Is Tiger Woods' intensity holding him back from making a charge at Masters leader Trevor Immelman?

It doesn’t take a genius to see that Tiger Woods is really grinding out there at the Masters this afternoon. His good shots aren’t good enough. His bad shots, judging by his facial expressions, seem catastrophic.

He can’t make any putts, and it’s going to be hard to stick any shots that close in this wind (unless of course you’re leader Trevor Immelman, who is throwing darts).

Woods failed to birdie both par 5s on the front nine. He probably needed both to have a shot at contending for the Green Jacket.

Looking at how intense he is, and the announcers have touched on this, you have to wonder if his attitude is all wrong for the moment. He’s visually grinding, muttering under his breath and his posture and demeanor lack that confidence.

He looks tight compared to Immelman, who is the same relaxed player he’s been all week.

Woods is clearly a dark horse to win now. I wonder if he decided to shed the Sunday majors pressure and just play like it’s a Tuesday Pro-Am, by having some fun out there and try and and show off a little. Maybe he and his caddie Steve Williams should start throwing some $1000 side bets out there, trying to create a backyard game of H.O.R.S.E., so to speak.

Tiger has never won a major after 54 holes and it’s hard to believe he stands a legitimate chance to come back, pending a Greg Norman-like collapse from Immelman.

The bigger question however, is if it is in Woods’ psyche to ever make a Sunday charge in a major. Maybe that intensity that benefits him when he’s on his “A” game is what holds him back when his swing is off and he’s trying to make a Sunday charge.