When it comes to the decisions Tiger Woods has made during his golf career, it is hard to be critical of anything he did, with the former world number one winning 15 major titles.
Tiger Woods looked to be destined for greatness from the earliest stages of his career. Of course, he had won a major title at the age of 21, setting the record for the largest margin of victory at the Masters. His victory at Augusta National was all the more remarkable because he had reached the turn during the opening round at four over par.
Woods would not win a second major until the 1999 PGA Championship. But what then followed was one of the greatest seasons of all-time, as Woods won nine times in 2000, including three majors. He would complete the Tiger Slam at the Masters in 2001.
He would win another two majors in 2002. However, he would also make a significant decision about the future of his game that year.
Jack Nicklaus says he didn’t understand decision Tiger Woods made in 2002
It was Butch Harmon who worked with Woods during the early years of his career. Harmon instantly noticed similarities between Woods and Ben Hogan the first time he saw him swing the club. And clearly, the pair enjoyed all sorts of success together.
However, Woods would decide to part ways with Harmon in 2002. It appeared to be an indication that Woods felt that there was ever more to come from his game.
Obviously, Woods would have felt confident in his decision. But others struggled to see the bigger picture, including Jack Nicklaus, it seems.
Speaking to 5 Clubs in 2022, Nicklaus discussed Woods’ ability to not rely on technology. But within his comments about the 49-year-old, he noted that he was somewhat baffled by the decision to stop working with Harmon.
“Tiger got information, but I don’t think Tiger muddied up the situation with information. His dad was very sharp in teaching Tiger in that he told him how to take the old golf clubs and how to take the old golf balls and how to manoeuvre them and play shots and do different things. And, as you know, Tiger could do about anything he wants to with a golf ball,” he said.
“I give his dad a lot of kudos for that, and Tiger, he’s learned and paid attention. And he’s responsible for his own game. Every once in a while, Tiger goes out and takes a lesson. He won Pebble Beach at the US Open by what, 20 shots, and then the next thing, he goes out and changes teachers. I mean, I didn’t understand that one. But that’s what he did. But for the most part, I think Tiger’s pretty much been responsible for his own game.”
How Tiger Woods fared in the majors after 2002
Of course, it is impossible to know whether Woods made the right decision. Had he stayed with Harmon, he may have overtaken Nicklaus’ tally of 18 major titles. But he may have also faded and seen his win-rate drop right down.
It did take Woods a while to win another major after 2002. That next major came at the 2005 Masters as he beat Chris DiMarco in a playoff at Augusta National. That would be the first of six majors he won between that event and the 2008 US Open where he got across the line on essentially a broken leg.
Ultimately, it was injury which brought an end to Woods’ dominance, rather than a problem with his golf swing.
It would be fascinating to know whether there is any part of Woods which rues the decision to split with Harmon in 2002.
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