No doubt, Tiger Woods has never looked more ordinary on the golf course.
But one could argue that he’s also never arrived at this point of the year as a more fascinating study. Think about it: By the time August has rolled around in past campaigns, Woods has virtually wrapped up the money title and about a half-dozen player-of-the-year honors.
Ho-hum.
This year is different. When it was suggested to a colleague that Woods might skip the Barclays, as he has never shown a passion for that tournament, the head shake was emphatic.
“Don’t think he can skip it,” the colleague said. “It might be the only playoff event he gets into.”
It was a funny observation, but the fact that it might also be true strikes at the heart of this matter. Woods enters this crucial two-week stretch -- Bridgestone Invitational, followed by the PGA Championship -- in scramble mode, desperate for solid performances just to make sure his 2010 season continues into September.
OK, so it’s difficult to picture the FedEx Cup playoffs without him. And, sure, some of us wouldn’t be surprised if he reeled of consecutive wins and vaulted near the top of the money list. But is it also possible that Woods will stumble each of the next two weeks and not be much of a story for the playoffs?
Presently, Woods sits 80th on the money list, 111th in the FedEx Cup standings and ninth on the Ryder Cup points list. If he were anyone else, he’d be an afterthought with such status. Instead, he’s on everyone’s mind, and that’s why he’s probably more interesting than ever.
There’s the fact that Woods hasn’t won a major since the 2008 U.S. Open -- and if he doesn’t succeed at the upcoming PGA, it will be the third time in his career that he has gone 10 majors without a win.
The first time stretched from the 1997 U.S. Open to the 1999 British Open. How did Woods respond to that drought? By winning five of the next six.
The next time ran from the 2002 British Open to the 2004 PGA, which also landed on Whistling Straits, site of next week’s affair. All Woods did after that was win two of the next three, four of the next eight, five of the next 12.
But he’s not the same Tiger Woods this time around, you say. Actually, you’re right. He’s actually more interesting now.
