Tiger Woods enters this week’s U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills having won just once in 2004, the WGC-Accenture Match Play Championship in February.
The Post’s Ralph Wimbish asked six of the nation’s top golf instructors to analyze Woods’ game and suggest some things he can do to step up his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ record 18 professional major titles. Here’s what they said:
JIM McLEAN; Golf Digest’s Top 50 Teachers, Miami
WHAT’S WRONG: Right now, from what I see, he’s not driving the ball in the fairway. His misses seem more wayward. When he was playing well, he was hitting driver and putting it in the fairway.
THE FIX: Obviously he’s comfortable with the changes he’s making. He feels he’s on the right track. He feels he
had some holes in his swing and he’s determined to make it work. My opinion is he’s not on the right path. Maybe he needs to reevaluate what’s he’s doing. Too bad he broke up with Butch [Harmon]; that was an irrevocable split.
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EDEN FOSTER; Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers, Maidstone Club, East Hampton
WHAT’S WRONG: The problem Tiger has now is his lower body outraces his upper body on the downswing.
He’s out of synch. His shaft is below plane. He has distance-control problems and hits high blocks or snap hooks.
THE FIX: I think he should go back to the swing he had when he was running over everybody. Three years
ago, he learned that shot called a stinger. He could hit it so straight. He learned how to hit a low cut with a
2-iron or 1-iron. He could even do it with his 3-wood. He should go back and learn to hit that shot again.
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DAVID LEADBETTER; David Leadbetter Golf Academy, Orlando
WHAT’S WRONG: Tiger’s tinkling with his swing. He always in need of a challenge, and that’s to improve. There are so many things that can happen in a golf swing. He’s trying to do certain things with his swing that result in a few more off-line shots.
THE FIX: Posture is an area he may not be conscious of. It could be a knee problem. Look at his posture; he’s not as coiled. His angle at address seems to be off. The way he sets up, he used to have a real athletic position at address. Balance has to be perfect. He’s not as balanced as he was when he was winning.
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DARRELL KESTNER; Golf Magazine’s Top 100 Teachers, Deepdale CC, Manhasset
WHAT’S WRONG: He’s not putting as well as he used to. I was looking at some stats during the Masters and he
was fourth in greens hit in regulation but third to last in putting. Say what you will about ball-striking, but if you don’t make some putts, it’s hard to score.
THE FIX: Maybe he’s spending too much time on ball-striking. Tom Lehman told me he’s hitting it great but not putting well. Obviously he’s working hard on his game. My advice would be to work on his putting.
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GENE BOREK; Master PGA professional, Metropolis CC, White Plains
WHAT’S WRONG: He has a lot of distractions in his life. His focus is different. He’s not concentrating like he used to do. Everything points to not driving good. Usually the putter controls the game.
THE FIX: I would take a look at his putter, find out about his knee to see if it’s affecting his swing. I’d be
suspicious about his interlocking grip. With his big swing, he might have trouble staying on center. Maybe he needs to play more and stop practicing.
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JIM FLICK; Golf Digest’s Top 50 Teachers, Scottsdale, Ariz.
WHAT’S WRONG: When he was playing well, he seldom lost it left. Right now, his swing seems more closed at the top. He looks more round and flat than he did in 2000.
THE FIX: Before you start fixing a swing, you need to see what the player is trying to do. I’d ask him some questions, find out what type of ball flight is he trying for, what type of shot he is trying to hit. Which side of the course is he trying to eliminate? I’d see if the changes he’s making are helping out or causing a problem.