Jul 21

Tiger Woods at the British Open: Back to awe and amazement

Just when I thought Tiger Woods had lost his ability to amaze and awe, he comes up with more.

In his storied career, Woods has been known mostly as a power player. Yes, he has all the other facets of the game, but he could always be counted on to blast it over whatever trouble might befall lesser hitters.

Now, he’s leading the British Open after two rounds and he has hit driver exactly once. Now, it’s true that his driver hasn’t exactly been laser-straight lately, and that is almost certainly a big reason why he’s been leaving it in the bag.

Still, he’s hitting 2-iron off the tee and then iron into the green on par-5s. His ability to lead the best players in the world without his long-time strength is, well, amazing and awesome.

Now, of course, all this has to be qualified – he hasn’t defended his crown yet. Still, it is something to watch.

« Tiger Woods at the British Open: a new, different era?

It's the "BRITISH Open," not "The Open" »

11 comments

§ Ron said on : 07/21/06 @ 15:23
Of course Tiger is hitting a 2 iron because he can't find the course with a Driver, the one time he used Driver Thursday he hit it so far off line he made it to a fairway, it was just another hole. The course is so dry and playing so short for these guys, plus there is virtually no rough and little wind, that a great ball striker is not necessarily going to be rewarded, a player that has a great short game, good putter and has the length to hit irons off the tee and forgo the Driver will be rewarded here. Put a premium on accuracy plus length plus brutal rough and you have the US Open and you will have a Tiger struggling. This British Open course is tailored made for how Tiger swings the club these days, not how he swung it when he was truly awesome, winning the US Open by double digits in 2000. Don't get me wrong Tiger is still the best player in the world, but no longer in a league by himself like the old Tiger! As Davis Love said Tiger in 2000 hit the Driver longer and straighter than anyone that he had ever seen, but that is no longer the case as the margin of error especially with the driver has been increased with this flatter around himself swing plane.
§ One-Putt said on : 07/21/06 @ 15:42
Tom Lehman misses the cut after shooting a 69 in the first round.

Colin Montgomery misses the cut with two mediocre rounds

Darren Clarke has a meltdown of monumental proportions shooting a dismal 82 in the second round. His carding of a Michelle Wie score unfortunately came before he had made the cut unlike Michelle who waited untill she was leading after three rounds.

The big news of the week for oldtimers is Mark O'Mera and David Duval made the cut.

What can you say about the Tiger? A two and four iron into a par 5 for EAGLE. Now that is something really special.
§ Howard said on : 07/21/06 @ 16:10
Hey One-Putt

#14 at Hoylake is a par 4, not a par 5. A two iron and 4 iron in the hole on a par 5 would be a double eagle, not eagle.
§ Doug said on : 07/21/06 @ 19:01
Tiger has something That Phil and Ernie and the rest don't. A text message from Annika that says "Now I've got 10 too."
§ Alex said on : 07/21/06 @ 19:27
Conducting a major champiopnship on a course like Royal Liverpool is a joke. Relatively flat, no water, no trees, skimpy rough or no rough, simple greens; it is akin to holding the US Open on one of the desert courses in the American Southwest. When the cut is at 1-under par, when the combined scores of Retief, Chris, Ernie, and Tiger, the first four on the leaderboard, is 27-under in one (the second) round, and when those four rounds consist of no less than 24 birdies and three eagles, then the course is simply not much of a challenge for these guys. I realize that as the PGA advertisement says, "These guys are good" but this is going to far. When three players break the competitive course record and two guys tie the former record, all in the second round, and that record was only 24 hours old, I'm sorry,but that course is just too easy for the competition. Seve was reported to have said that the US Open was losing it's luster because it was played on courses with too tough of conditions. He must love the links at Holylake.
§ putt4par said on : 07/21/06 @ 20:46
I was watching the Open again today on ESPN2 and to be honest, I've seen cow pastures that would offer more challenge.
§ One-Putt said on : 07/22/06 @ 00:10
"Comment from: Howard [Visitor]
Hey One-Putt

#14 at Hoylake is a par 4, not a par 5. A two iron and 4 iron in the hole on a par 5 would be a double eagle, not eagle."

I was writing about #18 in round one a 560 yard par five and his Eagle. I assumed you knew what I meant and did not include his putt.

Number 18 in round 1 was pure skill, number 14 in round 2 was a combo of skill and luck.

It is good to see Tiger rebound so well. Here is hoping he will go all the way.
§ One-Putt said on : 07/22/06 @ 00:14
"Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
I was watching the Open again today on ESPN2 and to be honest, I've seen cow pastures that would offer more challenge."

Yeah it looks pretty easy on TV p4p. Until you are staring straight up from a pot bunker.

Darren Clarke will be happy to tell you how easy it was in round 2.
§ One-Putt said on : 07/22/06 @ 00:19
"Comment from: putt4par [Visitor]
I was watching the Open again today on ESPN2 and to be honest, I've seen cow pastures that would offer more challenge."

Yeah it looks pretty easy on TV p4p and Alex. That is until you are staring straight up from a pot bunker 160 yards from the pin.

Darren Clarke will be happy to tell you guys how easy it was for him in round 2. If you don't mind getting your head cleaved by a 2 iron.
§ putt4par said on : 07/22/06 @ 10:08
Nah, Ya think?
§ One-Putt said on : 07/22/06 @ 14:22
Tiger vs Ernie

Retief vs Chris

Jim vs Sergio

While Tiger was struggling today Sergio put together a bogey free 65 to move up the leaderboard into second place.

Phil is MIA again.

There are no 65s left in the bag for Tom Watson yet he is playing a very respectable Open.

What a final round.