By Dan Jenkins
Back in 2001 I said only two things could stop Tiger Woods: injury or a bad marriage. People eventually called me a prophet, or maybe they called me a cab, I forget which. Anyhow, it’s time to speak out again on golf’s Fallen Idol.
Is he still going to catch or break Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 pro majors? No way. Why? Because he’s not the world’s greatest putter anymore, which is what he was for 12 years, from 1997 through 2008, when he never missed anything and majors fell in his lap like candy bars.
I never said Tiger was the game’s greatest player, because he never proved he could come from behind and win. Like Jack did in eight of his 18. Or like Hogan did. And every other great player. Jones. Hagen. Nelson. Snead. Trevino. Watson. When Tiger had chances to prove he could come from behind, he lost to such household names as Mark O’Meara, Rich Beem, Ben Curtis and Michael Campbell.
Tiger’s now rebuilding his swing for what, the third, fourth or fifth time? Why? Because he has to blame mechanics instead of his confidence, which obviously has been shredded. Before this, things came too easy for him: victories, money, fame. Oh, he’ll win a tournament here or there-he’s turning only 36 at the end of 2011, though his left knee might be 72. Time’s still on his side. So I’ll give him a Serbian Four-Ball or a Dubai Masters somewhere in the future.
But another major? In a world where Trevor Immelman, Todd Hamilton and Shaun Micheel win majors, maybe Tiger trips into another one.
Tiger today reminds me of the old Hollywood story. The female star who’s getting old is arguing with a big-time producer. She says, “I still have my looks,” and he says, “Honey, what you got now, you used to have.”