By F. Edwin Miller
Tiger Woods just can’t seem to putt it in, literally.
Woods owns seven career titles at the WGC-Bridgestone Invitational at Firestone; however, his play as of late would never indicate such success. Since 2010, Woods has finished with par or worse in nine of the last 10 rounds at Firestone. On Friday he stepped up to the green facing a number of makeable birdie puts; however, they just wouldn’t drop. While he did manage to knock in two of them on the day, he had a dismaying four bogeys and finished with an even more discouraging 72.
“I’m playing well, that’s the thing, I’m hitting it well. I’m making nothing,” said a disappointed Woods after the day’s round.
“I certainly didn’t it hit good enough to be 11 under par, but I certainly hit it good enough to be right there in top five going into the weekend no problem at all,” Woods said about his current position in the tournament’s standings. “Yesterday I was three under three eleven, if I just keep that pace up through end of yesterday and into today I’m fine but I didn’t do that.”
(Sam Greenwood, Getty Images North America)
ESPN’s Colleen Dominguez, who reported from Firestone, also spoke of Woods’ struggles.
“Woods said that his putting has been streaky lately,” said Dominguez. “He’s either making everything or not making anything. Clearly the not making anything part is what’s happening here at Bridgestone.”
To any golfer’s delight, Bridgestone’s tournament format (invitation only) means players cannot be cut. Woods will have the rest of the weekend to make all the adjustments needed to his short game. If he doesn’t, he could be in some major trouble at the year’s last major championship event next week, Kiawah Island.
Kiawah’s Ocean Course in South Carolina will host the 94th PGA Championship on August 9. Woods won the event in 1999, 2000, 2006, and 2007. He will enter the playing field as a 6-1 odds favorite.
