It seems ridiculous to say that this will be a lost season for Tiger Woods. Hey, he has won four times in 2003 and still is in prime position to win his fifth straight player-of-the-year award.
However, for a player who gears his game to win majors, 2003 was a major disappointment. For the first time since 1998, Woods failed to bag a biggie.
It ended with a resounding thud Sunday. A mediocre 73 had Woods hobbling in at 12 over par at the PGA Championship.
The showing left him in unfamiliar territory, tied for 39th, his worst showing in a major as a professional. He played so poorly that he had to search hard for positives.
“I didn’t make any double bogeys this week,” he said.
Look at the numbers. In 2000, when he won three majors, he came in at a combined 53 under in the four events. This year he was a combined 18 over.
Woods tried to be philosophical about his majors season, saying he just has to keep working. But one quote probably summed up his struggles.
At the Masters, he was asked if he was disappointed in coming up short in his bid to win three straight green jackets. He replied, “It’s not easy, bud.”
Here’s how difficult it was for Woods:
Masters
Tie for 15th
Scores: 76-73-66-75–290 (+2)
A third-round 66 had golf fans thinking Woods would storm to the title on Sunday. Instead, the opposite happened. Woods, the best closer in the game, shot a stunning 75.
His downfall came on the third hole. On the tight 350-yard par 4, he hit a driver into the trees, leading to a double bogey. Later he took heat for blaming caddie Steve Williams for the club selection.
Woods went downhill from there.
“It was one of those days where I couldn’t get anything going,” Woods said in what would be a common lament in 2003.
U.S. Open
Tie for 20th
Scores: 70-66-75-72–283 (+3)
Again, Woods seemed ready to make a run after a second-round 66 at Olympia Fields. He fell apart Saturday and never recovered. It was his worst showing on a weekend in a U.S. Open since 1996, when he shot 77-72 as an amateur. “I was so close to putting it together,” Woods said.
British Open
Tie for 4th
Scores: 73-72-69-71–285 (+1)
He opened by hitting his first drive into the right rough at Royal St. George’s. Incredibly, the ball never was found. He had to take a penalty and go back to the tee, leading to a triple-bogey 7.
Had the ball been located and had Woods made a bogey, the two shots he saved would have been good enough to put him in a playoff with eventual champion Ben Curtis. Still, Woods had his chances Sunday, but he didn’t make enough putts to get it done.
PGA Championship
Tie for 39th
Scores: 74-72-73-73–292 (+12)
The week was a complete disaster for Woods. He never came close to getting anything going. The birdie machine made only six birdies for the week. “Actually, I putted great just to make the cut,” he said.
The rest of the year
Woods currently ranks second on the money list with $4,760,546 in earnings. With plenty of golf left, Woods will have ample opportunity to make his case for player-of-the-year honors. If he gets to six titles and $7 million or more, it will be hard to deny him.
He figures to play in at least five more events, including the NEC Invitational this weekend in Akron, Ohio, where he’s won three times.
Player of the year “still is up for grabs for anybody,” Woods said.
Woods still could get the award. But for him, it would be a consolation prize in a majorless 2003.
