It's that time of year again.  Time to shake off the cobwebs of winter , pull out the big stick and head for the course.  That means it's also time to renew the sad commentary about the pitiful competition Tiger Woods faces each year on the PGA tour.  Until someone, ANYONE can rise to the challenge I'll keep posting this each April.

There are many things people agree upon regarding the phenomenal career of Tiger Woods: his dominance in golf, his high "Q" rating for TV and especially his work ethic. However, the claim he's "the best golfer ever" always begs the question: Is he that good, or is his competition that weak?

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus, always gracious in his comments about Tiger, said, "Somebody is going to dust my records. It might as well be Tiger, because he's such a great kid." However, when Tiger broke Jack's 1965 Masters record by a mere one stroke in 1997 he did it using all the new fangled high tech equipment Nicklaus couldn't even dream of in his day. Also, something few people realize, the Augusta National course was longer when Jack set the mark than when Tiger broke it.

But more to the point, if Tiger is today's Nicklaus, then who is today's Gary Player (9 majors); Tom Watson (8); Lee Trevino (6); Seve Ballesteros (5) Ray Floyd (4)? They all fearlessly stalked Nicklaus throughout his career. How many of Jack's incredible 19 second place finishes in the majors would have been firsts if they were not around?

Take Tom Watson. Tom beat Jack in a classic head-to-head British Open duel at Turnberry in 1977, only sealing the win with a must make birdie putt on the final hole. Watson beat him again winning the 1982 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach when he chipped in for birdie on the 17th hole in the final round. Consider at the height of Nicklaus' dominance in 1971 Lee Trevino won the U.S. Open, Canadian Open and British Open championships in a four-week span. At that U.S. Open Trevino defeated Nicklaus in an 18-hole playoff and was named Sports Illustrated "Sportsman of the Year". Who compares to Trevino, the "Merry Mex", on today's PGA tour?

Now you have Phil Mickelson, with 3 majors, Ernie Els with 3 and Vijay Singh with 3. And the only players to push Woods in a major have been Bob May and Chris DiMarco. Anyone seen those two lately? Gary Player, a regular Nicklaus nemesis, has more major tournament wins than Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Jim Furyk and Davis Love III combined. Yet they were considered at one point or another serious competition for Woods. Now their careers are winding down without ever mounting a serious challenge.

With todays seemingly uninspired competitors it's very possible that Tiger will win 25 or 30 major tournaments before he's done. Unfortunately he will have won them against a cast of Lilliputians unable to challenge him like the talented players of the past challenged Nicklaus. It's a shame for the game really and certainly no fault of Tiger's. Many of today's golfers can shoot low scores on Thursday, but when they collapse on Sunday, they blame it on Tiger's game, and not their own.

As Tiger Woods tapped in for par this past Sunday on the final hole of the 135th British Open Championship, his emotions finally got the better of him. The man with ice in his veins stood with a quivering chin, which quickly gave way to full sobs as he clung to his caddy, Steve Williams, in the center of the green. With the amassed throng cheering the winner of 11 major tournaments, Woods continued to weep and hug his bearish caddy. After a few moments, Williams encouraged Tiger to exit the green.

Many in the television audience, having been reminded every 5 minutes throughout the four day event, quickly thought the emotional outburst resulted from Tiger wining his first major since the passing of his father, Earl Woods, some months ago. It may have played a part, but knowledgeable golfers around the world knew the real reason for his inconsolable wails. With this win it had become painfully clear; Tiger Woods’ legacy is diminished with each new major tournament victory.

Unlike his idol, Jack Nicklaus, Tiger once again bested a field more worthy of a weekend charity golf outing than the most prestigious tournament in the sport. Unlike Nicklaus, who week after week battled to the final stoke for most of his major wins, Tiger once again sashayed around the course making fun of the pretenders. The Tiger era features Tiger. The Nicklaus era featured Jack, Tom Watson, Gary Player, Lee Trevino and Seve Ballesteros; golfers who combined for 46 major tournament victories during Jack’s reign. Tiger has, well, Tiger. Gary Player, a regular Nicklaus nemesis, has more major tournament wins than Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Sergio Garcia, Chris Dimarco, Jim Furyk and Davis Love III combined.

With these uninspired competitors it’s very possible that Tiger will win 30 or 40 major tournaments before he’s done. I’d cry too if I spent my entire life preparing for competition at it’s highest only to face this week after week. It’s a shame really, that Tiger Woods will eventually hold the record for most major tournament victories, but he will have won them against a cast of Lilliputians, unable to compete like the legends of yore.