By MIKE JONES Associate Editor on Aug 13, 2010, at 2:24 PM Updated on 8/13 at 2:24 PM
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Tiger Woods is his own worst enemy, in more ways than one.
The horrible decisions and actions in his personal life obviously are having an impact on his performance on the golf courses. Being separated from your kids and losing about half your accumulated wealth while losing some lucrative endorsement deals would mess with anyone’s mind. Not to mention getting whacked in the head with a pitching wedge.
But there is also this: When Tiger became a pro golfer, it was a different world. He came along at the time when golf equipment and balls were changing.
The first big change I can remember is when Top Flight balls were first introduced. They claimed to go farther than the old balls. And, most important for golfers of my caliber, they didn’t cut.
One of the biggest problems and most expensive for average golfers in the “old days” (the 1970s) was that golf balls would but. In other words, when you hit one with an iron and the contact was a little off (which happened a lot for me and other golfers) or when careened off a tree or a cart path, or whatever, the ball would end up with a gash in it. I played many a round with a ball with a big smile on its face.
With some exceptions, the golfers on the pro tour were not exactly pinup worthy. They often were a little lumpy and had a cigarette dangling from their lips.
Then in the late 1990s, along came Tiger. He was a different kind of golfer. He was in shape. He hit the ball farther than anyone had ever seen. And he took advantage of all the new equipment.
So, a whole passel of new kids watched Tiger. They decided they wanted to be like Tiger. So, they got in shape and went out and bought all the latest equipment and newest balls.
Now Tiger, in his 30s, is the old man. All those kids who idolized him and emulated him are now hitting the ball farther than Tiger. They are playing the same kind of aggressive golf that Tiger taught them. They are in their 20s.
Tiger is reaping what he has sown. And that makes winning difficult. That and getting whacked in the head with a pitching wedge.
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