Miller, Chamblee offer differing views on Tiger By Randall Mell Nov 10, 2011 2:22 PM ET NBC’s Johnny Miller believes Tiger Woods will carve out a second career and “win quite a few times.” He sees Woods getting his confidence back. Golf Channel’s Brandel Chamblee is more skeptical. Miller, Chamblee, Curt Byrum and Dan Hicks came together for a spirited teleconference Thursday to advance their television work for NBC and Golf Channel during next week’s Presidents Cup broadcasts. It ended up being dominated by Tiger talk. “Tiger Woods’ decision to once again change his golf swing is the most baffling thing I’ve seen in sports,” Chamblee said. Chamblee said he believes Woods’ decisions to change his swing multiple times after winning the ’97 Masters might ultimately be what costs him the chance to break Jack Nicklaus’ record for most major championship victories. “I agree that Tiger’s swing was better in 1999, 2000 and 2001, but the Tiger Woods of 2007 to 2009 was almost, step by step, as good,” Chamblee said. “It’s why I say [the multiple swing changes] are the most baffling thing in sports that I have ever seen. “The period where Tiger won 7 of 11 majors (1999-2002) and then when he won six of 14 majors (2005-08), those two periods where he won with two different swing philosophies, were separated by periods where he went 10 majors without winning. Now, he justifies the prolific run of victories by saying, `I changed my swing,’ but he did it at the cost of going those run of 10 majors without winning.” Chamblee believes the winless adjustment periods it took Woods to master his multiple swing changes have hurt him more than they’ve helped him. “If he decided not to change his swing in ’98 or 2003, he would already have broken Jack Nicklaus’ record,” Chamblee said. If you’re thinking Woods had to change from Harmon’s swing techniques to protect his ailing knee, Chamblee disagrees. “I’ve seen no changes in his swing that would alleviate pressure on his knee,” Chamblee said after the teleconference. Miller and Byrum said they saw some positive improvement in Woods’ swing in the first round of the Australian Open. “Tiger will have a second career like I did, and he will win quite a few times,” Miller said. “He’ll figure it out. This might be the start. I can see him getting his confidence back. He may not be the Tiger of old, but he has too much talent not to be one of the best players in the world.” Chamblee believes Woods still faces daunting challenges as he remakes his swing under Sean Foley as coach. “When you look at the injury, the scandal, the swing changes and all the other things Tiger Woods has done PR wise that have not helped him, I just don’t see how he’s going to turn this thing around,” Chamblee said. “Any one of those is enough to rob you of that little bitty edge it takes . . . “The pre-scandal, pre-Foley Tiger and post-scandal, post-Foley Tiger are two entirely different golfers. The old Tiger is gone. What he creates from this point forward will be very interesting." Comments Linoze 11/11/2011 9:38:57 AM Brandel can't understand Tiger swing changes. Duhh....Why doesn't he just check out the reasons Tiger has given or ask Tiger himself? I know why. Jack Nicholson said it perfectly in "A few Good Men": Brandel, "YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE TRUTH!" Reply joro1234 11/11/2011 9:08:14 AM Another post designed to bring out the Woods fans in full force. It is laughable however the remarks about Chamblee. He was not a great, or even top player, but he was there. I wonder how many of you that are calling him a FRAUD, CHICKEN, and other names and insults played in any Tour events, or even had the game to try. Well, he did!!!! I am not a big fan of Chamblee, in fact I think the whole bunch of the TGC crew are pitiful but they have been there, you haven't. And that Sobel who started this whole mess should be thrown overboard at sea. As far as Miller goes, oh well, he always says what he thinks. As far as Tiger goes, good going so far, leader after 2 rounds and hope he can finish, might just shut down this board though if he does. WE SHALL SEE> Reply pingman 11/11/2011 9:08:12 AM The PGA-TOUR has to change their script now: Tim Says: "Aw, remember all of those young stars we have been hyping for more than two years, well it turns out that they sucked. BUT we have something even better : TIGER WOODS, the show that you and your parents have loved for 15 years." By default the Tour will have to re-hitch their wagon to Tiger again, but their new problem is twofold. First, Tiger only shows up to 25% of the events. Which automatically greatly diminishes the other 75%. A problem they did not have this year, because of parity . Secondly, If you have seen a show 71 times, you can figure out how it ends, without watching. Reply Par4theCourse 11/11/2011 9:08:04 AM nicks to clarify, Tiger had an early round, and the leaders who were playing later didnt increase their leads in their rounds like Tiger did in his. I expected the board would change more since he was off early. Reply Par4theCourse 11/11/2011 9:04:31 AM maybe someone you are referring to would answer, but since there is no SOMEONE on this board they cannot respond. Reply Hefe 11/11/2011 8:59:29 AM I think it's pure ignorance for anyone to criticize TW's golf game. No one, other than TW, has any real clue about it. People should just sit back and observe. Questioning TW's approach to golf is like questioning Picasso's approach to art. Maybe they'll learn something if they would stop being so critical. Reply See 2 Replies one opinion 11/11/2011 8:46:33 AM As a follow-up, Brandel Chamblee doesn't understand why TW changed his swing multiple times, that he would have surpassed JN if he did not. Well, Chamblee never changed his swing while on tour and we know his major championship record, zero. What he does not understand or perhaps doesn't care to, is that in spite of the swing changes, Tiger won 14 major tournaments. How many others have accomplished that? That is the remarkable aspect of TW, he made changes and still won majors! Very few others will reach that career milestone and should he eclipe the record, he would have done it his way, ala Frank Sinatra. Reply teatogreen 11/11/2011 8:36:11 AM While I dont agree with alot of what Brandell say's I do think that there was no need to change from the Haney swing........if he would just took the time the let the dust and his head clear from his divorce and the fall out from everything that went on he would have already won and been playing closer to where he was pre accident. Its good to see him playing well, no doubt the game is better when he is in the mix. Reply