Capelle On Golf

You would think that Hank Haney would be a credible source of information on Tiger Woods. But he’s so defensive and biased that almost everything he says has to be run through a truth-ometer where it usually fails the test.

Let’s consider some of these choice morsels that appeared in a story by Golf Digest’s Thomas Bonk.

“He (Tiger, of course) had one bad six-hole stretch at the British or he might have had a chance to win all four majors.”

In truth, going into the final round, his only real shot at winning came at the PGA where he was even with five to play. Entering the final 18 Woods was seven shots back at the Masters and nine shots back at the US Open. As for the British Open, all we have to do is exclude six holes, not one or two, but six! It’s hard to imagine a man who thinks this illogically being the instructor to the world’s best player.

“How can you win five times this year, play only the hard courses, lead in scoring average and not be hitting the ball well?”

Haney is prone to exaggeration, and it shows again here. The operative word is ONLY. Well, two of Tiger’s wins came on courses that were playing very easily. At the AT&T he was -13 on a par 70 course that surrendered a final round 62 to Hunter Mahan. At the Buick Birdie Bash Woods won with a score of -20.

“Despite all the emphasis on ball-striking, the difference was in putting. He’s had a lot of good putting weeks, just didn’t have them at the majors.”

That makes is sound like bad luck – the on weeks with the putter just didn’t fall at the majors. Maybe Woods  missed the putts he was making in regular tour events because he’s pressing to hard now to win the majors

Put the blame on his putting Haney, which is not your department. Sorry Haney but it was tee shots into the heather and gorse than ended Tiger’s hopes at the British Open. Over the final two rounds of the PGA Woods made only four birdies compared to 10 in the first two rounds. Part of the reason was putting, but a big share of the blame goes to several suspect approach shots. In the final round these included a bunkered bail out of the par 3 eighth that lead to a bogey, and mediocre wedges on seven and 15 that lead to pars on par 5s when Mr. Short Iron should have had good looks at birdies.

Haney is fun to listen to, but as a credible source for all things Woods, he’s as believable as an executive on Wall Street.