Does Tiger Woods Miss Stevie Williams More Than We Might Think?
by Charles Boyer on Feb 14, 2012 9:33 AM EST
Email
Print
A Quick Dispatch From the Office Watercooler:
One has to wonder if Tiger Woods is missing his former caddie, Stevie Williams, more than he'll ever admit publicly.
Twice so far in 2012 and twice in a row now, Tiger has scratched and clawed his way into contention after three rounds of a 72-hole affair, only to sink back into the field and never seriously challenge the eventual winner as the final round heads to its conclusion. His swing seems to desert him, and his putting stroke is at best pedestrian -- hardly the skills that the former World's #1 player used to show back in the days when his reputation was as bullet-proof as his Sunday play.
Some say it's his new golf swing, and that he's not quite used to it, especially when the chips are down. Perhaps they have a point. Tiger often seems like he's not quite added the new routine to his muscle-memory, which was evidenced by his repeated practice swings before quite a number of shots on Sunday. Those swings didn't seem to be the sort meant to loosen the right muscles, instead, they seemed like urgent reminders of lessons recently taken. In short, Tiger looked like he was playing his swing, not the golf course.
Through the week, there were also times where his distance control and putting aim seemed a little off. That brings to mind something Woods' former caddie Stevie Williams said as an offhand remark back during the pair's heyday of winning nearly everything they entered. Paraphrasing, Williams quipped that sometimes he lied to his then top-player about distances, because he knew that when Tiger was excited or nervous, that he tended to hit the ball further than normal. The result of Williams fib was often magic, as we saw time and again. Williams also gave Woods a lot of help on the green reading putts, and given the results with Williams and without him, once can fairly conclude that Stevie's help was vital to the success Tiger saw during his best years.
That makes me wonder: does Joe LaCava -- Tiger's current caddy -- have his player's trust to the level that Stevie Williams once did, or is he simply a bag man who lets his golfers make all the calls. There's no telling, and truthfully, it's too early in 2012 to draw a firm conclusion, but it is something to keep an eye on as the year progresses.
14 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Whose hands are on the club
Eh, Charles B…..“Through the week, there were also times where his distance control and putting aim seemed a little off.” Charles, a little off? Really. How about just off along with could not get it done under the gun. Then you raise the SW bait. I do appreciate your noting “DaMan” left one of the most important aspect of the game to his caddy. Yes, they get paid to know yardage and help with course management however the bottom line it’s the players responsibility to know this as well. So maybe “DaMan” needs to get back to one of golf’s basics, know the distance between you and the center of the green and how far you hit each club in the bag.
Willimas
very, very rarely read any of Woods putts.
Putting is Woods problem. Can he find the solution? If he can, then he wins. If he can’t, then he becomes another victim to time and the flatstick.
The only thing Tiger is missing are his putts.
It’s all mental at this point, I agree. However I wouldn’t go so far as saying the absence of Williams is the reason for Tiger’s inability to close tournaments. Let’s not forget that only a few months ago most people were talking about how Tiger would never even contend in tournaments again.
He’s improving, but obviously still has a lot of work to do from a mental aspect.
www.ChicagoDuffer.com
I love
how others imagine they know what is going on in someone else’s head.
“It’s all mental.” Why and how do you come to that conclusion?
by chip n'putt on Feb 14, 2012 10:35 AM EST up reply actions
What else would you prefer to blame it on?
Is it his golf swing? Well, he’s been working on that for about two years now.
Is it his physical health? He said he’s totally healthy.
Is it his putting stroke? Everyone appears to think that it looked pure enough from our standpoint.
Maybe it’s his new Nike shoes giving him blisters, then? Or perhaps LaCava has bad gas whenever Tiger stands downwind.
He hasn’t been able to prove to himself that he can win again in large-field tournaments. Once he regains his confidence in the final round, then he will win.
www.ChicagoDuffer.com
by Adam Fonseca on Feb 15, 2012 10:59 AM EST up reply actions
It's his putting
and you don’t have to be a genius to see it. What he is not seeing on days like Sunday, is the right line. It’s also the wonderfully evil game called golf. He putted like a genius on Saturday and a drunk on Sunday.
