Former US Open champion Michael Campbell has given a blunt appraisal of Tiger Woods‘ chances of ever winning another tournament.
“No,” said Campbell when asked about Woods’ prospects at a junior golf clinic at Jumeriah Golf Estate (JGE) in Dubai on Tuesday.
Woods posted a video on Monday night of him hitting his trademark “stinger” iron shot, the latest of a series of social media teases that he is ready to make a comeback in 2018 having not played since withdrawing from the Dubai Desert Classic.
“I just saw him swing a few swings on Instagram and it looks okay but – he’s forty-something now (41), he’s been through four back surgeries, three knee surgeries. He hasn’t been out there for five or six years now, he’s so far behind.
“It’s like Tiger waiting at a train station and all these trains are passing by for the last six years, and that’s all these guys. Guys like Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, DJ (Dustin Johnson), Jason Day, these guys weren’t around, when Tiger Woods was winning everything.
“All of a sudden all these young guys come along who hit it further, stronger. I think he’s going to struggle. It’s a real shame because I’d love to see him out there again.”
The 48-year-old Maori said Woods biggest problem is golf is now a different game from when he was in his prime from the mid-1990s until his much publicised off-course issues in 2008.
Woods’ last major victory was the 2007 PGA Championship while his most recent tournament win was
the WGC Bridgestone in 2013.
“It’s a different game, different ball, different equipment, they hit it further, (golfers are) more athletic,” added Campbell. “It’s the evolution of golf. You look at all the sports, whether it’s rugby or football or whatever. They’re fitter, stronger, faster – the same with golf.”
Campbell is in Dubai for the final of the Swing Against Cancer Golf Series, the Mike Clark Golf Day at JGE on Thursday. The event will raise funds for the Friends of Cancer Patients charity, a non-profit organisation dedicated to helping patients and their families.
Individual entry for the evening event is only Dh395, and a table of 10, Dh3,500. For more information, call 056 442 1067 or email [email protected].
