Scott Verplank gives his two cents on the struggles of Tiger Woods
For the first time in 14 years, Tiger Woods has gone winless on the year. He finished in fourth place at the Australian Masters this past weekend, his last opportunity of the year to win
a full-field event.
After winning at least four events from 2005 to 2009, Woods’ presence on a leaderboard is less intimidating than it once was. After participating in the ADT Skills Challenge, PGA Tour
veteran Scott Verplank was asked by the Golf Channel for his take on the year-long struggles of Woods on the golf course.
“All I know is that the world’s a lot different than it used to be,” he said. “As talented as Tiger is, I would suspect he’s going to find his golf game. But I think his shield of invincibility
has been dissolved. I think it’s been dissolved some on the golf course, too.”
Last November, reports of Woods’ infidelity made headlines around the world, forcing the golfer to make a public apology and prompting him to take a three-month long break from the game,
returning in April to play the Masters. With the squeaky-clean public image of Woods as a family man now a thing of the past, everybody was wondering how fans would react to him on the course. Verplank said they’re not all necessarily out there to cheer him
on.
“Let’s say he had 2,000 people out pulling for him two years ago on the course. Well, 1,999 of them are pulling as hard as they can for him. But now, if he’s got 2,000 people out following
him, 1,000 people are telling jokes about him. You know that. He knows that. What’s that do to your self-esteem?”
Nevertheless, Verplank said Woods should eventually put his troubles behind him. And he should have a few more major trophies when all is said and done.
“I would have to think the environment around him has changed so much that it’s going to take him a while to get used to it. But he’s talented. He’s still going to play good. He’s going
to win more majors."
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