Render unto Ceasar what is Ceasar's but that doesn't mean you have to love him. The silly season has once again started beckoned by the latest nonesense over the greatness that is Tiger Woods. The idiocy of journalists trying to point out that Woods doesn't merit the accolade of being called great. Because at the height of Nicklaus' glory years he had challengers from Palmer to Player to Watson and Trevino and a whole slew of others along the way.
Woods play his tee shot of the 12 th hole at The Masters in Augusta, Ga. picture courtesy of ap/photos/ Phil J Slocumb ..........
That was then this is now and the fact of the matter is that the challengers to Woods are by the very least inferior. Much of the time many of his adversaries are but here for a minute or two before they disappear off the face of the planet. Except for the likes of Vijay Singh and perhaps Phil Mickelson. And at this juncture I have my doubts about Mickelson , as you can never be sure if he's come to play or just to look good on the course whilst he bags some dough for his already burgeoning bank account.
Woods hits a shot on the 11th at The Masters . picture courtesy of getty images/ David Cannon .........
In reality though many of Wood' peers are intimidated by his very appearance on the course in competition. It's almost as if they're shell shocked as his very being. Once in a while you'll hear some idiotic rant from a player on the PGA Tour making a somewhat stupid comment stating that the time is " ripe to take Tiger down a peg or two as he's capable of being beaten ". That is indeed true as on any given day one player can indeed make a difference. The problem being is that it happens so infrequently on the PGA Tour that we've grown accustomed to seeing Tiger dominate the field. The real problem I find is that the competition on the tour is not up to the task of challenging Woods consistently when he's on the field of play. And that is by no means Woods' fault. He's set the bar high enough for himself as it is. And it's way beyond the reach of what any of the other golfers on the tour had envisioned.
Woods waits to putt at the 12 th it'd appear that he's calm at this juncture. picture courtesy of ap/photo/David J Phillip........
Woods now sets off today to win his fifth Green Jacket at The Masters in Augusta , Georgia . Knowing that with each passing feat it edges him closer to that of his idol Jack Nicklaus in terms of golfing immortality. Appereciate his feats while you can because it'll be a long time before we see the likes of a player of Woods caliber , if ever again. And though many of who've never seen Nicklaus play have seen filmed evidence showing his greatness can we really question that Woods doesn't possess many of the same traits that Jack Nicklaus had. Both are self determined and were eager to win. And they each have a passion for the sport that drives them to achieve unprecedented feats that many can only dream of labor under its burden.
Woods and playing partner Stuart Appleby during first round play at The Masters at Augusta National Golf & CC. picture courtesy of getty images / Jamie Squires ...................
For these two great players it's testament to their inner strengths and lessons taught to them not only by their coaches but no doubt their families too.
Good read. I've been a golfing basically my whole life. Players get hot and come and go, but Tiger has maintained quality over the years that meer mortals only dream of. I agree other than VJ, nobody other than Tiger has put up consistant play. I'm with you on Phil and his every so often missed 2 foot putts.
I watch Tiger at this point in his career with awe, because I know he is the best golfer that I have ever or will ever see. The guy is just money.
Another thing about the guy that doesn't always get written about, is his charity work. He donates an enormous amount of time and money to his charities. Every athlete could take a cue from an extremely classy guy.
Magic53
I think a lot of the guys on the Tour are philanthropic in their efforts. There are those who choose to publicize it and then are others who choose not to. As is their want.
The one thing I like about Woods is that though he has his frailtes it's very rare that we'll see him implode. He might throw in an "F bomb" once in a while. But that's only because some of the photographer and those in the gallery can be a pain in the #### all too often.
tophatal ............
Last edited by tophatal on April 10th at 10:10 PM.
Woods is an itimidating figure (not by figure, by disposition) on the course. But he's also a front-runner; very rarely has he had to make comebacks in any majors he's won, whereas Nicklaus had that stirring victory at the 1986 Masters, among possible others. Woods lets his aura beat his opponents as much as his game (which is top notch, to be sure). But until people like Rory Sabbatini can back up their bluster with action, Woods will remain on top.
Did you hear that Tiger has told his financial guru that he doesn't want to know anything about the money that his other income streams generate (advertising, investments, etc.) and to just put his golf earnings from tournaments into his spendable funds. This way he can gauge how well he is performing and stay on top of what's important to him. I've heard his other earnings are something like five times greater than his golf earnings! That's one way to assess his golf prowess. Not too shabby!
Tiger's got tunnel vision on the majors. He was interviewed yesterday and one question honed in on whether he would take the most career wins over 19 majors titles (Nicklaus has 18) and he didn't hesitate, it's the 19 majors. The interviewer then changed the question around and still it's the 19 majors.
Lets face it... Tiger Woods is so good that it just appears there are no Palmers, Players, ect. If he had played in those days they'd have been saying the same thing that he didn't have any competition. It's really a backhanded compliment.
Tiger Woods is the greatest to ever play the game and we get to watch him!
Downs'
Everything that you've said is so true with regard to Woods. It's not his fault that he plays in era where his opponents aren't concerned with challenging him but they're more concerned as to where they'll finish in the placings from 2nd on down . Woods' only serious challenger is himself and his mental approach to each daunting challenge that he sets for himself .
