Capelle On Golf

After spending three weeks at home polishing the big stick, Tiger Woods put on a driving performance for the ages at the Memorial Tournament, hitting 49 of 56 fairways.

But then why wouldn’t he? He had three weeks to hone his skill after The PLAYERS, he had Haney at his side monitoring every move, he was playing on the expansive confidence building fairways of Muirfield Village, and this was a regular tour event, which he can win in his sleep.

Judging from his winning percentage in the Haney Era, Tiger also has little problem winning majors as well. But I submit that his chances are much better on courses that fit his game. Like at the 2006 British Open at Hoylake where didn’t need to use his driver, or the 2008 US Open where he knows the greens so well he putts them like he owns them.

His game was also suited for the super long Bethpage Black in 2002 because he drove the ball much better back then. But since that triumph, though his driver has become the big question mark in his bag, he’s been able to win a half dozen majors while largely playing shorter clubs off the tee.

This week, however, he’s going to have to use the driver probably eight or more times a round at the super long and sure to be soggy Bethpage Black, where there is an 80% chance for rain on Friday.

So, with a major on the line and the whole golf world watching, Tiger’s newfound skill and belief in the driver will be put to the supreme test. And so he just might feel like A-Rod in the playoffs at Yankee Stadium when he steps to the plate hole after hole. Will he choke, as A-Rod has in the postseason as a Yankee (he’s hit only 4 homers in 94 at bats), or will the new Tiger hit mighty blasts that hit the short grass hole after hole as he decimates the field and brings back memories of the old Tiger of the early 2000s?

Will we see those sassy leg kicks that follow a well hit tee ball, or the cursing and club slamming that comes on the heels of his famous wide rights? That’s got to be one of the big story lines of the week. So let’s pray that the TV people have the good sense to treat us to his every swing with the driver.