Mahan: Golf doesn’t seem fun for Tiger Woods
Anyone who watched Tiger Woods put up a career-worst 82 in Phoenix earlier this season or an even worse 85 last week at the Memorial can probably surmise that the 14-time major champion had a miserable time in both of those rounds.
But even when things are going comparatively better, Woods doesn’t seem to be enjoying himself, according to six-time PGA Tour winner Hunter Mahan.
“From a fan’s perspective, I just don’t see him enjoying the game as much as he used to,” Mahan told Reuters.
“I just don’t see the enjoyment in him right now. It’s sad to see because golf is the ultimate enjoyment for that guy,” Mahan added. “He loves to get out there on the golf course, he loves to compete, he loves to grind at it.
“It seems to be more of a chore to him now than it used to be and I don’t want to see that because golf is better with Tiger Woods at his best. I love seeing him compete at the highest level.”
Mahan is surprised Woods hasn’t been able to make much progress with his swing. Not only do the results show Woods hasn’t come very far with Como, but Woods is still unable to simply go out and play golf without having to recite key pieces of his new move.
“I don’t know why,” Mahan said. “Technically, it’s definitely not there for him after six, seven or eight months of (current instructor Chris) Como.”
However, Mahan surmises that the issue isn’t that Woods can’t put into practice what he’s working on with Como, but rather some kind of mental or emotional block. What that stems from — injuries, lack of success, breaking up with girlfriend and skier Lindsey Vonn or something else entirely — is unclear.
“There is something else going on,” Mahan said. “I think there are a lot of underlying things we don’t see. I don’t see him coming out to the golf course and being excited any more. Golf should be enjoyed, he should have great pleasure in it.”
Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.
