Tiger Woods Should Suck it Up and Put Steve Stricker on His Payroll

Tiger Woods Should Suck it Up and Put Steve Stricker on His Payroll
The World No. 1’s Putting Leaves Something to Be Desired











Chris Chaney May 31, 2013 4:56 PM

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Tiger Woods and Steve Stricker. (Getty Images)




COMMENTARY | Tiger Woods has always been a great putter.

The flat stick has been the one facet of his game that has consistently been the saving grace for the majority of his career (save for the dark ages, between late 2009-2010 when everything was off). Different swings, big misses and even altering brands of putters have come and gone, but his buttery stroke has remained in tact.

With his new Sean Foley swing now ingrained into his muscle memory, Woods has been able to really go to work on his
short game. Never one to seek out professional help with his putting in his formative years because his father had a keen eye for the stroke, Woods has enlisted only friendly advice since Earl Woods' passing in 2006.



That friendly advice has come more often than not from close buddy and Ryder/Presidents Cup partner Steve Stricker.

Stricker gave Woods his most famous lesson ahead of the World Golf Championships Cadillac Championship earlier this year en route to Woods' best putting week of his career. That would be his entire career, not just his post-hydrant career.

It would seem that Woods has begun to misremember or improperly incorporate the tips "Stricks" -- as Woods calls him -- gave him nearly three months ago.

Take the first two rounds of this week's Memorial Tournament for example. Over two rounds at a course he owns, Woods is 1-over par and has jacked it around the greens 60 times already. And he's hitting the ball well -- 24/28 fairways; 23/36 greens in regulation.

So the question has to be raised: why doesn't Woods put Stricker on his payroll? Woods' notoriously tight-knit inner circle wouldn't be compromised with an already indoctrinated member joining the ranks and realistically, it wouldn't have to be too much of a time drain on either party. A la Jack Nicklaus and his swing coach Jack Grout, Woods and Stricker would need to only meet a few times a year to brush things up, refine the fundamentals that have gotten a little loose and watch the results and money roll in.

Woods had already won once on Tour in 2013 prior to Stricker giving him some refreshers on his posture, but since the lesson, Woods has won three of the four other tournaments he has teed it up in (the only non-win was a T4 at Augusta).

That is to say, Woods is going to win tournaments simply because he's Tiger Woods. But with a practiced eye focused the most impactful part of the game, Woods could reach heights that perhaps even he hasn't seen before.

Woods ball-striking is the best it's been in years; his wedge game is on point, hitting the ball to an average of 16-feet-3 inches from the hole from inside 150 yards and his driving accuracy is giving him more opportunities than ever. As the poster boy for recovering from trouble, the only thing keeping Woods from blowing out fields is a putter that isn't always clicking; he's still winning, but not by the margins you or I know he is capable of.

Perhaps it's a matter of principle keeping Woods from reaching out to Stricker. Although semi-retired, Stricker is still ranked 12th in the world and arguably playing some of the best golf of his career despite his reigned in schedule.

More than likely, however, Woods' decision not to throw Stricker on his payroll has to do with pride and the memory of his father. Woods has never been one to ask for help, nor believe that anyone knows his game better than himself. Yet, the outside perspective from a friend like Stricker is something that could transform the 2013 Tiger Woods into an even better version of himself.

All he needs is a little help from his friend.

Chris Chaney is a Cincinnati, Ohio-based sportswriter. He has written for multiple outlets including WrongFairway.com, Hoopville.com, The Cincinnati (OH) Enquirer and The Clermont (OH) Sun.

Follow him on Twitter @Wrong_Fairway.