Tiger Barely Makes The Cut

Is anyone else growing tired of the weekly "Tiger Woods Is Having Trouble" reports that appear on Thursday or Friday? Each time I hear Woods is "struggling" because he is 3, 6 or 8 shots back on the first two days of a tournament, I shake my head. Do these update guys no zero about golf or are they just trying to create a great comeback story? It certainly can't be because they haven't seen Mr. Woods in action.

This week was no different. Tiger is here in Michigan at The Buick Open, but had the misfortune of playing like only a good PGA Tour player on Thursday. The talk started in earnest about how Woods might not make the cut after his "poor" opening round. Woods was at -1. The projected cut? Three under par. Am I mistaken or is that only two shots? These folks who cover sports daily don't think the odds favor Woods going -2 on one of the easiest courses on the Tour?

This perceived dire situation plays out anytime the world's best golfer isn't in the top five on both Thursday and Friday. When I hear the reports that Woods is X under par, but trails the leader by X amount after any of the first two rounds, I think one thing. He's right where he needs to be. Forget the numbers, because unless Woods actually doesn't make the cut, which happens rather infrequently, he's in position to win.

When Tiger's struggles found him far behind Vijay Singh Friday, the fear mongers were out in force. Singh was cruising and Tiger wasn't. Then something funny happened. Woods teed off for the second round. The world #1 cranked out a 61. He went from almost missing the cut, as if that was really going to happen, to shooting an -11. Yes, -11. Woods finished his Warwick Hills round in second place, narrowly escaping the cut line. And narrowly missing a 59.

Please someone teach these update guys that Thursday and Friday often belong to golfers who will not be seen come Sunday. Teach them that Saturday is Moving Day on Tour. Teach them that Woods, unlike nearly any other golfer ever, has a chance to win as long as it's still mathematically possible.