The Lack Of Reps Mystery
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John Strege notes Tiger's insistence that he just needs reps and yet won't be playing competitive golf again for several weeks.
Yet he now goes back into hiding, confirming on Sunday that he won't play again until the Australian Open on Nov. 10.
"It's a shame we're not seeing him play his way out of it," Golf Channel's Frank Nobilo said on Sunday's telecast. "There were signs this week."
We're not privy to his schedule away from tournament golf; he might have family and corporate commitments. Still, it would have behooved him to play at least another tournament in the run-up to the Presidents Cup, as well as to restore his own faith in his game.
After watching Tiger walk the first 36 and seeing how gingerly he strolls the fairways, I have to believe that he can't play more often not because of day care duty, but because his knees won't allow it. When the cold front moved through Thursday, the walking grew noticeably more ginger.
Then again, playing the Las Vegas event would have been wiser if his knees are that sensitive: warmer weather, flatter terrain. But Frys.com no longer sponsors that one.
**Robert Lusetich is also having trouble with the lack of reps.
Yet, next week, the final event of the PGA Tour season — the Children’s Miracle Network Classic at Disneyworld — will be played near Woods’ old backyard in Orlando, Fla.
Why wouldn’t he try to build on what he did here and tee it up in an event he’s won twice before?
“I can’t,” Woods said, “I have family obligations.”
Don’t we all?
Woods has a strict schedule when it comes to the custody of his two young children. And he certainly doesn’t want to do anything to endanger the child-sharing agreement he has with his ex-wife, Elin Nordegren.
But surely he could find the time to play a golf tournament in Orlando?
He is, after all, earning his living.
