It’s All in the Eye of the Tiger

Earlier this week Tiger Woods decided to cut ties with his long time caddie Stevie Williams. Shocking? Eh, not really. What was more shocking was the fact that it was announced on Tiger’s website. And to add another twist, apparently, both parties knew of this for weeks but decided not to leak it until after the British Open. After the stories of affairs, and eventual divorce between Tiger and Elin it never seemed as if the golfer and caddie were on the same page when Tiger returned to golf.

Why isn’t this move very surprising? Well, for one Williams hasn’t been working. He has worked this year’s Major Championships, caddying for Adam Scott, but other than that he has been out of work. And the fact that the two never really got that old chemistry back that they had before Thanksgiving 2010. But to me, this is the last step in turning over a completely new leaf, while some argue that Williams was Woods' last line of security, I would argue that this marks the beginning of a completely new slate.

And let’s face it, golf needs Tiger. But, not just Tiger, the Tiger that pumped his fist, the Tiger that chased his putts into the hole knowing they were good, the Tiger that made PGA events the hottest tickets around. And he has shown us glimpses of that this year, albeit shortened by injuries, but at the Masters firing a 30 on the front nine to climb into contention, and his performance at the Ryder Cup. He just needs to get healthy, because let’s face it, you can’t ask a lame horse to win the Kentucky Derby.

Most people probably figure it’s golf, you don’t need to be that healthy, and those are the people that are riding around in the golf carts once every couple of weeks. I can only imagine what walking 18 holes (7,000+ yards) for four straight days must feel like on your legs. Then throw in the fact that your knee and heel is bothering you that would make it difficult to golf I would suspect.

Tiger needs to come back healthy, and get back to the old “Tiger style” of golf that he used to absolutely dominate golf courses. I agree 100% with what Bubba Watson said earlier this year about Tiger over analyzing his swing when he was quoted saying, “Tiger’s swing is so mental". He’s exactly right!

I remember when Tiger Woods went out there, hit the ball straight as an arrow, and made some of the world’s hardest courses look like putt-putt courses. Now, he’s changed swing coaches, he’s switched putters, he’s worried about shaping his shots more, blah blah blah. What happened to the Tiger that went out and gripped it and ripped it? The Tiger that hit the stinger’s about 6 feet off the ground right down the middle? The Tiger that would crouch down, put his hands around the brim of his cap, and get that “Tigervision” where you just knew he was going to make this putt? That is the Tiger that I want back; that golf needs back!

Anyone who doesn’t think he’s still one of the best golfer’s in the world is crazy. We were all just spoiled by his dominance for the last decade+. He needs to be healthy, he needs to come back with that enthusiasm and moxy he used to play with, and he needs to win! And once he does that we will get to sit back and enjoy one of the greatest ever, go against the up and coming greatest to be in McIlroy. Then we all win.