Question:
I’ve heard the media use this phrase a few times in the past few years ‘Tiger Proof’, frankly it bugs me! I’m not a big Tiger fan because of some things he said (and things he did, that I witnessed) at the BC Open. I still wish him well, and think he’s doing good things for the game of golf (except it’s getting harder to get tee times these days 
But, Be serious media, here’s a guy who supposedly has ‘every shot’ can work a ball in more ways than most players on the tour. How can you ‘Tiger proof’ a golf course?? He’s long off the tee, has amazing accuracy with his irons, can putt on any greens. Where is the weakness that will eliminate him, and not other tour players? ’Tiger Proof’ is one of the dumbest media lines I’ve ever heard. He can drive a ball accuratly 280+ yards with out spraying it around like he does when he goes for the 330 yard drives. We know what he’s capable of with his iron play and putting. oh well …. I guess a guy can’t have a bad week without there being some underlying unfair disadvantage. How many courses were Palmer Proof, Or Player Proof, or Sarazen Proof, Or Hogan Proof, Nicklaus Proof? Did any of those players every miss a cut (I think so!!) Give me a break Media!! SB
Response:
Had a putt or three gone in, he would have been under 70. Just like the players, he didn’t make anything. Not worried yet. You ought to worry…..I drew Tiger in an office pool. Kiss of death. But, then again, I drew Michigan State. Maybe Tiger does have a chance.
Well, it isn’t as if he’s playing a bunch of hackers on an easy golf course. I wouldn’t expect Tiger to win without playing well at some point, you know. -joseph
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They must have done a good job, Tiger’s +5 after 12.
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They must have done a good job, Tiger’s +5 after 12.
Had a putt or three gone in, he would have been under 70. Just like the players, he didn’t make anything. Not worried yet. -joseph
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Had a putt or three gone in, he would have been under 70. Just like the players, he didn’t make anything. Not worried yet. -joseph
You ought to worry…..I drew Tiger in an office pool. Kiss of death. But, then again, I drew Michigan State. Maybe Tiger does have a chance.
Response:
snip< But the big advantage Tiger has is how high he hits the ball. This, in the opinion of many observers, was what gave Jack such an advantage at Augusta. With the greens firm, a high, towering shot is a huge plus. It should be an entertaining week. Randy
A couple of years ago Tiger might have had that advantage turn into a disadvantage if the wind picked up. He’s now become so proficient at the low punch shots, I doubt there’s any weather condition that would put him at a disadvantage. — http://home.midsouth.rr.com/joecartpath RSG Roll Call: http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/reedj.htm
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Although this may hinder long inaccurate hitters, this would probably help Tiger, because he is one the more accurate drivers on tour. Recently he has purposefully sacrificed length (about 10-15 yds) for accuracy: it has obviously paid off!
My guess about the purpose of the "second cut" is a bit different than what commentators have been saying. My theory is that they want it there to stop the roll of the ball more than to make second shots difficult. Longer hitters would be more likely to run the ball into the second cut and the roll would stop there. That’s fine, except that Tiger drives the ball so high that except when it pitches on a downslope, it doesn’t get or need much roll. And nevermind the really weird part, where he has become a straight driver. Butch Harmon isn’t kidding when he says Tiger is the best driver of the golf ball today, and maybe ever. His driving at the moment is at least as good as the best that Nicklaus, Norman, and Snead ever hit the ball. This year could be a Tiger blowout. Or if he hits a few loose iron shots, and it could be a great tournament. Or who knows, Tiger might lose his swing and we might see Jim Furyk, Tom Lehman, and Jesper Parnevik duking it out. Can’t wait till tomorrow for the first installment! -joseph
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It could also increase Tigers chances. Augusta is a course that places a premium on approach shots much more than driving. With the rough that have added, the power hitters who will be hitting shorter shots into the green, would have an even greater advantage.
