Opinion & Analysis

Can Tiger handle the pressure? The last two FedEx Cup events will be a clue

Published

13 years ago

Sep 4, 2013

Tiger Woods ended an ordinary second week of the FedEx Cup playoffs with his tied worst finish of the year, a tied 65th. Unfortunately for Tiger, his solid opening two rounds were cancelled out by a poor weekend, playing a combined 3-over par.

What was even more surprising was his poor putting all week that saw him sink just two of 18 putts in the 10-to-20-foot range. It contributed to his lowly tie for 70th in the strokes gained putting statistic for the tournament. For Tiger, who currently sits in 10th in strokes gained putting on the PGA Tour, this was unacceptable.

“It wasn’t my week,” Woods said after the tournament. “I didn’t play well and didn’t make anything, so consequently I wasn’t close to the lead. I just didn’t putt well. I didn’t have a feel for my [putting] lines. My lines were just off.”

So what can we make of Tiger’s performance at the Deutsche Bank Championship? Are we seeing a pattern that’s been largely overlooked this year?

Tiger is ranked second in both first- and second-round scoring averages at 69.96 and 68.73 this season. However, his third- and fourth-round scoring averages are a lowly 84th and 121st respectively at 70.92 and 71.46. Despite his impressive five victories this year, it shows he may be vulnerable when the pressure of trying to close out golf tournaments is on him.

In three of Tiger’s wins this year, he’s won by two strokes (The Players Championship, Arnold Palmer Invitational and the The WGC-Cadillac Championship). He also won by four shots in the Farmers Insurance Open and ran away with a seven-shot win at the Bridgestone Invitational. Those wins have put Tiger within reach of the FedEx Cup’s $10 million first-place prize, leaving him in second place after the Playoff’s first two rounds. This seemingly assures him a top-five spot heading into the season-ending Tour Championship in Atlanta in three weeks.

The statistics tell us one thing: Tiger is no longer a lock under pressure like he used to be on the golf course. The Fed Ex Cup’s rich purse along with the prestige and major-like atmosphere may just give us an insight as to where his game is really at.

Related Topics:Fedex Cup

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Troy Vayanos

Troy Vayanos was born and still resides in Brisbane, Australia. He has been a passionate golfer for more than 25 years and loves learning and increasing his knowledge of the golf swing. He lives and breathes golf from his local golf course to the professional tours around the world. His website Hitting It Solid delivers the latest golf instruction that helps you break 100 and beyond. You’ll also learn the 7 critical steps you must know to play better golf today.

9 Comments

Troy Vayanos

Sep 5, 2013 at 2:58 pm

Good point Matt, Tiger does play particularly well on golf courses where he has achieved good success in the past. Perhaps it would benefit his game to change things up a bit and mix his schedule around.

Cheers

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- Douglas
  
  Sep 5, 2013 at 4:06 pm
  
  Tiger not winning majors is purely mental. He is putting too much pressure on himself to beat Jack’s record. When he relaxes, he blows away the field. He is still the best golfer in the world of any generation and best closer.
  
  Reply Report comment
Troy Vayanos

Sep 5, 2013 at 2:56 pm

Interesting point Kyle, there’s no doubt his body is not what it used to be and perhaps he physically struggles to get through 4 tough rounds as he did in the past.

Cheers

Reply Report comment
Christopher

Sep 5, 2013 at 11:04 am

Tiger – Please go back to the Scotty Cameron!

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- John
  
  Sep 5, 2013 at 2:44 pm
  
  About as old and beaten as the “tiger go back to butch” statement
  
  Reply Report comment
Matt

Sep 5, 2013 at 12:45 am

After 16 years on tour Tiger has learned what courses fit his game and which one’s don’t. That is why he pretty much plays the same schedule every year, consequently four out of his five wins this year have been on course’s hand picked and tailor made for his game. It appears to me he doesn’t have the confidence in his game to play those courses not hand pick for his game such as the majors very well.

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Troy Vayanos

Sep 4, 2013 at 2:54 pm

No question Vic Tiger is still very hard to beat with an outright lead but the statistics prove he’s still not a sure thing going into the weekend. At least not what he used to be.

I wouldn’t bet against him but I definitely wouldn’t be putting the house on him.

Cheers

Reply Report comment
- Kyle
  
  Sep 4, 2013 at 9:12 pm
  
  I don’t think he feels any pressure through the playoffs because I don’t think he cares much right now since the majors are done. I don’t equate his weekend struggles to pressure, but to possible fatigue. This is the guy who’s won so many tournaments and majors that I don’t think pressure gets to him much aside from recent majors. Seems like he just uses up his good rounds and can’t get anything going after them.
  
  Reply Report comment
vic

Sep 4, 2013 at 12:54 pm

Give Tiger an outright lead going into the weekend and he is still a lock. Don’t kid yourself.

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Opinion & Analysis

AVL: My U.S. Amateur local qualifying experience

Published

6 days ago

Jun 5, 2026

Andrew Von Lossow

This past Monday, I played in the U.S. Amateur local qualifier at Rock Creek Country Club in Portland, Oregon. A full tee sheet from 7:30 a.m. to 1:55 p.m., the top 11 scores would make it to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying.

I teed off at 10:48 a.m.. With the 7:30 am tee time, you can get a feel for the leaders’ pace, and they were off and running on the challenging setup at Rock Creek.

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Getting to the highlight of the round on the par five 17th, a drive up the left side and 212 yards left to the front hole location. I took out a 5-iron with plans of middle of the green. The ball ended up 8 feet left of the hole, pin high. A slight downhill putt dropped in for an eagle 3 on the 17th. With the cut line looking to be anywhere from -2 to even par. This was the boost I had been waiting for all day.

With making par from the trees on 18, it was time to wait for a potential playoff with a posted score of one under par 71.

Three hours later, it was playoff time. 8 players for 6 spots. I made par on the playoff hole, which was good enough to advance to the U.S. Amateur final qualifying in July. USGA qualifiers sure deliver on all of the emotions in golf!

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7 days ago

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