Woods, who recently finished all 72 holes at the 2024 Masters, is no longer on top of the golf world.
That honour belongs to Scottie Scheffler, who is putting up Woods-like numbers and dominating the PGA Tour.
For longtime golf fans, Gary Player is still a respected name that rings out.
Player has very specific and passionate ideas about what went wrong for Woods and why.
According to the 88-year-old Player, who has 24 PGA wins and captured nine majors, Woods made a major mistake in the distant past.
Player told KW Golf that switching golf coaches ‘ruined’ Woods’ career and it all went wrong way back in 2000.
“Tiger Woods had his career ruined, completely ruined,” Player remarked.
“The US Open at Pebble Beach, he won by 15 shots. You know what that’s like? It’s like running the 100 meters in seven seconds.
“The next week, he’s having a lesson from a man who, I don’t think, if he played in the Masters, could break 80.
“And then he goes to another guy who couldn’t probably break 85 in the Masters Masters with the pressure, or the British Open or the PGA on the final day. And he’s having lessons from them.”
They were incredibly strong words from Player, who also ignored many of the issues that have dragged down Woods in recent years.
One of the greatest golfers in the sport’s history has had health and personal problems, while also being involved in a serious car crash.
Woods also dominated the golf world after 2000, winning tournament after tournament and major after major.
From 2006-09, Woods won 25 tournaments, including several majors.
Player appears to be convinced though that something Woods did in 2000 wrecked his entire career.
“Why did Tiger do that? He was so good, but I understand he wanted to get better,” Player said.
“If he had just gone along and never changed, he would have won at least 22 [majors]. He would’ve gone down as the greatest athlete the world has ever seen.”
Many golf fans would say that health, age, poor decisions and bad luck have prevented Woods from reaching his full potential.
Player clearly sees it a different way.
“No coach can be held responsible,” one fan commented. “Tiger is Tiger. He was always clear on what he wanted to do.”
“It was Tiger Woods’ personal problems that caused his career to dip,” a second fan said.
Player was one of the best golfers in the world in the 1960s and kept winning big tournaments through 1978.
He won the Masters Masters three times (1961, ’74, ’78).
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Source: USA Today
