The Master of his Domain

    

     Tiger Woods wearing a Master's Champion Green Jacket

 

     Tiger Woods will try once again this weekend to win his 5th Master's Tournament and 15th Major Championship overall. He is the hottest player on the Tour, and after winning 3 Professional Golf Association events so early in the season, he is the odds on favorite to win again. The problem is, in recent years Tiger woods has folded in pressure situations, something he was never known to do before the situation in '09. So, in essence, the question is: which Tiger should we expect to see this weekend?

     Sports pundits like John Feinstein have drilled into our brains that Tiger Woods will never be the golfer that he was in the early and mid 2000s. However, what is that supposed to mean exactly? Tiger is still his same old self: He has regained his rightful throne as the number one golfer in the world, he is winning golf tournaments left and right, and he is even involved in another alleged sex scandal. The only thing that has changed is that he has not won a major since the 2008 US Open where he played through a double stress fracture in his left leg and a torn ACL, to defeat Rocco Mediate in an 18 hole playoff. Despite that, most still agree that it is only a matter of time before he wins another major.

So, what is the real difference in Tiger? Confidence. Pride. Swagger. However it is you want to word it, he is lacking the "Wow" factor that he has displayed in so many tough situations. The past few years, Tiger has played very conservative, which did not compliment his consistently poor putting. Augusta is a long course, the only way for him to come out with a win this weekend is to take out his best clubs and swing for the green. Laying Up does nobody a favor but his competition, a lesson the novice golfer, such as myself, learns by playing Wii Sports.

Words of advice: Come strong, or stay at home.