Is Tiger Woods The Greatest Golfer Ever?
By Keith Boykin, in sports
Monday, August 21 2006, 1:19AM
Yesterday marked another milestone for Tiger Woods.
Only a month after winning the British Open, Tiger Woods won the PGA Championship on Sunday to take his 12th career major. With that achievement, Woods became the first player to win the PGA Championship twice on the same course, the first player in history to go consecutive years winning at least two majors, and the second most successful golfer in history. Only Jack Nicklaus, with 18 majors championships, has won more times than Tiger.
But that's not all. Woods has more wins on the PGA Tour than any other active golfer. He's won the Masters four times, the U.S. Open twice, the Open Championship three times and the PGA Championship three times. He has won 69 tournaments. At 30 years old, Eldrick "Tiger" Woods may very well be the greatest golfer in the history of the sport. And the wealthiest. By the end of 2005, he had won $68 million from playing golf. And that's not including endorsements, investments or other business deals.
When Tiger Was Just A Cub
As we all know by now, Tiger started young. Just last week we saw the video of 2-year-old Tiger swinging his golf club as a child prodigy on the Mike Douglas Show in the 1970s. By the 1990s, he became the youngest Masters champion ever, at the age of 21, and the first major championship winner of African or Asian heritage.
He is the son of Earl Woods and his wife Kultida, a native of Thailand. Born on December 30, 1975, he was nicknamed Tiger after a Vietnamese soldier who was a friend of his father. He grew up outside of Los Angeles and started swinging a golf club before he was 1.
His ascent to number 1 on the Official World Golf Ranking was "the most rapid progression ever to that position." It took him just 42 weeks. On June 15, 1997, he became the youngest ever number 1 golfer. He was just 21 years old. The previous record was held by Bernhard Langer, who was 29 years old when he reached that status in 1986.
The Greatest Athlete In History?
So dominant has he been as an athlete that Sports Illustrated selected Tiger as the 1996 and 2000 Sportsman of the Year, making him the first person ever to win that award more than once. In addition, The Associated Press chose Woods as the Male Athlete of the Year for 1997, 1999 and 2000, putting him on par with Michael Jordan, the only other athlete to achieve that distinction three times.
Like any superstar, Tiger Woods has been the subject of intense controversy. He was criticized by some African Americans for his description of himself as "Cablinasian," a combination of Caucasian, Black, American-Indian, and Asian. And he has been criticized by some whites as well. After Tiger won the Masters in 1997, golfer Fuzzy Zoeller referred to Tiger as "that little boy" and told him not to order fried chicken or collard greens for the traditional Masters Champion's dinner.
Despite the criticism of Tiger the person, no one can doubt his ability as Tiger the golfer. It's only a matter of time before Tiger Woods is recognized as the greatest golfer ever. But given his domination of the sport at such an early age, it won't be long before people start asking the next question. Is Tiger Woods the greatest athlete ever?
Comments conceal
Steve
August 21 2006, 7:43AM
There is no doubt Tiger is the greatest golfer ever. But he's only the greatest athlete if you actually consider golf athletic. I'd prefer to think of him as the greatest recreationist ever. How cool to make that kind of money for playing.
meme
August 21 2006, 9:10AM
No
Alexandria
August 21 2006, 10:08AM
greatest golfer? i'll wait 'til he breaks Jack's record. he's well on his ways so its only a matter of time. (i think he'll break in 5 years)
greatest athlete? the only atheletic thing done in golf is walk 18 holes. they dont even carry their own bags.
and judging by the waistlines of many other pro golfers (i.e. john daly), i just cant refer to them as athletes. i know nfl off/def linemen are usually up in the 300lbs+ club, but they're quick and strong for their size.
i may be in the minority on this one (and thats fine w/ me), but i just cant bring myself to care about tiger or his accomplishments. theres always been something about im i just dont like.
