Woods to skip The Open...

[PThomas]

..it has just been reported

[PCCraig]

I'm guess he's trying to get back ASAP, otherwise he would of just called the rest of the year off like in 2008. So that would make at least the PGA / Fall Finish a possibility?

Too bad, golf's more interesting when he's around and in top form....regardless of what anyone says on here!

[Kalen Braley]

I never thought the day would come when I would think this...

...but all this evokes from me is a big YAWN!!

[Jordan Caron]

It's pretty sad that the golf world feels the need to "break" this news every time he pulls out of an event.  Why can't he admit that he's not coming back in 2011 and end the whole charade of whether he's playing or not?  It's almost as if they need this "news" just to talk again and again about Tiger Woods to attract viewers. 

[Terry Lavin]

No surprise in this announcement.  Not that it matters, because Rory is going to win by twelve strokes anyway, according to the blushing media...

[Jim_Coleman]

    Post steroidal breakdown.

[William_G]

It's pretty sad that the golf world feels the need to "break" this news every time he pulls out of an event.  Why can't he admit that he's not coming back in 2011 and end the whole charade of whether he's playing or not?  It's almost as if they need this "news" just to talk again and again about Tiger Woods to attract viewers. 

+1 pretty sorry state of affairs, but the folks in the news industry still see their "meters" move with "tiger", it's all business of course

[Kalen Braley]

Also good to keep in mind, summers are always slow "news cycles" when its comes to sports.

Football hasn't started yet and Hockey and Basketball have just finished up.  All there is is baseball and Tour De France to report on...so news outlets are going to jump on anything and everything that can drive a few extra bucks or traffic to their website.

P.S.  Yes I know, I didn't mention Neckcar.... errrr I mean Nascar, but is driving a car in circles for hours on end and fans only coming out to drink beer and see big crashes really a sport?   

[PCCraig]

It's pretty sad that the golf world feels the need to "break" this news every time he pulls out of an event.  Why can't he admit that he's not coming back in 2011 and end the whole charade of whether he's playing or not?  It's almost as if they need this "news" just to talk again and again about Tiger Woods to attract viewers. 

Sorry, but it is news when a 14-time major winner in his 30's doesn't play in a major.

[Jim Nelson]

I have never been a big fan of Tiger, but the Golf Channel commentators have been talking about a matchup in the future between Tiger and Rory.  If Rory wins a couple of more majors and Tiger comes back and resembles the player he was, what a matchup that would be.  Those are big ifs (not sure which one is more ify), but can you imagine the interest if they were the final pair at a major?  Off the charts.

[Matthew Petersen]

I have never been a big fan of Tiger, but the Golf Channel commentators have been talking about a matchup in the future between Tiger and Rory.  If Rory wins a couple of more majors and Tiger comes back and resembles the player he was, what a matchup that would be.  Those are big ifs (not sure which one is more ify), but can you imagine the interest if they were the final pair at a major?  Off the charts.

I think CBS's dream scenario is Rory winning both the British and PGA, coming into Augusta next year looking to complete and "Rory-slam" and avenge his disaster last year ... and being paired in the final round with Tiger.

Maybe that's just Tiger's dream.

But it would sure get eyeballs on TV screens.

[Craig Van Egmond]

Not surprised.  In fact I would be surprised if he plays at all again this year.

[Kalen Braley]

I hate to rehash....but Tiger:

1) Whether PEDs induced or not, he's had 2 too many injuries to that knee to think a full recovery is in the works.  Same thing happens in other sports, especially basketball.  Player wrecks their knee and are never the same again...think Chris Webber, Kevin Garnett here.

2)  Due to that injury, he'll forever after be playing on pins and needles wondering when its going to happen....yet again.  I don't think he'll ever be able to fully trust that left knee again, so he'll have to rework the swing...yet again for long term sustainability.

3)  Has lost his putting touch, which history shows.....pretty much no one ever gets that touch back once its gone.

4)  Throw in the other baggage, divorce, loss of face from his peers, hit to the ego, the loss of the invincible aura, etc, etc.


All those things add up to only conclusion....The guy is done as a top notch world beater.  That being said, he still seems fully capable of having a "fine rest of his career by any other non-elite PGA Tour player standards".  But if we're talking an over/under on the number of majors he'll win, i'd put the line at 1.5 and take the under.  Sure he'll rack up a few more PGA tour wins here and there, but the 3, 4, 5, 6 wins per year stuff is over.

Stick a fork in "alien" Tiger and say hello to grizzled, beard toting Tour Vet Tiger.

