Tiger Woods: Turbulent 2009 for the world's greatest golfer

Published on Tuesday 1 December 2009 10:40

TIGER Woods appears to be a golfer ill at ease with himself.

Even before last weekend's heavily-publicised car crash outside his Florida home, the world's number one golfer had experienced a turbulent 2009.

From missing the cut at the Open at Turnberry, to losing out to Korean unknown YE Yang on the final day of the US PGA Championship, to hurling a club into the gallery during a tournament in Australia, the world number one has struggled - and sometimes failed - to keep a check on his emotions.

Here scotsman.com looks back on a turbulent season for Tiger Woods:

1: Open failure

Woods missed the cut at an Open Championship for the first time as a professional golfer. His second round 74 was accompanied by several temper tantrums including one audible obscenity which required commentators to apologise to viewers when it was broadcast live on television.

Read scotsman.com's report on Tiger's exit

2: Duck for cover

A reported $3 million dollar appearance fee enticed Tiger Down Under to compete in the Australian Masters tournament last month. Perhaps the most notable event on his way to victory, however, was a show of petulance which forced Tiger to fish his 3 wood out of the watching gallery.

Tiger's golf club ends up in the crowd - click here to see the clip

3: Outgunned by an unknown

The US PGA Championship at Hazeltine in Minnesotta presented Woods with best chance of a major success in 2009. He went into the final round two-shots clear of unheralded Korean YE Yang and the world number one had never been overhauled when taking a lead into the final round of a major championship.

But on the day an out-of-sorts Woods succumbed and Yang became the first Asian golfer to win a major.

Read scotsman.com's report on Yang's victory

A few weeks ago Scotland on Sunday golf writer John Huggan issued some advice on how Tiger Woods could improve himself and golf. Seems like good advice now.