Jaime Diaz's State Of Tiger Woods, 2013

The Golf World editor and Golf Digest contributor's annual Golf Digest look at Tiger Woods has not included quotes from Tiger his ownself in some time, but an all-star cast weighs in on all things Woods and his pursuit of history.

A few of the items that stood out for me, starting with this on dings:

The specter of injury also diminishes Woods' chances. The frequency of his "dings" went up in 2013 compared to 2012, the most consequential being the left-elbow pain he said began at the Players Championship and bothered him at the Memorial and the U.S. Open. At the Barclays, he announced early in the week that he woke with a stiff back from a soft mattress; by Sunday, spasms literally brought him to his knees. His surgically repaired left knee held up, but it will always be a worry.

Tiger's always been prone to dings, but you do wonder if he's giving new thought to his strength regimin as he nears the big 4-0 so that he can recover better?

In my viewing of his rounds this year, distance was an issue more than accuracy. For him it's as much of a mental boost as a strategic aid in overpowering a course. Once able to call on a huge drive when he needed to, Tiger is average off the tee in today's game.

Woods' weakest club continues to be the driver. He has gotten statistically straighter off the tee (though he hits proportionally more 3-woods and 5-woods than ever), but he has dropped from the first rank of the game's power players, almost certainly for good. As of early September, his measured clubhead speed of 118.68 miles per hour ranked 26th on the PGA Tour, his ball speed 24th. He was 32nd in going for reachable holes, and 56th in driving distance (292.7 yards).

As for his attitude, I don't get Paul Azinger's comment below since Tiger's always exuded something other than intense calmness, often to the chagrin of observers.

"I no longer see in Tiger that intense calmness you sense in a confident man," says Paul Azinger. "When you act edgy and irritable, you're exposing your lack of confidence. For a long time he seemed to be the most disciplined golfer in the world, and that was a big part of his intimidation."

Hasn't he always had days where he's edgy and irritable on the course? Isn't that just his way?

Will Tiger Boycott Golf Channel Interviews Over Brandel?

Ed Sherman has a roundup of the Brandel-Tiger-cavalier-with-the-rules situation and wonders if this could mean a Tiger boycott of Golf Channel interviews in lieu of the hoped-for trial.

This, even though the original offense appeared on golf.com, where they still have not acknowledged Mark Steinberg's rebuttal to the Chamblee column suggesting possible legal action.

Woods, though, will be looking to get even, and that could put the Golf Channel in the line of fire. There’s not much he can do to get back at Golf.com. The magazine and site weren’t getting any exclusive interviews anyway.

Woods, though, does appear regularly on interviews during tournaments with the Golf Channel. Chamblee’s main work is with the Golf Channel.

I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that Woods might pull an interview boycott with the Golf Channel–at least at the events where Chamblee is on site as an analyst, which are quite a few. It would be a way for the Woods camp to make Chamblee feel the heat.

The World Challenge at Sherwood should provide an opportunity to find out, as NBC/Golf Channel is the tournament's longtime partner. Would he not do an interview Thursday and Friday, and then sit in the NBC booth as he traditionally does on the weekend?

Or perhaps this will be an opportunity for Tiger Marching And Chowder Society Co-Chairs Kelly Tilghman and Notah Begay to intervene?

Dreaming Of The Woods V. Chamblee Trial

At the websites Brandel Chamblee employers GolfChannel.com and golf.com, I had to look hard for a story on Team Tiger's reaction to Chamblee's golf.com column. Granted, the harsh rebuttal statement and comments by Mark Steinberg went out at about 6 pm ET on a Friday, a news window reserved only for USGA Presidency announcements and press releases on Old Course changes.

Eventually I found a (non-front page) story by that wily scribe his ownself, GolfChannel.com Digital. He's the first-born son of The Digitals of Key Biscayne, armed with a J-school degree that prepped him to take stories no one else will write.

And what about Golf.com, which stands to be sued if Steinberg finds a lawyer willing to sue over the insinuation that Tiger is a cheater? No story was posted as of 1 a.m. ET.  Here's guessing the on-call legal minds at Klapp, Lard and Doppleganger took an early weekend.

