For Woods, lack of success at TPC Sawgrass surprising

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Tiger Woods tees off on the 423-yard first hole during THE PLAYERS in 2007.

On paper, one would think there's just something about TPC Sawgrass that doesn't put a twinkle in the eyes of Tiger Woods.

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Woods shot 14 under when he scored his only PLAYERS win in 2001.

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While he's never missed a cut, how else do you explain Tiger's record? Eleven starts, one win, one runner-up and one other top 10, among a host of average finishes.

Of course, as is the case with every Tiger story, explanations are relative. For nearly any other player who's ever stuck a tee in the ground on the PGA TOUR, one win and a runner-up finish in 11 starts at THE PLAYERS Championship, along with one other top 10 qualifies as a pretty darn good record.

But, Tiger isn't any other player. He's arguably the best to ever grace the fairways, so three top 10s in the PGA TOUR's marquee event -- even with a win -- just doesn't add up. It should be noted, too, that all of Tiger's top-10 finishes at TPC Sawgrass came in consecutive years, starting in 1999 and ending in 2001 with the lone win.

"When looking at Tiger you need to look at the big picture," said Josh Hillman, the head professional at Berkshire Hills Country Club in Pittsfield, Mass. "Does any course not suit Tiger? What I mean by that is he can win anywhere at any time. He is just that good. Yes, TPC Sawgrass is a Pete Dye layout and you do need to control your ball, but when you get right down to it Tiger can flat out win anywhere."

Ah, controlling the ball. Perhaps that's been a bit of the issue for Tiger at TPC Sawgrass.

TPC Sawgrass is long at a shade over 7,200 yards. That can't be the problem though, because Tiger can hang with anyone off the tee.

In eight of Tiger's 11 starts at THE PLAYERS, he's finished in the top 3 in driving distance. He's been seventh twice and was 34th in his last start in 2007. But, hitting fairways has been a huge issue. Tiger's best in that department was a tie for 11th in his first appearance in 1997 and his average over his career at TPC Sawgrass is a shade over 42nd in the field.

That becomes a huge problem on TPC Sawgrass' demanding par 4s, easily Tiger's worst category. He's only played the par 4s under par on one occasion. That was in 2001, his only victory, when he was 3 under for the week. However, Tiger's career on the par 4s translates to 42-over par, which makes it extremely difficult to win.

"Looking back at Tiger's lack of success at Sawgrass, I do not personally think he has struggled there," Hillman said. "He has one PLAYERS Championship win and a U.S. Amateur Championship win there. I mean come on. In some events, people just outplay you. However, having watched THE PLAYERS Championship every year since I was 6 years old, I think a lot of the stronger and longer hitters struggle because they try to overpower the course. Sometimes they win, sometimes the course wins."

While overpowering the course can certainly be a detriment at TPC Sawgrass on the par 4s, there's no doubt it has worked to Tiger's advantage on the par 5, where he's in incredible collective 87-under par.

Thomas Giles, an instructor for the Jim McLean Golf School at Doral Resort and Spa, doesn't necessarily agree with Hillman's assessment.

"TPC Sawgrass definitely places an emphasis on driving the ball well," Giles said. "Although Tiger has the best mental game in golf, and arguably the best short game in golf, ball-striking has decreased in accuracy compared to years past.

"Swing clips from the World Golf Championships-CA Championship from this year at Doral show a not so Tiger-like swing coming from the inside more than in the past," Giles added. "I think once he gets his swing mechanics where he wants them he will surely be in a better position to survive the Dye course at TPC. The TPC course is relentless, and is all or nothing with water being the ultimate penalty and at TPC there is plenty of that to go around. Although Tiger won the U.S. Amateur there in 1994 and THE PLAYERS in 2001, I don't think the course sets up well for him. He called the 17th hole 'quirky' in 2007. This coming from a player who never makes a sly remark about anyone or anything."

Speaking of that "quirky" 17th hole, the world-famous island green par 3, and the rest of the par 3s at TPC Sawgrass, Tiger's record has equaled a surprising 24-over par.

"The 17th hole is definitely a great hole for viewers, as is the entire golf course, but the players hit shots that are subject to a gust of wind and or a firm shelf in the back center of the green as well," Giles said.

Jim Salinetti, an assistant pro at Newport Country Club in Rhode Island, where Tiger won the U.S. Amateur in 1995, thinks there's an easy answer as to why the world No. 1 struggles at TPC Sawgrass.

"Every course suits Tiger's game," said Salinetti. "He is the best iron player in the world, as well as the best putter. As long as he is mediocre off the tee, he wins most of the events he plays in. But, the field at THE PLAYERS is the strongest in golf. Some might even say it's the hardest tournament to win on the schedule. The top players are all very familiar with the golf course, so that levels the playing field a little bit. It's just a tough tournament to win."

It will be interesting, no doubt, to see how Tiger performs this time around. He missed the 2008 PLAYERS while rehabbing from knee surgery after the Masters, which had him on hiatus until that epic 91-hole U.S. Open playoff win over Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines.

While it may be true that there's no course on the planet that doesn't suit his game, Giles believes there's a simple reason for Tiger's woes at THE PLAYERS.

"Typically Tiger holds his composure, but you can tell he doesn't love the course," Giles said. "In the past he has mentioned courses that he looks forward to playing. The Old Course at St. Andrews comes to mind. It may not be his favorite course but you can be sure he licks his chops when he sees that course on the schedule for a British Open. All in all he is the best in the world and, in my opinion, the best ever. I think the course has been designed to be extremely penal on every shot. In short, I am not sure the best player always wins at TPC."

That may be the case, but there's no doubting the fact that the best players always turn up for THE PLAYERS.