[Phil McDade]

Kalen:

I may take the over on that, just based on his play in the Masters alone.

He's played 15 Masters as a pro; he's won it four times, finished second twice, finished third once, fourth twice, and fifth once. That's 10 top-5 finishes -- two-thirds of the times he's played it, he's contended or finished close to the top. He clearly has something figured out there. As I've said before, Tiger with his C game contends at Augusta (see, this year, and the year before, and in 2006...), and with his B game probably wins one out of four times. With his A game, no one can touch him at Augusta. And Augusta can be kind to old golfers -- Cabrera and Mickelson have both won Masters at an age older than Tiger is (and will be for the next few years), and others like Nicklaus and Floyd have won or contended seriously there well into their 40s.

I agree with the rest of your sentiments, but I'd take the over on 1.5 more majors.

[Terry Lavin]

I hear he's going to date Casey Anthony, once she gets out of jail, having been acquitted of murdering her child.

[Kalen Braley]

Phil,

I did know that Tiger has had huge success at the field limited Masters event....that's why I put it at 1.5.

I figure he's due for one more Jack-esque type magical weekend when everyone, (not just me and a handful of others), will be claiming he's done!!   

[Philippe Binette]

found on golf.com


Woods makes debut in new commercial for Japanese heat rub
Read more: http://blogs.golf.com/presstent/2011/07/woods-makes-debut-in-new-commercial-for-japanese-heat-rub.html#ixzz1RHLqLBat

japanese heat rub... do I really need to make a joke with this knowing Tiger's past...

[Tim Martin]

It's pretty sad that the golf world feels the need to "break" this news every time he pulls out of an event.  Why can't he admit that he's not coming back in 2011 and end the whole charade of whether he's playing or not?  It's almost as if they need this "news" just to talk again and again about Tiger Woods to attract viewers. 

Sorry, but it is news when a 14-time major winner in his 30's doesn't play in a major.

I`m with Pat. Love Tiger or hate him it matters to the golf world if he plays or not. Do you know for sure Jordan that he`s not coming back? I didn`t think so.

[Jim Tang]

Tiger move the needle more than any other guy, and thus, anything he says or does will get reported.  I can't stand they guy, but that's the way it is.

I still say he's got one more run in him where he dominates for a 2 or 3 year stretch and wins multiple majors.  It's not like he's forgotten how to play golf.  Once he gets physically healthy and puts all the emotional baggage from his divorce/fall from grace behind him, it will be game on.

If nothing else, he will still be relevant at The Masters for the next decade.

[Peter Pallotta]

I hear he's going to date Casey Anthony, once she gets out of jail, having been acquitted of murdering her child.

Damn that's funny!

Peter

[Greg Clark]

I hear he's going to date Casey Anthony, once she gets out of jail, having been acquitted of murdering her child.

Damn that's funny!

Peter

Actually it is rather pathetic on a few different levels, and not befitting of this forum.

[Kalen Braley]

I hear he's going to date Casey Anthony, once she gets out of jail, having been acquitted of murdering her child.

Damn that's funny!

Peter

Actually it is rather pathetic on a few different levels, and not befitting of this forum.

+1  I thought and thought and couldn't see how that was even remotely funny...

[Kevin Pallier]

I hear he's going to date Casey Anthony, once she gets out of jail, having been acquitted of murdering her child.

Damn that's funny!

Peter

Actually it is rather pathetic on a few different levels, and not befitting of this forum.

I agree with you Greg

Back on topic - Tigers non-attendance is news but doesn't surprise me in the slightest.

Does one find it somewhat ironic that Tiger had something to say about Ernie's work ethic after knee surgery a few years ago when he has his own problems re. same ?

[Tom ORourke]

It has been 13 weeks since the Masters. That is 3 months. If I broke my leg 3 months ago I would be playing now. I know I stopped healing when I hit 30, and I think Tiger may be hitting that range where you just really struggle to get back to 100%. And the injuries just keep coming. I can't imagine him playing before the PGA if he has only played 9 holes since the Masters and is not practicing now.

[George Pazin]

It has been 13 weeks since the Masters. That is 3 months. If I broke my leg 3 months ago I would be playing now. I know I stopped healing when I hit 30, and I think Tiger may be hitting that range where you just really struggle to get back to 100%. And the injuries just keep coming. I can't imagine him playing before the PGA if he has only played 9 holes since the Masters and is not practicing now.

There is a world of difference between bones breaking and tendon damage, that probably has as much to do with it as age. And you are very right about healing over 30, that's something the younger posters will only understand when they've lived it. I agree with you about the PGA, don't really expect to see him there, either.