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Tiger has won 3 recent titles.
2 of them were playoffs.

- In the first playoff, he got a couple of pars and Nathan Green and Jose Maria Olazabal let the occasion get the better of them.
- In the next playoff, Ernie Els went into the water, so a par on the par 5 was enough to give Tiger the win.
- Then David Toms made a mess of a long putt, when he really should have got it much closer to the hole. Tiger had previously let Toms in by playing the 17th poorly. But Toms handed back an easy win for Tiger.

So with all these tight wins does it mean Tiger is going to win the Grand Slam?
I think he will win 1 at most. Why, people may ask. I just think that despite winning, it hasn't been convincing from Tiger. I think he has won, more by his reputation, whereas previously he was winning by his golf.

If someone stands up to Tiger I don't think he is as strong mentally as he used to be. There have been several cases where he has wilted a little and he just used not do that.

I predict 1 major, at most for Tiger, and alot of that may be due to his reputation.

Please, get a life. You give Wie all kinds of credit when she's NEVER won a tourney, yet you doubt the abilities of the greatest golfer you've ever witnessed? A win is a win. Didn't he lead wire-to-wire? Four consecutive rounds well under par? Without hardly ever hitting the fairways?

The fact is that that no one can consistently beat Tiger, even when his game is not 100%. Every week it's a different person or persons trying to make a challenge, but it's still Tiger on top. If every week the same 2 or 3 people were there waiting to pounce, I'd say his dominance was over. But right now, he's just warming up! Whether this will be his Grand Slam year or not - I doubt it. A Grand Slam will take four weeks performing at his peak, at just the right time. He won't win a major playing below potential, unless no one else steps their game up that week.

You wait and see - Tiger's best golf is yet to come!

Should he show up and hit shots, or just let his reputation do that for him? You still need to perform, and he performed better than everyone else in the field this week.

And which will be the one major that he wins this year?

rodney, Tiger struggled with his driver today, but had VERY good iron play (better than anyone else) through 16 holes. He was in full command of his irons for a while and he was even -5 through 16 today despite not making birdies on 2 par-5's. Of his 3 wins, I was more impressed with his ball striking this week. His driving is still suspect, but it's always going to be like that. He just made one little mistake on 17 with the wedge shot (which ironically came after his best drive of the day!) and after that he definitely started to make mistakes.

The fact that he is not playing his best right now and still winning is a bad sign for the rest of the PGA Tour. Unless he doesn't get his driver straightened out, it looks like he could have a big year (I'm thinking 2 majors at the Masters and PGA). He is driving it similar to 2003/2004, but so far he has hit his irons MUCH better than back then, which is making up for his deficiencies with the big stick.

He's won majors playing below potential before: see the Masters in 2002 and 2005. He's always got a shot at Augusta, even if he's driving it terrible. We'll see how this year goes, but I think he'll get more consistent with the stinger 3-woods and 5-woods, which should lead to a couple of major wins for him this year.

I don't know.
I don't think he will win the US Open or the Masters, so I guess it is the British or the pga championship.

This may sound silly but in golf, what is the/a Grand Slam? Thanks

I have no doubt that he is the best player in the world.
All I am saying is that I think his closing of the deal isn't what it used to be. There has been signs that he may in actual fact be a human being, and he didn't act that way a few years ago.

He has done very well so far this year. Given the way he has played, his results have been simply magnificant.
However when I watch a golf tournament I watch out for more than just the winners name. Has nobody else noticed that there may just be some chinks in that armour, that maybe a Howell or a Harrington could take advantage of.

Winning the 4 major tournaments in one calander year.
That is The Masters, The US Open, The British Open and The PGA Championship.

Actually, I was thinking today that David Toms would not have played as well if he'd been in Tiger's group. I love Toms (my second favorite golfer by far), but every golfer in stroke play has pretty much backed down from Tiger on Sundays for whatever reason. Chopra is the latest victim and I bet he's wishing he hadn't made that 70 footer on 18 during Saturday's round.

DAVID HOWELL:
In 5 pairings with Tiger, David Howell has had a better score than Tiger on 4 of those occasions. I know him personally, and this guy has one level head on him. He also dealt with Tiger just a few months back at the hsbc when they were in the final round pairing and Tiger put the pressure on, Howell responded brilliantly.
He isn't one bit bothered by all the attention that comes playing with Tiger in a round of golf.

PADRAIG HARRINGTON:
Had been an extremely talented and consistant performer and had lots of high finishes, but hadn't very many wins.
Last season, he won twice on the pga tour, and in both cases, he played extremely well down the stretch. I just felt that he had all that talent for so long, but last year he really learned how to close the deal. Then there were unfortunate events that ruined the rest of his year, but I like the way his game is coming together so far in the first couple of events this year.


That's just my reasons for picking these guys. Of course those of you are right who point out, that they need to get in position.
Few people doubt that Tiger can get in position.

I would give him the Masters. He has more than proven himself there!!!!

US Open is at Winged Foot. If he continues to drive the way he has he will have troubles there. I've played both Winged Foot courses and they are tight!!!

Don't know where the British or PGA are so no comment there.

brianf

I think the PGA is at Medina, but I could be wrong? If it is, that's the main reason I picked Tiger to win the PGA along with the Masters this year.

Completely agree with you league. Also, beating Tiger in a Euro event is a lot different than actually pulling it off on the PGA Tour, especially if both players are in the final group and Tiger's not 10 shots back or something starting the round.

Howell played with him Sunday in the final pairing and really kicked his butt.
HSBC Champions Tournament, 10 Nov 2005 - 13 Nov 2005

Howell started the round, just one shot ahead of Tiger and was paired with him.
Howell shot 68, Tiger 70.

The leaderboard

Okay, first of all, Tiger was just one shot back.
It was Sunday. Yes it was a Eurotour event but there were many big names like Vijay Singh there. It was a very high class field.
Howell stood up to Tiger, that was very refreshing really.