Out of swing

SIMPLY GOLF

The only thing more difficult than reaching the top is staying there. Add to that the public glare that follows and expectations that keep going through the roof.

Tiger Woods has to go through it every single day. As he goes into 2004's first Major, the Augusta Masters this week, Woods faces one of biggest inquisitions into his golfing greatness.

He's been through an entire year "" 2003 "" without a Major. So what, he already has eight. But then he's Tiger Woods, expected to win a Major every time he tees off.

He is on a streak of almost 115 straight cuts, but last week he came close to losing that, till three birdies in the second round got him into the weekend rounds, where he finished 16th.

The week before that sitting on the verge of setting an incredible record of a fifth consecutive title at the Bay Hill Invitational two weeks ago, he not only failed but had two 74s and a 73 for 46th place "" his worst performance in five years.

So, what has been the problem for Woods? His driving accuracy has dropped dramatically and his putting is not as sure it was. The number of over par rounds has shot up.

That's not all. There is also that ankle injury which needed surgery at the end of 2002 and a current thigh strain. Then there's been a switch two years ago from his Titleist clubs and balls, which he had used since his amateur days, to the Nike golf range, which did not even exist when he signed his first contract with the company.

And lastly, there has been talk of Woods softening up after his engagement to fiancee Elin Nordegren. Long back, Wood's father, Earl once said, "A wife can sometimes be a deterrent to a good golf game. The level Tiger is at, the finite little problems like that could destroy him." No one wants that to happen, least of all to Tiger Woods.

But the biggest problem that most golf watchers aver is that his swing is not what it was. Johnny Miller, an outspoken golf analyst and a two-time Major winner, has claimed that he has seen some differences in Woods' swing, which are the cause of his problems.

He could solve that with a single phone call. To swing guru Butch Harmon, with whom Tiger worked through the greatest years of his golfing career thus far.

When queried about going back to Harmon, Woods ruled out any possibility. Ironically Harmon is now the coach of Adam Scott, who won the Players Championship with a swing, that reminded many of Woods.

Actually Woods has worked with no one but himself. He uses videos and analyses them himself. That helped him win at the World Golf Championship 2004 Accenture Match Play championship in February. But the dominance that saw him win four Majors in 10 months is missing and he is still a long way from Jack Nicklaus's 18 Majors.

Yes, even the greatest sometimes need a bit of help. Like a little tweak in the swing. But Woods says he knows what he needs and is working at it.

Remember, he once decided to make some major changes in his swing after winning a Major. The golfing world was aghast, but Woods came back stronger.