James
August 21 2006, 10:23AM
Say what you will about gof or Tiger, his accomplishments are astouding. I don't even like golf but what he has done thus far is amazing. Even if he deosn't break The Bear's record, Woods will have a career that stands heads and shoulders above his peers.
peace
nat![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.keithboykin.com/blog2/nav-commenters.gif)
August 21 2006, 10:55AM
no, golf is what one would call a skill sport. you dont have to be in any good shape to be a golfer, just good at getting the ball to the hold with the least amount of swings. i know alot of people who think these skills contest are sports, like golf, bowling, nascar and darts but they arent. tiger is good at what he does, and he does think hes white or at least not a full negro, but we also know that white people imploy the one drop rule, so while hes on top of the golf game hes fine, but after he leaves it we will see just how white america feels then.
James
August 21 2006, 11:34AM
To come to Tiger's defense, I'm not sure he has done anything wrong. He's the best in his sport, donates time and money to good causes and keeps his name out of any Page Six foolishness. So what's the problem?
peace
gs
August 21 2006, 1:22PM
Love me some Tiger Woods. He's the best in his sport and the man has got style and finesse. Intelligent, handsome, well-spoken, philanthropic and focused as hell when it comes to his profession. Sounds a bit like Keith doesn't it? lol. Go Tiger!
Mikey-He Likes It
August 21 2006, 4:13PM
I don't see how you can be asking this question. Tiger currently has 12 majors at 30 years of age. Jack Nicklaus didn't accomplish that feat until he was 33 years of age. Just to put these numbers into perspective, most pro golfers would be happy to win 1 major in their ENTIRE career. That would be a decent career for most. What we are seeing right now is the best player golf has seen since Jack,(the "greatest" is still up for debate) and in my book the greatest ever. The next closest to Woods of his contemporaries are Phil Milkeson (36) and Vijay Singh (43) with 3 majors each. I haven't seen many 20 or 30 something pro athletes who are as driven, determined, humble, giving, and scandal free as Tiger. Tiger's school which he financed himself is free for those who get in. And if you've ever seen Tiger swing a golf club in person you'd know he is very athletic. So the answer is YES!!
faye
August 21 2006, 4:45PM
even if u don,t like him, the one thing u can,t say is that he,s not the best, love him or hate him u can,t change the fact, he is the best,many have tried others ared still tring,but if he,s on his game nobody can stop him. peace love always faye
Richard J. Rosendall
August 23 2006, 11:11AM
Nat's playing with definitions reminds me of people who say that modern art isn't art, rap music isn't music, etc. Look at anything that is alive and breathing and you'll find someone crashing the gates of other people's safe definitions. Tiger is the most gifted athlete working. I cannot imagine how anyone can watch him swing his driver and claim he is not an athlete. The power, intelligence, creativity, resourcefulness, and force of will he displays on the course are astounding. As to his racial identity: I know there was resentment when he called himself "Cablinasian" instead of black. But he IS multiracial. He has talked about looking up at the black clubhouse employees at Augusta National who were watching him from a balcony in his triumphant moment at the 1997 Masters. He knows the significance of where he is and what his father went through to give him the opportunity. He gets hate mail. He knows the deal. And he is the best in the world at what he does. That has to be worth celebrating.
Richard Cranium
August 29 2006, 5:47PM
the only reason that The Bear didn't win more majors than he did was because of the competition!! Back then, there were WAYYY more excellent golfers competing each week. Mickleson is a fine golfer, but he's no Arnold Palmer. Wait a few years and see if Mrs Woods "allows" Tiger to play as much as he does today, not to mention any potential youngen's ( hopefully not ) popping out.
Skip
November 21 2006, 2:05PM
Tiger is an awesome athlete, but he has only excelled in his sport. To say he is the greatest of all time leaves a little to be desired. As soon as he wins 11 in a row, you can say he is on the same page as Byron Nelson. As soon as he wins 20 majors you can say he is as good as Jack. It is too bad there is not a simuation program where you could put Tiger versus Jack versus Byron - all playing on the same course with the same equipment at the same time all in their prime. Of course that is impossible, so it is more or less opinion on who is the greatest of all time. Personally I like Jack, so I stand behind him as the greatest of all time. But greatest athlete of all time - that has to go to Jim Thorpe.
g
January 17 2007, 4:14PM
HI
rod
January 30 2007, 5:26PM
Tiger? He's awesome as a golfer, which I had half his game!
