Judgedread, your ability to hold to your belief in the face of a decade-plus of overwhelming evidence proving it wrong is admirable. The results in Tiger's last four tournaments (two of them majors)were as follows: Second, First, First and First. Do you mean to tell me that those four courses (ignoring fully one-fourth of all PGA-level courses worldwide over the last decade, and that's just his victories, not his top-5's or top-3's) are to be credited for Tiger's success, and not the one thing those four tournaments had in common, namely, Tiger outshooting the competition, as often as not by a large margin? To believe the last four consecutive PGA courses were all skewed unfairly in Tiger's favor is ludicrous. Occam's Razor was written for arguments like this. Tiger Woods is maybe halfway through the productive part of what is going to be (barring catastrophe) the greatest career the sport has ever seen. To not give him his props for some arbitrary reason is player-hating of a very high order indeed.
There is a measure of validity to judgdreads claim, it would take a while to statistically back it up, but I do see what he is saying. But, Tigers huge margins of victory (by 15@2000 US Open, by 12@1997 Masters, by 8@2000 British Open, and by 5@2006 PGA) speak volumes as well. But, on courses where the winning score is near par, Tiger has not fared as well, and I think a lot of people are catching on that "Tiger Proofing" courses by making them longer only plays to his strong suits. He does not fare as well on the shorter, tighter layouts it seems to me, either, and consequently, does not play many events that feature those type courses. ie; The Colonial, Harbour Town, Westchester, etc. (Sorry, those are club names, not corporate sponsors) But, you certainly cannot say the course is easy when he obliterates the field, and the field is at or near par. I wouldn't care to say his game can't adapt to any course if need be,either.
I will be the first to admit that my earlier prediction that Tiger would NOT win at Medinah was incorrect. Tiger played great. However, my real error was overrating Medinah's degree of difficulty; Leave those grapes on the vine a few more weeks and they won't be quite as sour.
As I recall, Tiger won his last major without using a driver and was regularly out distanced off the tee by his playing partners. I think the days of Tiger-proofing are pretty much over. He simply has every shot he needs in his bag. Being a Mike Weir booster (c'mon, what else are we hosers supposed to do?) I was hoping for a good start by him and a hint at a chink in the armour for Tiger. After Mike birdied one I felt good... For exactly four minutes. Tiger's 40 footer on 2 or 3 made it perfectly clear that everyone else was toast.
Tigers record at courses where he has won previously, suggest it would be foolish to bet against him at such venues as well. 4 wins at Augusta, 4 at Bay Hill. 4 at the Memorial, 3 or 4 at Pebble Beach, 2 for 2 at St. Andrews, and, of course, 2 for 2 at Medinah #3. All very respected courses, too.
Judge, it seems to me that you're saying that Tiger can't have strengths and weaknesses. He can't be dominant, because if he plays on a course that's designed in a way that highlights the weakest parts of his game, he's only on a par with the best players in the world, right? Under the worst conditions (for his game), the worst you can say is that he's less likely to win. However, more often than not, if the course has features that are more friendly to his style of play, he doesn't just beat the "premier" players, he DESTROYS them. The very fact that he's still in contention on courses that go against his strengths speaks volumes about his abilities relative to the competition. So, let's review. If he's on a course that plays to his weaknesses, he's as likely to win as anyone else. If he plays on a course that is more favorable to his style of play, he's likely to crush everyone else. To you, does dominance mean that he has to win every tournament under all conditions?
Okay, I admit Woods is spectacular ... but let's not go overboard.
The thing with Tiger is that he is playing so much smarter than he use to. Now he'll take the 3 or 5 wood off the tee. If you shorten the course and make it tighter, he'll just hit a stinger and still play from the short grass. It doesn't matter how far he is away from the hole. He can take an iron and get it there. Didn't he take an 8 iron and hit it 196 yards on a par three yesterday? An 8 iron!!! Do what you want to the courses, Tiger has the talent and the brains to win. The only one smarter than Tiger was his dad. Even Tiger mentioned that during his interview.
