Tiger Woods: Why He Can, Why He Cannot Win The 147th Open

To no one’s surprise, the assorted members of the Tiger Woods Fan Club, aka The Golf Channel, were blithering and blathering on site at Carnoustie and back in the Orlando studios as well, chirping and chiming in unison as to how their favorite golfer of all time — Tiger Woods — will surely be right there come Sunday at the 147th Open Championship.

First, let’s all take a deep breath and take into consideration that Woods hasn’t even been to the Open in three years.

Second, let’s consider that his last outing on a firm-and-fast links golf course was a total disaster.  Seems the  Golf Channel Goobs  conveniently forgot that El Tigre threw a nifty 78-72 at ’em at Shinnecock and had the extravagant Privacy, his marvelous yacht, fueled for departure by mid-day Friday.

So now their folk-hero is there at Car-nasty, primed and ready to go.

So can he win?

Sure, anything’s possible.  Look at Brandon Stone with eight feet for 59 last Sunday at the Scottish Open.

Will he win?

Now that’s another story.

So let’s get right into it, shall we?

Why Tiger Can Win:

He remains to this day one of golf’s great strategists.  He has the ability to pick lines and follow them.  He used to be really, really good at that.

Second, he comes in off a top five finish at The National and the TaylorMade Ardmore 3 putter performed quite well.

Third, his short game has been quite stout during his return to action this season.

Fourth, he doesn’t have to hit driver at all if he so chooses.

Fifth and foremost — pure experience.  Who else in this field has won 14 major championships?

Why Tiger Won’t Win:

What has been Tiger’s biggest gripe when he doesn’t putt well?  You got it — slow greens.  These greens at the Open Championships are typically the slowest of the four majors.

Then there’s the devil ball.  Tiger has shown the propensity to hit wild tee balls when you least expect them — even with longer irons.

Pot bunkers are his kryptonite.  Tiger’s bunker play has been spotty at times, he’ll need to avoid them at all costs.

Too much time between starts — it’s been three weeks since The National.  Not sure if this start-stop routine is going to result in a victory any time soon.

Forty-two year old eyes.  Tiger’s putting won most of those major championships.  He’s had problems with his lines and he’s simply not reading the putts like he did in his prime.  Simple fact of life — young eyes are better than older eyes.

The field’s too tough, too deep.  Tiger benefited from a pretty sparse field at The National.  Not this week — all the big guns are here.

There you have it.

Job one for Woods is to make the cut.  He goes out late Thursday, very late.  Early forecasts have pretty good weather in store this week, which might make it an even playing field for everyone.

Will he be in the hunt come Sunday?

We’ll get back to you on that.