If there was a week which Tiger Woods fans thought would be a great opportunity for a comeback and a great showing, this was it. Torrey Pines is the stage which has produced eight Tour wins for Woods, including his last major victory, the U.S. Open in 2008 when he defeated Rocco Mediate in an amazing playoff.
Last week Woods missed the cut at the Waste Management Phoenix Open, suffering from what most experts called the “chip-yips.” “Yips” are usually associated with putting, where one has an uncontrollable, even jerky or spastic and uncontrollable motion. The yips are a curse for golfers, ruining even the easiest of shots. For one of, if not the greatest golfer in the world to have any form of yips is hard to fathom.
Coming into Torrey Pines, Woods told the press he was hitting the ball as good as he did at the peak of his career in 2000. That’s quite a statement. Many argue no player has ever hit the ball more pure, and more consistently than in that period of time for Woods.
Woods started the first round with a bogey Thursday, and it didn’t get much better from there. His driver was very inaccurate and his chipping woes still surfaced, despite one chip-in. As the round wore on, so did Tiger’s back. Toward the back nine Tiger’s playing partner was picking up his tees and he was moving “gingerly” as quoted by countless members of the press.
By the 11th hole Woods was unable to continue and withdrew from the event. The scene was crazy as press and cameramen swarmed Woods as he left the course and packed up his car. In a post round interview Woods cited back pain and his inability to “activate” his glutes. In order to support his back, Woods relies on strong muscles in the surrounding areas.
Those muscles were apparently not strong enough.
Where Woods goes from here is unknown. He will certainly be eyeing the Masters, but his eligibility to play in many other events is in jeopardy since dropping out of the top 50 in the world rankings. The next few months coming into April, Masters month, should be quite interesting.
