The problem with Tiger

As we've seen from this weeks performance Tiger's game has gone right off and whilst its correct to say that his tee to green isn't what he is capable of, the real problem lies with his putting. Specifically the short putts.

Tiger used to be near unstoppable from inside 5 feet but that has all changed. The statistics tell the story.

Inside 5 feet
2010 - ranked 59th
2009 - 4th
2008 - 1st

Between 5 feet and 10 feet
2010 - 150th
2009 - 9th
2008 - 72nd

Putts per round
2010 - 129th
2009 - 22nd
2008 - 20th
2007 - 48th
2006 - 137th
2005 - 33rd
2004 - 20th
2003 - 32nd

Unfortunately I can't get the short putt stats prior to 2008 but I'm pretty confident that Tiger would have been ranked up high. He has always had a high overall putting ranking except for the blip in 2006.

This loss of confidence with the short putts must be affecting the rest of his game in my opinion. There is now enormous pressure on him on every shot he makes as he knows he cannot putt himself out of trouble any more.

Personally, I don't think his overall game has deteriorated that much. Its always been his putting that has been the difference. Simply, he made the putts when it mattered.

Now putting is more or less a confidence thing. I think its fair to say that the traumas of the last 9 months have really got to him mentally. He changed putters at the British Open and that was the first sign to me that he is starting to get very concerned.

Can he come back though ?

Well, he needs to get his shit sorted off the course and get that swagger back. I think all it will take is a few good putting rounds where he holes everything under 6 feet and all will be well with the world though. But we have seen great players never come back from putting woes before.

If you're a golf punter then watch Tigers putting carefully the next few tournalments. If you detect that he is getting his mojoe back then you might be able to get some value. However, until then its going to be very difficult for him unless the course being played does not have much putting emphasis.