Diane
March 17 2007, 4:36PM
First of all I would like to say I have nothing against Woods. I read that some do not like him. Have they ever MET him? I have no idea wheather he's a nice guy or not, but I dissagree with the person who said that he was black. He is multi-racial. I think what he chooses to label himself should be his call, although I do not know what all that is, and it really doesn't matter.
Woods is a great golfer, and possibly the best ever. Yet, we can never say that for a surety, until we are able to computerize the best players over the years with the equipment they have used. For instance:
If the best player,decades ago, had the opportunity to play Woods with the same great addvantage of the clubs today, THEN who would be the best ever.
Two hundred years ago. they hand made each nail and board to build a house. Today they are up in no time with pre-cut lumber, nails,and nail guns. How can one say that that today's carpenters are the fastest ever. You can't. Enough said.
mike
May 18 2007, 2:28AM
tiger woods is the gretest asian golfer ever, not the greatest athlete,,that is jim thorpe
Flap
August 11 2007, 9:38PM
Nothing in the history of sports comes close to what this man will accomplish..........I am proud to say that I was fortunate enough to experience this truly remarkable athlete who is obviously the most competitive individual ever placed on this earth!!!
Jason
September 9 2007, 11:09PM
Greatest golfer of all time...a given hands down. Greatest athelete of all time...in 5-10 years.......a given hands down. Those who don't think golfers are atheletes are people that either are not golfers or are golfers but have not played any other sports and are lousley golfers. I played pro hockey and am a scratch golfer; it takes far more talent to be a great golfer than a great hockey player. And I would consider hockey the toughest most physical sport in the world.
Phil T.
October 27 2007, 11:06AM
Jack was better than Tiger for lots of reasons even though Tiger is an awesome golfer. People always want a new champ but the golden bear didn't need more major wins because they weren't threatened otherwise he would have won more. Champions reach deeper when needed, this is why when Tiger breaks his major record it'll be insignificant. If Jack were playing these days against Tiger he'ld reach deeper and simply win more majors to protect the record. Sorry Tiger you're great, but Jack's the man.
Stan F.
November 5 2007, 7:51PM
Tiger fans are almost always without enough knowledge because they have never watched Jack's tournaments.They usually have no clue that they're comparing, without 1/2 the knowledge they need. Jack was just as amazing and maybe better. The problem is that the 2 will never go head to head in their primes. We'll never know who would've won and we can never give the royal crown to either of the 2. You ABSOLUTELY need an actual competition to know who's the best ever.You can't say who the best tennis player of all time is or the best boxer,or the best football team,ect... They're all from different times and you need to put them against each other to know. It'll never happen folks,it's not possible to ever know these types of things.Stats don't mean anything other than the present status of competition, period.
Artful Golfer
November 15 2007, 10:40AM
Well said Jason... I started playing golf nearly 3 years ago after playing hockey for 12 years - both recreationally. I'm pretty good at both and found golf much more challenging to excel at - and found it requires a ton of athleticism (not necessarily fitness). Tiger isn't just a great golfer, he's a great athlete. Interestingly, Wayne Gretzky (my other nomination for 1 of the greatest athletes) played golf pretty seriously after retiring from hockey and only got down to an 8 handicap.
Danny
December 12 2007, 1:26PM
Why do most people think that Tiger will be the best ever when he breaks the major record? He's not playing against Jack. If Jack's records were threatened back then, he would've spent less time with his constantly demanding business and family in order to win more. Guess what folks, he was way ahead of the rest and didn't need to push his major record higher. It's rediculous not to understand this and just give it all to Tiger. Most fans didn't follow Jack and don't really know that he was in a league of his own just like Tiger. Circumstances in the 2 eras are totally different but the most important thing to understand is THEY NEVER PLAYED EACH OTHER IN THEIR PRIMES AND NEVER WILL,PERIOD. Jack may very well have been better,he was better than most realize because people follow Tiger and didn't get an opportunity to follow Jack. Would it be so bad if they played each other and were equal?
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