Abu Dhabi Golf Championship: Tiger Woods lets down fans once again
Tiger Woods has let down his fans once again, as he failed to perform his best in the Abu Dhabi Golf Championship this week.
The former world number one was expected to prove his real skills after a long winning drought.
However, he looked disappointed when he saw the Abu Dhabi title slip out of his hands and a lesser known player, Robert Rock, reach atop the leaderboard.
There were high expectations from Woods because he is still considered one of the best players in the world owing to his distinct style on the course.
The most important factor that distinguishes him from most of the players is that he has won 14 major titles so far and is trying to outshine the 18-time grand slam winner Jack Nicklaus.
Before coming to Abu Dhabi, Woods had vowed to atone for previous lapses that took a toll on his performance.
However, letting someone else walk away with the title he was wishing to grab, raised concerns that his game has probably started slumping again.
An important question crops up: Does it make sense to write the golf icon off after losing just one title?
Woods is one of the few players who remain in the news not only because of their game but also due to issues outside golf.
He gained notoriety after he got involved in a s*x scandal, tainting his hard-earned position in the sport. Nothing compared with that tragedy, as he was going well before getting mired in crises.
Woods was expected to shine at Abu Dhabi but he could not perform up to his mark. Nonetheless, he set foot on the course in a grand fashion.
His first round did not go as good as he had planned. Things seemed to be going out of his hands after he fired just birdies, as other players managed to pile up good scores.
He picked up pace in the 2nd round and started the day with a flurry of excitement. He fired a birdie on the 1st hole. On the 3rd hole, he faltered and ended up carding a bogey.
After parring 4 holes in a row, he again launched a birdie on the par-5 8th hole. On the back nine of the 2nd round, he shot 3 birdies and one bogey.
Woods knew that the field comprised of leading players and one small mistake could have put a drag on his hard-earned position.
He started the 3rd round by reeling off a birdie and parred the 5 holes. He then birdied the 7th and finished the front nine with 34.
On the back nine of the 3rd round, he appeared to be in a stronger position. He drained a birdie on the par-5 10th. His overall score for the round was a 6-under 66.
Although Woods could not perform how his fans had wanted him to, he still has time and plenty of chances to prove his worth.
With a number of prestigious events slated for the season, the 14-time grand slam winner can capitalise on his expertise and years of experience.
Due to his 14 major victories, Woods is often compared with the golf icon Jack Nicklaus. Nicklaus rose to prominence when he started winning major titles one by one.
Some observers are keen to point out that Woods has a number of flaws that could hamper his efforts to surge past Nicklaus. Nicklaus himself has a different idea about Woods.
Nicklaus once said he did not think it is impossible for Woods to break his record of 18 major championships.
He said Woods has talent and his work ethics make him stand out among most of the leading players. However, keeping in mind the American’s past performances, he can bounce back any time.
The views expressed in this article are the writer's own and in no way represent Bettor.com's official editorial policy.
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