90
- Official World Rating is 1st overall
- FedEx Cup Standing is 1st overall
- Total earnings of $5 775 000
Perhaps a Change in Caddies Will Help Woods Regain Golf Glory
After going through a messy divorce in 2010, suffering more leg problems in 2011, and earning less than 10 per cent of his 2008 earnings so far this year, Woods decided that a change in caddies was a necessary step to rejuvenate his fading golf career. After parting ways with long time caddie Steve Williams, Woods said: "Steve is a hell of a caddie, there's no denying that. He's helped my career...but I just felt like it was time to change things up a little bit." Woods did just that by hiring interim caddie Bryon Bell. Much has changed in Woods' life over the past couple of years, including his untouchable status as the world's best golfer.
References:
pgatour.com
sports.espn.go.com
web.tigerwoods.com
Josh Grant - Having written for newspapers since the year 2000, journalism is just one form of writing that Josh is passionate about. He has a ...
