• PGA Tour

Losing No. 1 may help 'worst ever' Woods - Harmon

ESPN staff
August 9, 2010
Tiger Woods struggled terribly at the Bridgestone Invitational © Getty Images
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Losing the world No.1 spot could provide Tiger Woods with the motivation required to bounce back from his "worst ever" form, according to his former coach Butch Harmon.

Woods, who returned from a five-month hiatus in April following revelations over his personal life, has maintained his fragile grip on the No.1 ranking despite finishing last week's Bridgestone Invitational tournament at 18-over.

Phil Mickelson would have usurped Woods at the summit of the standings with a top-four finish, but an error-strewn final day saw him complete in a tie for 46th.

Harmon believes that Woods would have been re-energised if he had seen his great rival overtake him. "I think if Phil Mickelson gets to No. 1 in the world, that's a big motivational thing for Tiger Woods," he told Sky Sports.

"Tiger Woods right now is playing the worst I've ever seen him play. I've known Tiger Woods since he was a teenager and he looks lost out there.

"Tiger Woods has got to get his head right; he's got to get his life in order before he can even think about playing golf."

Despite his disappointment, Mickelson - who has never held the world No. 1 spot - is unwavering in his belief that he will eventually reach the pinnacle of the game.

"It will eventually happen, I believe," said Mickelson, who has been second for a record 258 weeks. "I've got to play better golf, though. I haven't really played a lot of competitive golf in the last six, eight weeks. It showed and I've got a lot to work on in the next couple of days."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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