Saw this on Outside the Lines on ESPN. Stats show that a player shoots 1 shot higher per round in events in which Tiger is playing versus events in which he is absent. So all the talk about Tiger getting into the other player's heads is not just poppycock. It's valid. Sports psychologists they talked to all agreed it is a profound effect he has.
I am in no way disputing this, because there is no doubt that it is valid. but to the other golfer's credit, the tourny's Tiger plays in are all the tough ones. he missed a lot of the creme puff ones where guys shoot -22 and -25, etc... so it's a little skewed. i'd like to see that same stat compiled to when Tiger is in your group.
I think a lot of it is bs. A lot of players just arent Tiger and would struggle in the final rounds of any bug tournament. Bubba Watson said he was struggling not to throw up at Doral and he was nowhere near Tiger. There is no doubt some get bothered by it, but look at Zach Jonson last year. I think at this point they are going in with the mindset they have no shot so it only helps them. Mostly it is Tiger is so good with his putter that he aims for pars on Sunday and watches others fall. The rest of the field has to fire for flags and that doesnt work well on Sunday.
