Tiger not being Tiger

Sure Tiger hits the ball a mile.  Sure Tiger has incredible touch with his irons.  Sure Tiger has a mental edge on every other competitor on the tour.  Or does he?  Golf, like every other sport, is as much mental as it is physical.  In golf the mental portion might just carry more weight and Tiger has always had the upper hand in the mental aspect of the game.  He might not have regained that mental edge in time for the Masters.

You can see his lack of concentration ins his putting stroke.  He is pushing the ball instead of touching it.  He hangs his head after every bad shot especially around the green.  A golfer's short game, especially putting, is all about confidence.  When you step to the ball to putt you have to know you got the aim and speed right.  If not you will push the ball left or right, or hit it to hard.  Tiger's putting is giving him away.  

It is not unusual for Tiger to be off pace after the first two days.  He has never shot better than 70 on day one of the Masters.  But he has never looked shaken.  This week he has looked unsure of himself and that is scary for Tiger.  His game has always been the mental dominance of everyone else.  He cannot let his mental edge slip way.  Especially this year with the course playing so easily.

There is a silver lining for Mr. Woods.  His opponents no doubt are still looking over their shoulders.  He still has something over them, he is still Tiger and there is still two days left.  The rest of the field is still unsure if Tiger is baiting them.  Lurking in the winnings waiting to over take them.  And he is.  They have every right to be worried because if anyone can right this ship it is Tiger.  He has always struck fear in his opponents down the stretch whether he is injured, as he was last year at the Tour Championship, or mentally unsound, as he is this year in the Masters.  There is always one constant and that is if Tiger can sniff the lead then he will win.  Watch out for Saturday.  Live like no one is watching and yes, I like golf.