Tiger Will Likely Return at the Match Play
by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 17, 2009 9:54 AM EST
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Jason Sobel hears the same rumbling that I've been hearing about Tiger's PGA Tour comeback. He and I have both been hearing that it's going to be the Accenture Match Play which will see Tiger's return.
Though I've been saying for months, purely on a hunch, that I believed Tiger Woods would make his season debut at the WGC-CA Championship at Doral, I'm ready to concede defeat, as it seems like every day there are more and more signs pointing toward that comeback getting started at the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship beginning Feb. 25. Don't be surprised if an official announcement is made later this week regarding Woods' return in Tucson.
The biggest sign to me was Carson Daly at the Pebble Beach Pro-Am. He said he had spoken to Tiger and that he would be back tearing it up in a few weeks. We knew he wouldn't be at Riviera, so the next event - in a couple of weeks from then - is the match play.
Why the match play? Well, if he loses any match, he can go home. He isn't locked into at least 36 holes. He's only in for enough to lose a first round match, although that's unlikely. Match play also requires a lot of aggressive shotmaking. It will force Tiger to fire at tight pins to make birdies. In order to win at Augusta, you have to have precision iron play. The match play format could be an easy test of where he is in his progress.
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insanity
There are two days with two rounds – Tiger is not going to put that much pressure on his knee – especially with all the up and down on that course.
Look for him in Florida – the CA at Doral. Very flat – very little rough – and plenty of wins under his belt there. (isn’t CA a new sponsor for Tiger ?)
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Feb 17, 2009 11:12 AM EST reply actions 0 recs
I'm telling ya
it’s gonna be the match play. I don’t stand by a lot of my predictions but this one, I do :)
by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 17, 2009 12:11 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
but only in it for one round ??
come on – that’s nuts. it goes against every competitive bone in his body. he is going out there to win – not to play some lame first round match and get beat.
in your favor – it’s not the straight ahead walking that will bother him – he can walk 36+ holes if he has to. It’s the twisting against the knee that is the problem – and if he has to warm up – play, rest, then warm up and play again – he’s going to be putting a lot of strain on a repaired joint.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Feb 17, 2009 2:30 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
From what John Cook said
Tiger played three rounds in three days with him recently. So the guy is playing regularly already. I don’t think Tiger would get into any event if he didn’t think he could handle the knee action.
And if I remember right, people with knee and other joint problems say that humidity really sucks for them. Doral is awfully humid. Maybe a bad place to start?
by Ryan Ballengee on Feb 17, 2009 2:32 PM EST up reply actions 0 recs
barometric pressure more than humidity...
…besides, they can have plenty of Granny’s rheumatiz medicine ready. :-)
…and it’s not that hot and humid in Miami that time of year.
…don’t forget the great Bobby Jones – there is a huge difference between golf and tournament golf.
"this ball will fit in that fairway"
by courtgolf on Feb 17, 2009 2:44 PM EST reply actions 0 recs
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