With the news today that Tiger Woods has been dumped by swing coach Hank Haney, things seem to be at an all-time low for the once king of all sports. Tiger is injured, his personal life is a mess, and now he's without his trusted mentor since 2005. You might say, this is the lowest point of Tiger's career. So, what steps must Tiger take to get back to his dominant form? Here's a five point plan Tiger's handlers should be following to get his career back on track.
1. Get Healthy
-Even an athlete as great as Tiger Woods is susceptible to injury, and it's abundantly clear Tiger is not in peak physical condition. True, the skepticism of the golf media may be warranted, and who would have ever thought the golf media would be so untrustworthy of their Golden Goose? But, I think you have to take Tiger at his word, because, since the Masters, he's looked a shadow of his former self. Over the last two years alone he's dealt with a severe knee injury, Achilles issues, and now a bum neck. Not even the greatest golfer in the world can survive that run of injuries. No matter how long it takes, TIger needs to get healthy.
2. Settle His Marriage
-In the history of golf, there is no harder obstacle to overcome than a troublesome home life. For a game that's played in the space between your ears, it's incredibly important to be completely at peace with your whole surroundings. And with constant rumors of his wife moving out and an impending divorce, not even Tiger Woods is immune to distraction. Before Tiger can get back to 100% focus on golf, he has to sort out his personal life. Whether that means a divorce or not, he has to find closure before he can compete again consistently.
3. Sit on Oprah's Couch
-In the world of public opinion, there would be no greater healer than having an hour-long chat with the Queen of Daytime TV. While there are many diverging opinions on Tiger's infidelity and the effect it's had on his career, there is one unanimous sentiment, his PR team has been atrocious. From contrived statements on his website, to awkward public statements, to five-minute interviews, Tiger's inner circle has still kept him at arm's length. And while he's begun to give news conferences to the sports media, he needs a larger vehicle to open up to the general public. Thus, Tiger needs to bite the bullet and open up to Oprah and her millions of mostly female fans, beg for forgiveness again, and draw a sympathetic ear. It would be a major boost to the rehabilitation of his image, and might cut down on the number of fans who have to be tasered.
4. Get Back with Butch Harmon
-The departure of Hank Haney basically leaves Tiger as an orphan in the golf/swing coach community. Heck, if Hank Haney can stick with Charles Barkley for months, what does that say about the disarray of Tiger's game? So, where can Tiger go? As much as it might humble him, the best move he can make is reuniting with Butch Harmon, with whom he had his greatest success at the beginning of the 2000s. Although Butch has moved on to Phil Mickelson, there's no reason he wouldn't go back to Tiger if he was sincerely asked. Why not try to recapture that perfect swing that saw Woods hoist the Tiger Slam, or at least get back closer to it? It'd be better than playing out of the wrong fairway consistently, wouldn't it?
5. Remember One Thing, You Are Tiger Woods
-As bulletproof as Tiger Woods once seemed, he has perhaps endured the worst six-month stretch of any great athlete in history. It's completely understandable that Tiger would feel a lack of confidence right now after his missed cuts, scandals, and now the loss of his coach. But, through it all he has to remember one thing, he's Tiger Woods. For much of the last 10+ years, he has been the most dominant athlete in any sport, maybe in history. Even after his six month layoff, with some nagging injuries and a poor excuse for a swing, he still competed at the Masters. Although the road ahead will be difficult, if Tiger can show the determination to get his body, marriage, and swing healthy, there's no reason he can't be that dominant force again.
Well, there you have out five point plan to get Tiger back on track. What are your thoughts? Can Tiger make it back? Can he still break Jack Nicklaus's record? Let us know by leaving a comment below. Also, stay tuned for our continuing coverage of the NBA/NHL Playoffs. Until next time, it's bye for now!
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