Tiger raised the bar to be sure, but I don’t think it has been equaled. Nicklaus ranks well ahead of Palmer IMO, but Palmer’s popularity and the overlap of their careers in the ‘60’s created a great rivalry. The famous ‘60 US Open with Hogan, Palmer, and Nicklaus coming from different eras was a very interesting moment. I have to disagree a bit on the equipment issue, although I think the failure to regulate the equipment hurt Tiger. And Tiger said this. It will get back to tight pockets in the end.
The beginning of Tiger’s career coincided with the golf ball revolution. When the good solid core balls came out it was a game changer. Pros switched over to the Pro V1 very quickly. Tiger was on top when that ball came out. But his driver was 260 cc for 4 more years. The combination of the ball and big drivers changed things. Seemingly everybody could see it except the USGA and R&A. Maybe they saw it but didn’t want to be sued like the Ping square groove situation. There have always been exceptionally long hitters and hitting it long is an advantage. But it wasn’t the only thing. Google Mike Dunaway if you haven’t heard of him. John Daly was the second longest hitter from Arkansas. But Daly was a way better player. I got to see Dunaway hit balls one day at the Tropicana in Las Vegas. Persimmon driver. His left heel didn’t come up. 400 on his good ones. Anyway, by 2005 courses were being changed.
The problem in golf is that the most expensive piece of equipment is the course. Aside from a tee, the ball is cheap and people have to buy them all the time anyway. So you would think changing the ball is a no- brainer. But instead very expensive real estate was purchased, holes were extended, it took longer to play, and some courses were considered obsolete. Dumb IMO. I am not an engineer, but it seemed to me that limiting the size of the driver head and tweaking the ball before 2010 or so would have balanced things out some. If players couldn’t go at it 100% with no risk distance would be limited more naturally. As it had been in the persimmon and balata era. Nicklaus hit it long. So did Snead, Hogan, etc... But not everyone could do that. When courses were changed it changed some of the strategy and wasn’t as interesting. Bomb and gouge became a thing. Even Augusta made changes that went against the character of the course. And lo and behold guys were laying up more on the par 5s and it wasn’t as exciting. Augusta went away from that approach but did buy some land from their neighbor Augusta CC.
In the end if courses stayed closer to what they were, drivers were limited to 260-280 cc and the solid core balls were limited just a little, the game would be more balanced and Tiger would have won more IMO. The Corey Pavins and Calvin Peetes would have stood a chance, but Tiger would actually have a bigger advantage IMO. Because he is truly great.
Back to pool. Tight pockets are OK for pros, but IMO watch that you don’t ruin the game. Pool is not snooker. Letting players shoot, cheat pockets, move the cue ball is part of it. Also, in day to day play the table used in a pro tournament gets used by amateurs. Same in golf, but the am doesn’t really play the same course, aside from just playing it 1200 yards shorter. The condition of a course used for a pro event generally can’t be maintained long. The greens are hard as concrete on the brink of death sometimes. I don’t go to many events but in the last few years I went to a Korn Ferry event. Wanted to see Hovland and some of the new players. The greens were unbelievable. Hearing the balls hit was something. On a reachable par 5 I saw how they basically couldn’t hold the green. One guy I saw managed it. You haven’t heard of him probably. Anyway, come Monday the superintendent better get some water on them. So yes, the pros need conditions that are tough to separate the field some. Let the best show why they are the best. But watch that you don’t go overboard. In pool If you go too far you will make the game all defense and the best shot makers won’t be as far ahead of the average. That’s IMO. But some how some way the best seem to make it deep in tournaments with short races or long, 5” Murray pockets or 4 1/8 Diamond pockets etc... Be reasonable, the game can protect itself.
