Tiger Woods watches his drive off the 5th tee. AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast
There’s been nothing to suggest over the first two days of the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational that Tiger Woods will be in contention any time soon to win his first tournament since the Australian Masters in 2009.
Even less chance he’ll regain his long-standing world number one status he held for a record 621 weeks.
Today, Woods is ranked 28, his worst ranking since he first hit the tour in 1996.
More importantly, unless there’s a dramatic form improvement in the next month, Woods could well miss the FedExCup play-offs and the Presidents Cup.
He’s well out of the top 10 to automatically qualify, and simply not playing well enough to be considered one of two captain’s picks from Freddie Couples.
So much for the $1.5m to $3m appearance fee the NSW government’s special events will be paying Woods to play in the Australian Open at The Lakes in Sydney, the week before the Presidents Cup in Melbourne.
This is an embarrassing time for Woods, returning from a 12-week layoff after more leg problems. Obviously he’s out of touch, but he’s also not fit enough.
Both days at Firestone have been humid, and Woods has felt the pinch. Twice he’s finished looking drawn with no spark in his eyes – a combination of tiredness and frustration.
* Round one at Firestone, where he’s won seven times so he knows the course like the back of his hand – a 2-under 68 – with three birdies and a bogey.
* Overnight, Wood played catch-ups throughout his round, teeing off at the 10th. Bogeys at 14 and 15, with birdies at 16 and 17 to turn square with the card.
* On the way home a strange four-hole span – bogey-birdie-double bogey-birdie – for a 1-over 71.
The two-day stats tell Tiger’s story:
* Driving accuracy – 46.4% – ranked 64 in the 76-strong field.
* Driving distance – 310 yards – ranked 11th.
* Greens in regulation – 63.9% – ranked 34th.
* Putts per round – 28 – ranked 52.
That’s why Woods is in strife.
And with his morale and confidence low, and no Steve Williams to lift him as he’d done for 12 years carrying his bag, Woods’ ticker and experience will be called on – big time.
That’s if he can cope with being a mid-field golfer, and not a giant-killer any more.
Let Woods’ words describe himself best.
Pre-tournament, he told anyone who wanted to listen, “I am here to win”.
After last night’s second round, “I’m here to try to win”.
When it was suggested he take the latter line in future, like other guys would, Woods replied: “I’m not other guys”.
Go figure.
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