2013 FedEx Cup: Tiger Woods says “He’s Out of Gas”

After fighting his way back into the Tour Championship on Friday afternoon at East Lake Golf Course, it all disappeared in three holes. If the 14th and 16th holes weren’t bad enough, the 17th drove a stake into the heart of the comeback, and left Tiger Woods one shot further back than he started the day with. The 14-time major champion admitted after the meltdown that he was “out of gas”

A nice article at the Bleacher Report by featured columnist, Matt Schaffer has the complete story of the disaster that struck the world’s number one golfer on Friday afternoon, and his present state of mind.

"In winning five tournaments this season in dominant fashion, some of the Woods’ mystique that made him all but invincible in his heyday showed up again in flashes.However, after an unmitigated dismantling down the stretch at East Lake Golf Club in Atlanta in Round 2, that aura Woods is known for continues to be diminished in golf’s most important events."

Although I agree with most of the assessments that Father Time, and old injuries are a big reason why the New Tiger Woods isn’t as good as the Old Tiger Woods, I think he spends entirely too much time inside his head. Too much time thinking about his golf swing, and not his game, and the task at hand.

I have written in the past that even though Tiger has won five times during the 2013 season, and two of the wins were WGC events, he needed to have a good showing in the playoffs to be a lock for Player of the Year honors. I think that after his performance during the playoffs have mirrored what happened in the majors this year, he no longer has the edge for that award.

Tiger will get a weeks rest, and have to make an appearance at the Presidents Cup, then we will be lucky to see him again before his tournament at The World Golf Challenge. Maybe that is exactly what the Doctor ordered, some time away even helps my golf game. Some time to forget about all the mistakes I was making before the layoff.

Most people say that you have to hit bottom before you start the comeback. Currently, at this writing, Tiger has a four-stroke lead over Charl Schwartzel keeping him out of last place. This has to be a hard pill to swallow at a venue that he owned during his heyday. Maybe it will be incentive for the aging veteran to get his head screwed on right before the new season starts.

Tiger needs to take a look at Jordan Spieth, who is unencumbered with swing paths, head position at impact, and alignment problems. Spieth is the new Tiger Woods, and could provide some inspiration, that you don’t need all of that technical crap in your head when your trying to play golf.