Ian Poulter: ‘I don’t think [Tiger] will finish in the top 5′
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If Ian Poulter is nothing else, he's entertaining, and he doesn't mind popping off at whoever is in his way for a good laugh.
That might not have even been the case when Poulter was asked about four-time Masters winner Tiger Woods' chances this week at Augusta National. Poulter spoke honestly, and said he doesn't even think Tiger will contend, this according to Teddy Greenstein.
"I don't think he'll finish in the top 5," Poulter said, citing Woods' play at the World Golf Championships at Doral four weeks ago.
"The shots he was hitting at Doral, they were very inconsistent," Poulter said. "You can't afford to hit shots like that on this golf course and get away with it. I don't think you want to rely on your short game that much around this place."
While the shot was fired from Poulter, you can't help but agree with him. Is there someone out there that thinks Tiger has a good shot of winning this week? And if he isn't going to win, who is to say he's going to be in the hunt? So far this season, he has two finishes outside the top 20, and that doesn't even include his first-round departure at the Accenture Match Play. His only top 10 came at Doral, when it took a closing 66 to jump him to that spot.
Related: Is Tiger's body failing him?
Tiger is 191st in driving accuracy and 57th in greens in regulation this season, so maybe Poulter has a point. You can get away with a bad round here or there at a regular golf event, but when you come to major championships, you better have the sharpest of games to walk away a winner, and I think we can all agree that isn't something Woods possesses right now.
I'd say I have to agree with Poulter. If Tiger finishes in the top five, I think it would be way more of a shock than it would to people if he didn't, and that's a pretty solid indication of where his game is right now.
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