posted Jun 17, 2008

The best golfer of all-time? Goodness knows. It's him or Nicklaus. Different eras as KingKobe1 says, and I think to compare Woods to Nicklaus you have to compare (say) Palmer, Player and Sanders to Mickleson, Els and Singh, something I really wouldn't want to consider doing!

Instead, I'll offer a statement I'm much more certain of: Tiger Woods is the most influential golfer of all time. He's undermined the idea of golf as a white man's game, and has also extended its appeal to the young; his power game has influenced course designers and greatly increased the importance attached to physical fitness in golf; in short, much of what golf is now is down to him. I don't think even Nicklaus could ever claim anything like that.

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posted Jun 17, 2008

I want to know why the Administration at the U.S. OPEN selected the 7 hole as the beginning hole for sudden death? Why would they do that when Tiger had clearly outplayed Rocco on the seventh because Rocco's hooked drive put him at a disadvantage.
It would've seemed far more logical to start the players at the first tee, or even the 9th.
Why the 7th? Seems fishy to me.

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posted Jun 17, 2008

I am prepared to nail my colours to the mast on this one.

I have stated that Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer that I have ever seen in my lifetime.

There is no reason to change my view.

I have seen Nicklaus,Palmer,Player,Trevino,Watson,Seve and Faldo.

Doug Sanders should not even be mentioned in the same company.

Nicklaus's record is fantastic but I am witnessing a player who is like no other. His achievement to win 14 majors at the age of 32 when so many players can come good for 4 days is supreme.Nicklaus had won 11 by 32.

Nicklaus had to beat half dozen players in most competitions. It was only when the US tour started to intensify in the mid/late 70's and he had competition from the likes of Watson and Trevino that competition picked up.

This gathered momentum in the early 80's when the European surge started with Seve and Langer.

Barring major injury Tiger will overhaul Jack's record. It is just a matter of time.

However, I do not have to wait for the formality of this record to be broken.

Of all the players I have mentioned above Tiger is the greatest golfer of them all.

Indeed, this last major win will go down in history as one of the most sensational following his operation, 6 weeks of not hitting a ball, very little preparation, the sheer will to win, a full 18 hole playoff through obvious pain and so many crucial putts at big moments.

The guy is a legend in my lifetime and will probably get close to Ali as one of the greatest sports stars of all time by the time he ends his playing career.

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posted Jun 18, 2008

The guy is a legend in my lifetime and will probably get close to Ali as one of the greatest sports stars of all time by the time he ends his playing career.
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He hits a ball for a living - he hasn't spent his career with the threat that the next punch could end his career - its hardly the same is it

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posted Jun 18, 2008

peterb400

Another cyncic.

I said he would get close to Ali as one of the greatest sportsmen.

It is relative to each individual sport.

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posted Jun 18, 2008

I don't think anyone here has considered Bobby Jones & his 'grand slam' in 1930. That said, of all the golfers I've watched Tiger is the greatest, but it's fair to say that the game has evolved considerably. You could only compare mental strength & that is between the ears. There's no doubt Tiger is special in ALL categories. For example, when Faldo pulled off an unlikely victory we were impressed with his grit and single-mindedness but with Tiger we've come to expect it. We've been conditioned to the awesome being the norm with Woods. Tiger pulls off amazing feats & we say 'well, it's Tiger Woods after all'. And that is some accolade! Get fit soon Tiger, it's a pleasure to watch & learn from you

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posted Jun 19, 2008

Tiger Woods is not the first sports person to play a match carrying an injury. A five live commentator said he was a 'hero' for doing so. Hero to who? Johhny Wilkinson played the 2003 World Cup final with a serious injury and no one whinged on his behalf. As for 'hollow victories', if Holland beat Croatia in the European cup final they won't say it was hollow because Edwardo was not playing. Shut up about his knee.

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posted Jun 19, 2008

//He hits a ball for a living - he hasn't spent his career with the threat that the next punch could end his career - its hardly the same is it//

No you are correct. Hitting a Golf ball is far far harder. Ali was a great boxer but cannot compare to someone like Tiger. Maybe Schumacher or Pele maybe can.

Im not a huge Tiger fan but hes pretty much the greatest sportsman thats lived IMO. Golf has always been a game that players rarely dominate as its difficult to keep playing superbly consistantly. He seems to manage it while no one else on the planet can. Nickalus etc played when Golf was a far smaller game than it is now.

He and what he has achieved wont really be appreciated until hes gone.

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posted Jun 19, 2008

"Nickalus etc played when Golf was a far smaller game than it is now."

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This is a point that many people who try to draw comparisons between the two tend to forget. Maybe there are no Palmers, Players, Watsons, etc. in the current field, but that is because the overall field is so deep now that it is very difficult for a select few to consistently win. The top 100 players in the world are much stronger today than in the 60s/70s. Only Tiger, amongst the current crop is capable of winning week in and week out. If you put Palmer, Player et al in today’s field you may find that there career totals look a lot similar to Phil Mickelson or Ernie Els (also bear in mind that they and others would have a few more majors to their name if it weren’t for Tiger). Nicklaus had peers, Tiger doesn’t, because he is that much better than the rest.

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posted Jun 20, 2008

One thing is for sure now: with Tiger out for the rest of the season, Ian Poulter should clean up the rest of the titles!

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