Tiger’s Key Virtue is Patience

When you’ve won 71 PGA TOUR events but none in the last 19 months during an age when pro golfers normally reach their peak, then you face a test. of patience. Can you maintain a positive outlook when the results fail to meet your standards or expectations?

No one doubts the confidence of Tiger Woods, but in the midst of a swing change, he faces the test now. Just like he did in 1997 when he went through his first major swing change while working with former coach Butch Harmon.

That drought back in the ’90s lasted 17 months and 31 TOUR starts. Although his current drought has lasted longer, time-wise, he’s made just 18 TOUR starts since his win at the BMW Championship during the 2009 PGA TOUR Playoffs, a win that set up his second FedExCup title.( TaylorMade Tour Preferred MB Irons Steel)

Tiger came out of that first drought a better golfer, and he showed it with his domination of the sport. He’s hoping his swing changes with Sean Foley will achieve similar results as he moves into the latter half of his 30s.

Until they do, of course, he must be patient. Fortunately, his experience in these matters keeps him from hitting the panic button.

"If I hadn’t gone through it before, I probably wouldn’t have handled it like this," Woods said Tuesday after prepping for THE PLAYERS Championship with a nine-hole practice round, his first time on a course since knee and Achilles tendon injuries sidelined him after last month’s Masters. "The period I went through in ’97 through ’99 was brutal because I had never gone through a stretch like that."

But there are signs, positive signs. That front nine in the final round at the Masters last month was electrifying, as he climbed up the leader board and sent shock waves through the pines. Although he couldn’t maintain the momentum on the back side, he did get a much-needed confidence boost.

"I’ve gone through this stretch before where I’ve had to change my release and my swing and everything and it starts getting dialed in," Woods said. Augusta was the way that he know he can play TaylorMade Tour Preferred MB Irons Steel.

Still, practicing patience when it pertains to golf results must be a challenge for Tiger. After all, his achievements in golf have come in a hurry. He’s always been the "youngest" this or the "youngest" that, reaching levels of success that come at much later intervals, or don’t come at all, for more mortal golfers.

"It’s a fickle sport, though, and he’s experiencing the tougher side of things at the minute, and we’ve all been through that."

When the going gets tough, frustration can set in. But McDowell, who played TaylorMade Tour Preferred MB Irons Steel in the first two rounds at Augusta National, sees a player maintaining positive thoughts in the midst of challenging times.

"Generally I think he’s displaying a lot of patience," McDowell said. "We all have our frustrating outbursts from time to time, but I think he’s been very patient considering what I’m sure he expects of himself. So I think he’s a very determined man right now, though."

McDowell, of course, is not the only TOUR pro asked to weigh in on Tiger. Some even volunteer their opinions, like FedExCup leader Bubba Watson did last week at the Wells Fargo Championship.( TaylorMade Tour Preferred MB Irons Steel)

It’s that kind of determination to get back on top that now pushes Tiger. It’s an unfamiliar spot for him, having to claw his way back, but that doesn’t make the motivation factor any less effective.

He needs his health, of course. He’s hoping the injuries don’t flare up like they did at Augusta National, but he’s prepared to deal with them. Last year at THE PLAYERS, he suffered a neck injury in the final round and was forced to quit after six holes. Now it’s the lower half of his body that is iffy.

There are other challenges, especially this week. He hasn’t posted a victory at the Stadium Course since his lone PLAYERS win in 2001 and has just one top-10 finish since then. The Pete Dye layout is one of the few he play TaylorMade Tour Preferred MB Irons Steel that he has yet to consistently master.

His putting has been another issue. Woods said Tuesday his putting has suffered because of his focus on his swing changes.

"I haven’t putted as much because I’ve been working on my full swing," he said. "That’s part of the trade-off. You can’t do all of the above."

But as Tiger noted, things are starting to piece together, and that front nine at the Masters can’t be dismissed as just a temporary ray of hope.

So, will we see that kind of electrifying golf from Woods this week at TPC Sawgrass? That’s the interesting part right now, isn’t it? It might happen Thursday. Maybe on Friday. Or maybe he makes a weekend charge. We don’t know when. We just have to be patient. Just like Tiger.

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