I liken his situation to where his challengers are a tent pitched in the desert and then all of a sudden gust of wind comes along and blows the tent away . That's how I view the likes of Vijay Singh, Mickelson, Goosen, Toms , Furyk and Sabbatini . They're the tent in the desert and Woods is the wind that just blows 'em away . I think that's a good enough analogy don't you ?
Dwindy1
I most sports the fans tend to love the spirit of competition and a challenge to supremacy . In the case of golf we
aren't that concerned. As the vast majority of fans just love Tiger and what he brings to the game. It's not his fault that his competition is so mediocre . And it's also not his fault that many of the guys aren't overly concerned where they finish as long as it's in the Top 10 that way they're bound to get paid in terms of prize money . And were it not for the advent of Woods I doubt that any of these guys'd be earning a decent living on the Tour . As it's Woods that's now the driving force behind the success of the PGA Tour as it now exists .
It's a fact and the reality that we've all now got to face. As once he retires the game'll just go back to what it once was.
Just a staple filler to put on for a couple of hours on tv.
Hell if golf's ratings are beating that of the NHL and figure skating then to the networks it's better than nothing .
tophatal ........
Last edited by tophatal on April 10th at 10:12 PM.
Well done and said, it isn't Tiger's fault who is or isn't competing against him. He competes against himself...it doesn't take anything away from any other golfer if Tiger is great or he breaks some records along the way...place and time, Woods like Nicklaus, Palmer, Hogan, Snead, and Jones were all great in their place and time...
edhard'
It's the idiotic sport's journalists
not only in the written press but also on tv that preclude to this fact.
If only they'd recognize the guy's accomplishments rather than looking to make themselves appear to be idiots which in my view a great many of 'em are . Then in some respects we wouldn't be having a needless discussion. Render unto Ceasar what is Caesar's as we come to adore him not to betray him.
In the case of the press they're to an extent betraying the accomplishment of Woods.
When they ought to be acknowledging the guy's greatness. Gods knows he'll be missed once he retires from the game. As it'll never be the same again. And then where'll the PGA Tour be ?
I'm sick of Woods. There, I said it.
I cheer for the field because I'm a fan of the dog. With Woods, everyone is the dog, period.
This whole Grand Slam talk, before one of the tourneys is played, is sickening to the sports lover. If ESPN had its way, the tourneys wouldn't be played, yet would give trophies to Woods now.
Watch the weekend hilights. What do you see? Woods and Woods, no matter where he is on the leaderboard. The same is done with Yankees games, so this isn't unique to Woods. Jordan was the same way. Where are those Bills hats?
Share a little media time, sports networks. Let us see the top dozen players.
in my view GOLF has to be one of those sports that one has to have what we have heard so many times the patience of job!!!! to play it!!!! like pool you see a player like tiger woods hit a bad shot then pooof the next shot is great simply because he has the nack of putting the bad shot behind him and moves on like pool players also and the run the table next shot!!!! me no way if i hit a bad shot in golf on the course might as well pickup my bag of clubs and go home!!! why i just play video golf....
slshusker Without Woods the sport wouldn't have the recognition that it has today. And in all probability the purses that they now play for wouldn't be as large. His playing and popularity has broadened the appeal of the sport across a widened demographic. The same couldn't have been said of either Nicklaus or Palmer at the height of their fame .
As for the networks choosing to follow Woods it's patently obvious if that's what sells it for the sponsors then that's what they'll do in order to gain the consumers and viewers. For the PGA Tour and the USGA it's a business first and the entertainment of the fans second.
So many people here in the US tend to forget that. Sports has become so commercialized that it's to the very detriment of the people that they're trying to entertain.
Woods'll always be until someone better comes along. And that's not about to happen anytime soon so we ought to get use to it.
photogr
Whilst everyone around him is at a standstill Woods just moves on . He's light years ahead of his nearest rivals and it goes to the fact that he lives, breathes and eats golf . As a passtime I'd dare say that it's part of his agenda also. That's how dedicated the guy really is.
Everyone else pales into comparison when they're around him.
edclinchsaint
Woods is Woods and in comparison with everyone else around him it's the difference between chalk and cheese.
tophatal ..........
Reverend Rhythm
That's what separates Woods from his peers of today. Even on an off day when his best is not just good enough he's still capable of putting on a game and scaring the hell out of the other players that are ahead of him. But in this case Immelman didn't buckle. But Woods would've had the tournament won had his play not been so shoddy in the first two rounds.
tophatal ..........
kelly scott
Golf is a game that can separate the men from the boys . And when you're not playing well you're made to look like a fool on the course by your lack of play.
Born in the UK of Caribbean parentage and having lived in the US for the last 15 years. A keen martial artist (Black Belt 2nd degree in karate. I also practice savate , tae - kwondo ) College Grad BA's in Econ and Int' Fin. Served five years in the British military. I've gotten use to the American way of life and the language. The women on the other hand, that's something else ! Sports is my great passion along with music and the movies. However I feel that having resided here for all this time , I still somewhat miss the land of my birth. That being said I 'love this great country and all that it has afforded me' An avid Pats and Spurs' fan. Soccer Chelsea ,
tophatal..... ....