Okay, I admit Woods is spectacular ... but let's not go overboard well....it appears a lot of people are doing just that, if this defines overboard. Many sportswriters today, I am sure, are likening him to Gretsky, MJ, even Ali. Lets face it, who would be the number one most recognizable athlete in the world today if it isn't Tiger? Going into 2006, or forward to 2007, who has the most money locked up in endoresment contracts prior to performance. I daresay Tiger; and who am I to question Nike, AmExpress, Buick, Rolex. They know what they are getting up front for their money; the most recognizable player in any sport, and probably the best in show in the world arena of athletics. All the discussion merely fuels Tigers ability to command more endorsement cash. Tigers performances continue to be historic, and there are those who are always unconfortable when history is being re-written. He has dominated golf like no other, at every level he has competed on. Some question his collegiate achievements, but he may not have had those targets prioritized versus the National Amateur scene. What remains now is for Tiger to rectify his Ryder Cup record- a tall order given that match play is so intimate and instantly reactive.
Thank you wfrazerjr - I was getting ready to post that (had to clean up my workspace from my upchuck first). I've only recently started to warm up to Tiger (still find myself wanting someone to knock him down a notch - even just once), but have never failed to respect his greatness. On the other hand, "greatest athlete ever" is irresponsible and ridiculous. Hey, if nothing else, there's one more set of columns I don't have to worry about reading as soon as I seen Wojciechowski's name attached to it. On preview - big difference between "best" and "most recognizable" athlete, Leominster (no arguments about "most recognizable"). And, it's one thing to mention him in the same breath as athletes from other sports, if you're addressing the importance they carry within their own sport. But, to athletically compare Tiger to Gretzky, MJ, Thorpe is pure silliness (almost as equally silly as comparing those guys to one another even without Tiger in the conversation).
A couple interesting facts to ponder. Nicklaus compiled 18 majors over 25 years. Woods is at a dozen after only 10 years on the PGA Tour. It was the fifth major that Woods won by at least five shots. He now has won his 12 majors by a combined 56 shots, while Nicklaus won his 18 majors by 44 shots.
Comparing athletes from individual sports (like golf, tennis or boxing) against athletes from team sports (like soccer, football, etc) or against athletes from "riding/driving" sports (auto racing, yachting, horse racing) is almost impossible. Individual athletes do not get help from anyone and are not required to help anyone. Championships rest on their shoulders alone. Team athletes need help from other teammates and provide help for other teammates. They cannot win a championship without an able team around them, regardless of their skill. Riding/driving athletes compete as individuals but rely heavily on the equipment they are using.
Mickelson's coach can talk all he wants about Phil having the best game. Tiger is peerless.
grum, you are (of course/as usual) correct, but Tiger is overhauling his sport in a measurable and quanitifiable (to a certain degree) way. In my mind, the comparisons to Jordan or Ali aren't right. He's the Wayne Gretzky of golf. Like Wayne, he's an all-around player with his greatest weapons being his mind and instinct, he's in the process of putting the record book out of reach for generations to come, they're redrawing courses to accommodate him, and ever since very early childhood (with the guidance of a strong and wise father figure) he's conducted himself with an eye to to being a part of the grand historical continuum of his sport. If you look at how Gretzky's career panned out, that's the template for how Tiger is going. He could do way, way worse.
Bayless is writing his "Oh yeah, I'm picking Tiger as Best Human Ever" column. It'll be a bracket that will include Louis Pasteur, Roosevelt, Hannibal of Carthage, Barbaro (out on technicality) and Dom Deluise.
Maybe it is not proper to compare Jordan, Ali, Gretzky and Tiger as they did all compete in different sports. However, they do all have one thing in common...........They are not afraid to kick their opponents in the nuts when they are lying down.
If Skip "My Columns, Please" Bayless knows who Louis Pasteur is (let alone Hannibal), I'll eat Dom Deluise, foofy satin Blazing Saddles scarf and all.
The French Mistake.
Screw you, I'm workin' for Mel Brooks!
