In his prime, Tiger Woods was a force to be reckoned with on the PGA Tour. It was rare for weeks to pass without him securing a win, so when he went through a two-year drought without a victory, golf enthusiasts perceived it as a significant slump.
Woods was synonymous with triumph in the early 2000s. He was seemingly invincible, clinching victory after victory with ease. In 2000, the three major titles of the US Open, Open Championship, and PGA Championship all went to him. He followed this breathtaking performance with a completion of the ‘Tiger Slam’ at the 2001 Masters Tournament.
His exceptional performance wasn’t limited to the majors. Woods regularly clinched PGA Tour events, including the Bay Hill Invitational in 2000, 2001, and 2003. His success extended to Torrey Pines, the home of the Farmers Insurance Open and the erstwhile Buick Invitational.
However, after 2009, Woods’ winning streak hit a bump. His progress was marred by well-publicized personal issues and injuries. He had a successful run in 2013, winning five times, but then it took him until the 2018 Tour Championship at East Lake to secure another victory.
Two years into his dry spell, the legendary Arnold Palmer was asked if he had any advice for Woods before the 2015 Arnold Palmer Invitational. Palmer, who had known Woods since he was a child, regarded him as a highly talented player. His advice was straightforward: practice.
Palmer believed that Woods needed to regain the confidence he had as a budding golfer. He suggested Woods should trust his instincts and find a coach he believed in to refine his game.
Despite this advice, 2015 was a challenging year for Woods. He played 11 events, but only managed to finish in the top ten once. His season began with the WM Phoenix Open, where he missed the cut before withdrawing from the Farmers Insurance Open. His performance at The Masters resulted in a T17 finish, followed by the worst score of his PGA Tour career at Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial Tournament.
Woods missed cuts at the PGA Championship and Open Championship, finally managing a top ten finish at the Wyndham Championship. He only played one event in 2016, but by the 2018 PGA Tour season, he was back in form. The pinnacle of his comeback was in 2019 when Woods seized his 15th major win at Augusta National.
