What made Tiger Woods so good at golf…

What made Tiger Woods so good at golf…

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I know what you’re saying, Tiger hasn’t played very well in years. I get it, that’s not the the point I’m trying to make. I’m looking at his impact on the sport and I doubt we’ll see someone that will transcend the sport quite like that, no disrespect to the current superstars.

This is the perfect time for another golf post since the season is on its way out in Canada anyway and I played some nice courses this long weekend (Smuggler’s Glen in Gananoque and National Pines in Innisfil).

Marketing stuff aside, Tiger was the one that really introduced fitness into golf. He was a driving force behind the movement. Before his entrance into the pro arena in 1996, people thought of golfers as older fat white guys (cue John Daly). He challenged that stereotype on many levels.

The three elements I think really made Tiger stand out so much:

Practice: Since he started early, Tiger got his 10,000 hours in early so he could be very good at a young age. He was also under the watchful eyes of a good coach, which also makes a big difference.

Fitness: Tiger was an athlete who played golf as opposed to many golfers who were trying to be athletes. This made a huge difference in how he prepared and his off-season.

Mental: His mental fortitude is what made him so good for so long. He could win when he didn’t have his best stuff due and he was known for closing out tournaments. And for those who play it, we can all agree golf is a hugely mental sport.

I think the other side of the coin is what, especially the fitness side. From what I hear he’s still trying to do his monster workouts and since he’s older with a lot of ear & tear on the body, it’s causing injuries.

I like Tiger, I think most of us do deep down, especially now he has flaws. And without his impact, Titleist Performance Institute (TPI) wouldn’t be what it is…

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