Phil Blackmar's Excellent Piece On Where Tiger Woods Has Gone Wrong And Is Now "Dangling On Precipice"

If it wasn't for Steve Elling I would never have got to read this excellently written blog post by former Tour player Phil Blackmar on Tiger Woods and how his willingness to embrace almost without question the different philosophies, teaching methods and swings his various coaches have given him.  Having read a ridiculous quote from Woods about his physio popping his sacrum bone back-in at Valhalla, I am beginning to think he is a little gullible when it comes to believing 100% what those on his team are telling him

Blackmar starts by describing how teaching methods have evolved from digging in the dirt to the science it has become nowadays.

Sometime in the mid to late 1980’s video became more and more available. Up until that time, instructors were limited to using mirrors, words, divots and a smattering of training aides to try and get their message across to their students. However, with the influx of video, instructing the game changed. Swing analysis charged to the forefront with lines and circles on the video screen becoming in vogue. The swing became compartmentalized and broken into “generally accepted swing positions” GASP. As the 90’s passed into the new millennium, video advanced to the point that for $5 you could have it on your mobile phone.

Phil then reflects on when Tiger first appeared on Tour.

Tiger…..Tiger came to the PGA tour with obvious incredible mental and physical talent. His swing was a little long and a bit out of control and his short iron game was arguably the weakest link. When Ed Fiori bested the young Tiger for the Quad City Championship in 1996, Ed pronounced “if that guy ever learns how to hit a wedge you all are playing for 2nd place.” My how he was prophetic. With the help of John Cook and Mark O’Meara, Tiger learned the value of trajectory and distance control with his irons. Butch Harmon shortened his swing, worked on posture and helped to get the club on a simpler plane. Tiger remarked the change took 13 months for him to feel completely comfortable on the course competing. The result was an era of dominance perhaps never seen before.

And examines how changing coaches has affected Woods.

In 2003 Tiger parted ways with Butch and went to work with Hank Haney soon thereafter. Hank and Tiger changed several things including the length of his swing, his swing plane, Tiger’s shaft orientation and how he released the golf club through impact. Incredibly, Tiger was able to accomplish these changes and continue on with nearly unparalleled success in the history of the game. It is a testament to Tiger’s talent that he could make such radical changes and accomplish that which he was able.

In 2010 Tiger parted ways with Haney and moved on to Sean Foley and more changes. Whether its been the cumulative impact of the various injuries or attempting major swing overhauls again beginning at the age of 34, this venture has not been as successful. Tiger did win 5 times in 2013, an incredible feat in its own right, but he once again failed to win a major.

Finally Blackmar issues this warning.

....there must be a blend between change/information and a player’s identity with great care taken not to over-step the boundary of the player’s intuitiveness. So often you never hear the stories of the carnage of this process gone awry because those involved are hidden from public view. However, right now it just so happens that a player challenging for the best of all-time is dangling from that very precipice from which far too many have fallen before unnoticed.

Read the full "Is Tiger A Victim" piece here.

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