Will he win this weekend?
Will he be as dominant as he has been in the past?
Will he pass Nicklaus in majors?
I predict he finishes 2d this week.
He will still be dominant, tho questionable whether as dominant as before. Just don’t see who is out there to take him, and even with a gimpy knee he still has his awesome short game and unequalled determination.
Yes, he will be the winningest ever. Tho health problems will make it take longer than I had thought, and he may end his career earlier than otherwise - as soon as he pick up the record major.
He does own Torrey Pines, but he’s been inactive for a month + and Phil Mickleson grew up playing here. The conditions are going to be completely different than they are in March when the tour usually visits San Diego.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Tiger wasn’t in it at all - his worst showing in a major recently was after he took time off when his father died - he missed the cut at Winged Foot. I also wouldn’t be surprised if we finally had a Tiger - Phil shootout on Sunday.
I have to give him the nod. He’s taken much longer layoffs before tournaments, especially between seasons, and he often comes out of the gates on fire.
I’d put a small amount of money on him finishing in the top 5 at least. I’m looking forward to the tournament.
Full prediction.
-Tiger goes high on Thursday - 75 or so. Print and other media are full of stories questioning whether Tiger is through, and whether or not he will make the cut. Small print in the box scores mentions that someone or another is actually leading the Open.
-On Friday Tiger does slightly better, just enough to make the cut on or just under the line. More stories about Tiger’s history of making cuts in majors, and more questions about whether he is washed up. Meanwhile, a small paragraph at the end of some stories may mention that several folk are tied for the lead at -7.
-Saturday is moving day, which means EVERYONE is moving backwards, except Tiger who shoots a mediocre round of 1 or 2 under to either take the lead or be 1 or 2 shots back. Now the stories are about Tiger’s ability to hold a lead/come from behind in majors, with a sizeable helping of weepy stories about Earl Woods in honor of Dad’s day.
-Sunday, in my mind the only question is whether he wins it, or is runner up.
My personal choice is that he makes the cut but struggles in the middle of the pack, finishing somewhere between 10-20. But I wouldn’t bet on it.
Heck, if Tiger shoots 75 on Thursday, he’ll be in the Top 15, with every expert clamoring that he’s positioned himself perfectly. This ain’t gonna be the Buick Open Torrey Pines.
