Despite Slow Start, Tiger Poised For Big Year

His year up to this point has been underwhelming by his standards, but Tiger Woods is poised to break out of his major slump in a big way. Woods has shown flashes here and there over the first couple tournaments of the season, none bigger than his 66 last Saturday at Doral when he charged up the leaderboard.

Every step forward for Tiger this season has been met with two steps backs. However his biggest flashes this season are yet to come, and I believe Tiger will take one giant step towards a major victory.

In a couple of weeks, the PGA Tour will make its annual stop at Bay Hill for the Arnold Palmer Invitational, a tournament Tiger has dominated in the past. Even though he's won the tournament 8 times previously, it’s not about the Bay Hills’, or the Firestones’, or the Torrey Pines’ victories, it’s about the majors.

The venues this season set up very well for Tiger. He’s had success at all of them. First up, of course, is historic Augusta National. Tiger is going to be in contention; it’s just a matter if the putter can hold up under pressure.

Next up, is the US Open at Pinehurst, the only major course this year Tiger hasn’t won a major at. He finished 2^nd at the 2005 US Open. While the course has undergone a facelift since then, historically Tiger has played well there.

If Tiger’s game doesn’t set up for the Masters, it certainly sets up for The Open Championship. He loves nothing more than hitting stingers off the tee, and keeping his driver in the bag. That is classic Open Championship golf, where you commonly see 30+ MPH winds, and lots of punch shots, and putters from well off the green.

Where is the British this year? How about Royal Liverpool, the site of Woods’ 2006 British Open victory. The history is there for Woods, and if he’s going in with a major in 2014 already under his belt, history could easily repeat itself.

Finally, the major schedule concludes at Valhalla for the PGA Championship. Well gee, what has Tiger ever done at Valhalla?

While the majors have set up well for Tiger in the past, like in 2010, and he’s walked away empty handed, Tiger’s game both physically and mentally is on the verge of greatness once again. Once Tiger does finally break the major threshold once again, the floodgates are going to open to many more major victories. The schedule is favorable, the locations are ideal, and I believe this is the year Tiger Woods once again reaches the pinnacle of the game.