Rock Bottom

There was a period of time in my life  when I played golf as much as possible.  My playing  average was pretty consistent around 86.  During the summer when I was fortunate enough to keep it in the fairway and got all the extra roll possible I could play between 80-82 and and other time 88-92.  I broke 80 only four times. Those days when I carded a 78 once, 76 twice and 75 once I was able to keep the ball in play and made every forty foot putt.

Maybe 20 per cent of the time I beat 85 which is what Tiger Woods shot Saturday.  I would be shocked if Tiger Woods doesn't  retire from golf if his game stays in the state  it is in right now. 85 by Tiger is like me shooting 120.  Tiger has played at such a high level for so long but every golfer at some point in time loses it and it looks like it is Tiger's  time.

Johnny Miller for about five years was the best player in the universe but woke up one day with the yips and next came the TV booth.  It is hard for any player to maintain greatness every week.  Jordan Speith this year's best golfer goes two or three weeks where it is a struggle to make the cut.  Then over night he's near the top of the leader board.

Tiger Woods was near the number one golfer in the world for about 15 years.  His bad days on the golf course was a 72.  Never on the leader board for driving accuracy Tiger had the ability to get on the green and he never missed a putt under eight feet.

Still off the fairway Tiger no longer makes every putt.  The one truly down fall for Tiger now is he doesn't walk out to the first tee thinking that he is the best in the world and he made every other player play for second.

The way Tiger has dominated the game can you see him  having to qualify to even make the tour in the future?  I don't think any of us need to feel sorry for Tiger.  If he never makes another dime playing golf he will be like Arnold Palmer and when he is 80 he still be making endorsement money from all the companies that want to associate with him.

Every great one has hit the wall where they can no longer play at the level of champions.  Age, injury, family obligations and the stress of the grind of tour golf.  If you look at every tournament Tiger has played this year he is getting close to the end of the rope.