November 26, 2005

Tiger vs. Annika: Who has been the best golfer of the last 10 years?

posted by terry to golf at 12:04 AM - 17 comments

This is another case of comparing apples to oranges. It really makes no sense to me. It's like asking whether Marciano or Sugar Ray Robinson was the better fighter? Both were great, but if you put them in the ring together...well, you get the idea. That's why boxing has different weight divisions, and golf has a men's tour and a women's tour. (Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus, but he's in a different weight division).

posted by OldDawg'44 at 02:30 AM on November 26, 2005

Remember Bobby Riggs?

posted by bugsyduke at 05:18 AM on November 26, 2005

"Touche" bugsyduke! (is that spelled right?) Come to think of it, Billy Jean probably would've beat Rocky in tennis.

posted by OldDawg'44 at 06:02 AM on November 26, 2005

While I have nothing but the utmost respect for both their games, Tiger will always get my nod for being the individual credited for the rebirth of popularity the game of golf has enjoyed the past several years. Playing and producing with that type of attention, expectations, and pressure takes a special kind of athlete. Another thing that works in Tiger's favor is the fact he is often playing against so many tremendous players from around the world. In any big tournament, the list of men golfers participating and the talent they possess is staggering. Annika's the face of women's golf. Tiger Woods is the face of golf, period.

posted by dyams at 08:56 AM on November 26, 2005

Your talking two great golfers here however i have to go with bugsybaby on this one. That crybaby Wie or ei didn't make the cut but watchout when she does all hell will break loose on the sports writer front.

posted by FrankySP at 09:48 AM on November 26, 2005

I think 1/4 of pro golfers are on steroids.... Just a thought.

posted by Coach_B at 12:25 PM on November 26, 2005

I think 1/4 of pro golfers are on steroids.... Just a thought. What a Dick... Pound, that is.

posted by dfleming at 01:31 PM on November 26, 2005

Remember Bobby Riggs? I do remember Bobby Riggs. Wasn't he the 55-year old retired tennis player who slaughtered the #1 ranked female player (Margaret Smith Court, who was 31 at the time) 6-2, 6-1? Or were you referring to the more famous made-for-TV match against Billie Jean King (who was 27 years his junior), where he lost 6-4, 6-3, 6-3? Did you remember that Riggs had to play the match with two handicaps?

  • He was forced to cover the entire doubles court (while King had to only cover the traditional singles court).
  • Riggs was only allowed one serve (while King was allowed the normal two serves before fault).
So, if we were to make a fair comparison, it would be like Annika Sorenstam playing against Jack Nicklaus, except that Nicklaus wouldn't be allowed to use more than 5 clubs, and Sorenstam would always drive from the ladies tees.

posted by grum@work at 10:06 PM on November 26, 2005

Excellent point, grum. I do remember the Billy Jean-Bobby Riggs match, and I thought then (and still do today) that it was the biggest joke I'd ever seen. A similar match today wouldn't even be broadcast. That would be like putting a middle-aged, recreational male tennis player out on the court against Martina Navratilova. Oh yeah, then give her a few advantages, too.

posted by dyams at 07:56 AM on November 27, 2005

that article is a joke. Annika dominates people that couldnt hold Tigers jock strap, and Tiger dominates golfers that Annika herself cant beat. Oh yeah she's the best golfer ever, and hasnt even made a PGA cut once.

posted by Drallig9399 at 07:23 AM on November 28, 2005

Damn, where's lbb and her intelligent women's insight when you need it? Obviously if you look at golf as one sport only, Tiger is the best around. But if you look at golf as two sports (ie: men's golf and women's golf), then there may indeed be a story here. If any of you actually read the article, you'd notice that it reflects Tiger's data to the men's tour and Anika's data to the women's tour. When contemplating who is the best at any sport, the comparison is to a person's peers. This year Anika won 50% of her events against her peers. Neither Tiger, nor Jack nor even the mighty Hogan has ever done that. Therefore, it's safe to say that Anika is currently dominating her sport more than Tiger is dominating his sport. Nothing more needs to be made of it than that. Tiger is awsome. Anika is awsomer.

posted by drevl at 01:55 PM on November 28, 2005

Dammit drevl, what have I told you about actually reading the article and then posting coherent observations about such? You better watch that kind of behavior, pal.

posted by The_Black_Hand at 04:13 PM on November 28, 2005

AWESOMER? drevl always said "Once you be speaking gooder english, cant nobody change it." drevl, piers are for jumping off! The ONLY thing Annika has on Eldrick is that she has a bigger (or awesomer) penis!

posted by CountDracula58 at 10:02 AM on November 29, 2005

Nice talk, coming from CuntDracula

posted by drevl at 01:38 PM on November 29, 2005

Hey drevl, go easy, your Mama named me CuntDracula. She also takes care of the carpet burns she puts on my face!

posted by CountDracula58 at 11:34 PM on November 29, 2005

His mom knocked you down, rubbed your face on the carpet and then took care of the burns? Weird. If that's not the case, please take this sorry-ass NBA-quality slapfight elsewhere. drevl makes a decent comment, you swing and miss at the sarcasm in his comment and then you're bringing leftover, not even playground worthy Yo'mama jokes.

posted by yerfatma at 06:19 AM on November 30, 2005

Dorothy Mantooth is a SAINT! You hear me?

posted by chicobangs at 09:58 AM on November 30, 2005

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