To see what goes on in someone else’s head, requires both an ability you and I don’t have or an arrogance I don’t possess.
But Chip
I do think it’s fair to say there is likely something mental going on with the putting. Like you said he putted great on Saturday, so what was the difference Sunday? That’s the question, why? I agree it’s impossible to know what exactly it is, but something is going on between his ears. Lack of confidence or whatever. He said himself he didn’t feel comfortable on Sunday – that speaks to something mental in my view.
I do think he’ll figure it out. The good news is he’s playing good enough to get in contention (as a devout Tiger fan that sure beats the last 2 years). So I’d guess the more he contends the quicker the confidence will come back and he’ll start winning again. I think he’s pretty close.
The man who never alters his opinions is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.
~ William Blake
Who knows TH
and that was my point. You are right in saying that he will figure it out. He’s hitting too many good shots to think otherwise.
I sometimes wonder about his eyes. He had Lasik surgery a couple of years back and it doesn’t last forever. I don’t see much wrong with the stroke, but more the line he’s picking.
Interesting point
There could be something to that.
The man who never alters his opinions is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.
~ William Blake
He wasn’t using his putter from inside 120 yards, and he was missing greens, some badly, with a wedge in his hands. I won’t say that it had to do with LaCava, but there was definitely some indecision in the fairway.
Did you watch the line on Tiger’s ball Sunday ? It was rolling straight where he lined it up. His alignment was way off on Sunday, and he addressed it in the post round interview when he said he needed to tighten up his lines.
If at first you don't secede, try try again
Two days before Valentines Day…there did seem to be a bit of mist in Tiger’s eyes on Sunday…memories of Stevie ? :-D
I do think there is a little something to it. LaCava spent all those years with Mr Laid Back – Fred Couples – and they made a great team. Nothing ever bothered Fred and Joey was just as laid back.
Tiger, on the other hand, is intense and focused and doesn’t like tipping his hand to anybody. Stevie was absolute confidence and TW knew he had some extra muscle at his shoulder to cover the crowd. They were almost always on the same wavelength – but when Stevie thought something was amiss, whether it was a change in the wind, or the gallery was moving around, or he thought the club or shot was wrong, he stepped in.
It’s only been a few months since LaCava joined forces with Tiger, but I haven’t seen Joey step in even once. It seems he goes along with whatever Tiger wants. That may change, then again, it may not.
Jason Sobel watched Woods and LaCava go to the practice green on Sunday. He reported that LaCava broke off and went to spend some time with Phil and Bones. Somehow, I don’t think that set well with Tiger and wouldn’t be surprised if they have words about it going forward.
I think Tiger may come to miss that firm hand Williams had during the rounds.
If at first you don't secede, try try again
Not unreasonable
to surmise that Williams was a better caddie for TW than LaCava. TW’s play this Sunday is worrying for his confidence – but good for Phil’s, et al.
Why
do we always come back to “what’s wrong with Tiger” anytime he doesn’t win? The truth is only Tiger knows, and it’s likely he doesn’t even know or he would fix it. But I’d venture a guess that his caddy has nothing whatsoever to do with it. If Tiger was playing golf like he used to, I could carry his bag and he’d still win everything in sight.
What we do know is arguably the best closer in history is now, for some reason, having trouble closing. We also know that despite how easy Tiger made it look for over a decade, winning on the PGA Tour is very difficult.
My guess is (whatever it is) he’ll figure it out and I think sooner rather than later. I see today he’s announced that he’ll be playing 3 weeks in a row so I think that will give us a very good idea of where his game is.
The man who never alters his opinions is like standing water, and breeds reptiles of the mind.
~ William Blake
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
Have a golf story tip? Contact editor Charles Boyer and he will follow the story! Thanks!
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