Contrary to what popular opinion might be on the state of Woods’ game, he has not been doing really well on the par 4’s. Look at his scoring stats for his last few tournaments and you will see that he has been in the hunt strictly due to his ability to beat up the par 5’s. At TPC, for example, he played the par 3’s and the par 4’s in a combined over par score. The week before, he played the par 3’s and par 4’s barely under par. His performance on the par 5’s was outstanding, of course, thus his low total scores. My prediction is to expect more of the same at Augusta. The winner will more than likely not be Woods. I am predicting another European winner, as a matter of fact. I just do not know which one 
Craig.
David Goldstein
Response:
I don’t think there’s a way to Tiger-proof a course unless you create a course where Tiger can’t use any of his creativity. – Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I read something on golf.com about Augusta being "Tiger-proofed" so as to make it more difficult for him. Adding trees, making fairways narrower, etc. Is this bullshit or are they (powers that be) really trying to reduce Tiger’s chances? Obviously, if they make it riskier for long hitters to drive it long, Tiger’s advantage is taken away.
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"R0dent" wrote … I read something on golf.com about Augusta being "Tiger-proofed" so as to make it more difficult for him. Adding trees, making fairways narrower, etc. Is this bullshit or are they (powers that be) really trying to reduce Tiger’s chances?
No. Obviously, if they make it riskier for long hitters to drive it long, Tiger’s advantage is taken away.
Over the years, with the improvements in technology, more and more players have been hitting the ball farther and farther. On the par five 13th and 15th holes, for instance, players "back in the day" typically would need a fairway wood or long iron to reach these par fives in two shots. Any more, most of the long hitters need no more than a 5 or 6 iron. And in ‘97, Tiger reached 15 with a wedge or 9-iron on all four days. They’re just wanting to make the course "state of the art" so it continues to stand up to the talent level of professional golfers. Does this take Tiger’s advantage away? I don’t think so. He can hit a 2-iron out there where most players hit their driver, and he can hit it more accurately than they hit their driver. But with the fairways narrowed, other players will have to decide whether they, too, want to hit irons off the tees. So whatever yardage they gain on Tiger by him having to hit iron is lost, because they may hit iron, too. And even if they hit driver out where Tiger hits his 2-iron, he’s still got a 7-iron approach while they have a 5-iron approach, so he’s still got an advantage. But the big advantage Tiger has is how high he hits the ball. This, in the opinion of many observers, was what gave Jack such an advantage at Augusta. With the greens firm, a high, towering shot is a huge plus. It should be an entertaining week. Randy
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Although this may hinder long inaccurate hitters, this would probably help Tiger, because he is one the more accurate drivers on tour. Recently he has purposefully sacrificed length (about 10-15 yds) for accuracy: it has obviously paid off! Thomas Bell
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I read something on golf.com about Augusta being "Tiger-proofed" so as to make it more difficult for him. Adding trees, making fairways narrower, etc. Is this bullshit or are they (powers that be) really trying to reduce Tiger’s chances? Obviously, if they make it riskier for long hitters to drive it long, Tiger’s advantage is taken away.
Response:
I read something on golf.com about Augusta being "Tiger-proofed" so as to make it more difficult for him. Adding trees, making fairways narrower, etc. Is this bullshit or are they (powers that be) really trying to reduce Tiger’s chances? Obviously, if they make it riskier for long hitters to drive it long, Tiger’s advantage is taken away.
It’s just crap that sports writers come up with. Like when Micro$ost says that Windows 200 has a lower Total Cost of Ownership. — The DeMented Golfer Golf spelled backwards is flog Rick DeMent "Time to pull a quick Hank Snow." RSG roll call http://u1.netgate.net/~kirby34/rsg/dementr.htm To reply remove the XX from my E-mail address
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Considering Tiger was ranked number 1 at total driving last year (which accounts for both distance and accuracy), I’d say that’s bull.
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It could also increase Tigers chances. Augusta is a course that places a premium on approach shots much more than driving. With the rough that have added, the power hitters who will be hitting shorter shots into the green, would have an even greater advantage. Craig.
– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – I read something on golf.com about Augusta being "Tiger-proofed" so as to make it more difficult for him. Adding trees, making fairways narrower, etc. Is this bullshit or are they (powers that be) really trying to reduce Tiger’s chances? Obviously, if they make it riskier for long hitters to drive it long, Tiger’s advantage is taken away.