SportsPulse: USA TODAY Sports' Steve DiMeglio dissects the historic course which last hosted the U.S. Open in 2004. USA TODAY Sports
SOUTHAMPTON, N.Y. — Tiger Woods needs a reality check.
“Absolutely,’’ he said Friday at the U.S. Open when asked if he’s convinced he can win another major championship, 10 years after winning his last.
The reporter’s follow-up question: Why?
“Have you seen the way I’ve been swinging?’’ Woods replied with a toothy smile.
Yes, Tiger, and we’ve seen the way you’ve been putting.
Absolutely he’ll win another major, at the age of 42, with his 155-foot yacht looking far more impressive than his golf game this week?
It sounded more like delusion than confidence.
Once among the world’s finest putters, Tiger now ranks among the also-rans on the PGA Tour — tied for 37th in putts per round (28.59), 89th in strokes gained: putting and 115th in total putting.
On Friday, it’s important to note, he did make nice birdie putts on his last two holes. But to assume that’s evidence he has regained his stroke is fool’s gold, considering his putting bore huge responsibility for Tiger being 10 over par after two rounds and missing the cut.
Over the years, Tiger has used four swing coaches to help sharpen his game while winning 14 major championships. All the while, he has never used a putting coach.
In fact, Woods has said in the past that he has taken putting advice from only one man — his father, Earl, who died in 2006. At home in Florida, Tiger has said, he uses computer analysis and he appears determined to fix his putting problems on his own.
It’s folly.
The reason Tiger is mystified by his putting struggles is the same reason countless other golfers are baffled by their own putting woes, said short-game guru Dave Pelz. It’s the nature of the game when golfers try to diagnose their putting ailments.
“That’s why teaching putting is a really good way to make a living because golfers don’t do very well on their own,’’ Pelz said. “Left on their own, they get confused about their putting stroke.’’
Tiger certainly looked confused Thursday on No. 13 when he four-putted from about 40 feet. And he’s looked routinely frustrated on greens during his latest comeback season.
That said, there is reason for optimism. Before the season, there were no assurances he'd even be able to compete with the world's best. But in nine tournaments this season, he has four top-12 finishes. It appears his biggest obstacles are reality and pride.
Reality: There’s no reason to think Woods is going to win another major unless he gets his putting problems solved. Pride: He needs to get past the notion he can do this on his own.
“If he’s really lost his ability to putt, then it means everything,’’ Pelz said of a putting coach. “It’s worth more than anyone would ever be willing to pay because it’s hard to believe how much money he could make if he could putt and win again.’’
It’d be the smart thing to do if he’s serious about winning another major — and about winning enough to cover the operating expenses for that yacht.
