“To have an idea about the beauty and finesse this game traditionally had, look at the swing of Sam Snead. Pros would stop their practice just to watch him whenever he was at the practice tee. Compare that to Tiger Wood’s swing to see what the rule change did to the game. It created a swing where this man continually damaged his knee.”
You make some valid points, but it’s a complicated thing. First of all, I give you Arnold Palmer. The 1960s version of Tiger, (without the baggage). Arnold was a grip and ripper with an ugly swing, and great success. So, while the equipment changes matter, I don’t think the equipment produced Tiger.
Personally, I’d like to see ball/club changes so that driving distance comes down. It’s impractical to keep lengthening courses. Make the equipment so that a 300 yard drive is a big deal, not the norm.
You also bring up valid points about Tiger and the left knee. Tiger is older, and he’s abused that leg for some time now. Physically, he’s not capable of being the same golfer he once was.
From what I’ve seen of Tiger this year, it does seem to be mental as well. He’s shredded his inner circle. He didn’t have a swing coach, and seemed to be lost on what he was doing. But what struck me was the lack clutch shots. Tiger missed the putts he almost always made. Tiger flew the approaches that he stuck in the past. He just didn’t seem to have that big shot in him. In the past it was a given it would happen, the big shot, the intimidation. No one fears Tiger now.
Tiger isn’t done. He’ll win again, but he’ll never dominate like he did. That was a once-in-a-lifetime happening. Mental? Physical? Both? I vote both.
Tiger flew the approaches that he stuck in the past. He just didn’t seem to have that big shot in him.
Distance controll is much more difficult when you do not get the same spin consistently from different lies. To me, this is a direct function of the different grooves, where you need to control your launch angles and moderate your clubhead speed, depending on the lie. Trevino was the master at this. Every shot he hit with the same club launched at exactly the same height. This is a skill Tiger is not so faliliar with. Not only does he need to change his basic mechanics, and fight against old habits, he needs to take a different strategic approach to each shot. He is playing a different game now.