It's getting ugly for Tiger Woods on the golf course. OK ... it's past that point. It's dire and seeping into pools of embarrassment for the one-time golf great.
Woods shot a 10-over-par 80, his worst round ever in a U.S. Open, on Thursday at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash., along the Puget Sound.
His score was so bad that he was reduced to poking fun at himself afterward.
"The bright side is at least I kicked Rickie's butt today," Woods told ESPN, referring to a struggling Rickie Fowler, who he edged by one shot.
It was so bad that 15-year-old Cole Hammer shot better than Woods.
But wait ... it only got worse, as Woods started Friday at the Open by taking a tumble on the hill in front of hundreds at Chambers Bay and thousands more watching at home. Not to mention, the Internet, which was armed and ready with instant memes to capture the literal and figurative fall of Tiger Woods.
Let's just get this out of the way now.
— Robby Kalland (@RKalland) June 19, 2015
Woods entered the Open on Friday in an absurd tie for 152nd place. So, what in the world is going on with him? Is it all mental at this point? Is it the mechanics in his swing? Physically, has he deteroprated to the point where he can't hang on the golf course anymore?
On ESPN's First Take on Friday morning, Skip Bayless and Stephen A. Smith attempted to take stabs at the reasons for Tiger's free-fall from golf's greats. Bayless attributed Woods's struggles to parting ways with former coach Butch Harmon, who was by Tiger's side during the early success of his career. Smith flat out said Woods should retire ... it's that bad.
What's worse is we've heard Woods even recently say he's getting close to returning to form, but yet, he seems so far. It would be something if he could even pinpoint the roots of his struggles and poor play, but he can't. And the media is just as clueless.
Fall from grace for sure, but at least Tiger didn't fall on his face ... yet.
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