Now, before Chamblee apologizes or some lawyer advises Tiger that he can't win this battle, I want the folks involved to think about the merits of a televised trial. Planned creatively--scary words in the golf world-- this could be a ratings Godsend. Way better than the PGA Tour wraparound events. (Okay, that's a low bar to set, I know.)

But think of the possibilities. Sean Foley takes the stand to be grilled by Brandel's attorney over the pitch angle of Tiger's hips at impact.

Tiger testifies about how much Brandel's relentless criticism stings, at which point the judge rules with the defense that questions about the stinger are now permissible.

Outside the Jupiter courthouse, Alex Miceli and Nancy Grace host Golf Channel's daily coverage. Hank Haney, Tim Rosaforte and Frank Nobilo are called in to testify and plead the fifth, only to give exclusive post-courtroom interviews to Golf Channel.

What could be more American?

Tiger's Agent On Brandel Chamblee Column: "It's atrocious...I have to give some thought to legal action."

Bob Harig reports on the statement issued by agent Mark Steinberg and also shares his over-the-phone reaction to Brandel Chamblee's Golf Magazine insinuation that Tiger Woods is cavalier in interpreting the rules of golf.

From the phone interview:

"There's nothing you can call a golfer worse than a cheater," Steinberg said. "This is the most deplorable thing I have seen. I'm not one for hyperbole, but this is absolutely disgusting. Calling him a cheater? I'll be shocked, stunned if something is not done about this. Something has to be done.

"There are certainly things that just don't go without response. It's atrocious. I'm not sure if there isn't legal action to be taken. I have to give some thought to legal action."

Oh now that would that be a great trial!

Video: "Sammy" The Squirrel, Tiger Buddy & New USA Mascot

Rex Hoggard with the story of Sammy, the androgenous squirrel who Davis Love rescued from death by golf cart and who, mercifully, will be handing the furry friend over to Jack Hanna at the world famous Columbus Zoo for rehab. Love had bonded with the squirrel earlier in the day.

Just not yet...

Sammy was spotted resting on Tiger Woods’ shoulder. “Lindsey (Vonn) loves him,” Love said.

Love joked that he was going to take Sammy to the Columbus Zoo and give him to Jack Hanna, but it seems U.S. captain Fred Couples wants to keep him around for a little while longer.

“Freddie (Couples) wanted me to bring him to the press center but Sammy has already gotten enough press today,” Love smiled.

AP's extensive day one notes opens with Sammy's story and ends with this quote from Captain Couples.

U.S. captain Fred Couples didn't know what to make of Sammy.

"I carry a rabbit's foot around," he said. "I don't know about a live squirrel."

There are several shots of Sammy in this GolfChannel.com gallery.

And courtesy of PGA Tour Entertainment, the telecast moment when Lindsay Vonn put Sammy on Tiger's shoulder.

Presidents Cup Thought Bubble Fun: Tiger, Duf, Phil Edition

Chris Condon captured a shot for the ages backstage before the Presidents Cup opening ceremony. (Full gallery here.) If they weren't in matching suits you'd swear Annie Leibovitz had spent days orchestrating the Rat Packish shot for a Vanity Fair shoot. Again, that is, if they weren't in matching suits.

But I feel like something is missing...as in, thought bubbles. Keep it clean please.

Tiger Runs "Out Of Gas" & Schedules Only Get Worse From Here!

It was a pretty shocking admission for physical specimen Tiger Woods to say his Tour Championship second round fell apart because he "just ran out of gas" and calling the ResetCup series of events (even with a week off) "a long grind." (Mark Lamport-Stokes reports.)

And guess what? The 2013-14 season starts in three weeks and next year's playoffs do not include a week off. But there is a week after the playoffs so you can rest for the Ryder Cup in Scotland.

In 2015 the Presidents Cup, presumably soon after the FedExCup, will be in Korea on the moundiest looking course you'll ever see.

And do we even want to talk about the mess that is 2016? Ewan Murray did in assessing (and agreeing) with Woods' complaint about fatigue.

Woods was right to point to a condensed schedule from the Open Championship to this, the climax of the FedEx play-off events. He also predicted that matters will become even more hectic in 2016, when golf returns to the Olympic Games in Rio.

It's going to be fascinating to watch the stars getting older while Commissioner Blankfein's vision for non-stop golf plays out.