As Tiger Woods tees up in this year’s U.S. Open, making the cut will be a win in the right direction for the aging, struggling immortal.

By Patrick Comia

In this year’s 115th edition of the U.S. Open, the setting is in the Pacific Northwest.

Chambers Bay Golf Course, an hour south of Seattle, WA, is the setting with a varying degree of course length from 5100 yards to 7,585 yards, depending on where the USGA (United States Golf Association) decides where to challenge the golfers with tee box placements.

In Tiger Woods’ case, it may not matter and could provide an even more of a challenge to his “return to form” mission.

It’s been no secret he’s been struggling, having ups and downs, the “epps” with his short game early this season, and the dreaded “pull-hooks” with his driver.

If you watch the golf channel or any golf broadcast, they report that Tiger looks good on the golf range before tournaments. He’s “dialed in,” or “the swing” looks good”. However, that positive energy doesn’t transfer over when it matters: on the course.

Too many times, we have seen wayward tee shots from the former number one. It’s like when he stands over the golf ball, instead of just trying to put it in play, he tries too hard smash it.

The result is either the next fairway over or the trees. He’s forced to make shots that most amateur golfers make, as routine: hitting through, under, and around trees. If it’s not trees, it’s the rough or dirt patch on the right. Tiger has to scramble to a par, in most cases.1FACEBOOKSHORT

It’s head-scratching to think that once a proud man, who seemed invincible and could do no wrong on the course, has been reduced to his present state of missing fairways and looking, well, amateur.

For this week, a big win for Tiger is to just survive and make the cut on another tough U.S. Open golf venue.

To most fans, including myself, that is a step in the right direction. Just go out with the thinking of putting the ball in play and don’t worry about what the other guy is doing. That was his strength before: intimidation and confidence in his game that he had the belief, “Yeah, I can pull this shot off. No problem.”

Tiger Woods needs to show us that his game is getting back to respectability, and to leave all those high expectations behind him.

Make the fans believe again.

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I'm a blogger trying to make it in this world. Have been, and always will be, a fan of the NYR and NYG. Writing for the New Jersey Devils cause, well, someone has to do it!