I'm not going to even argue the fact that Tiger is the man. That's not the point. These guys on the big tour can flat out play. Tiger has skill, but he hits it wide and chili dips just like all them others. Yes, he can play hurt too, but that don't make him special. Read up about Ben Hogan and his comeback, Bobby Jones and his condition. Walter Hagen and his poor habits. While you're at it, read up on Stuart Appleby and what he went through. Paul Azinger and his battle with cancer. Some of the other guys who battled drugs. You are neglecting the entire spectrum of great, great people who did great things when you concentrate all your focus on just one person. That ain't cool.
I am not sure if those who mention Tiger can really play golf and know what's up when it comes to the PGA Tour. Tiger has had success. More so that most any other tour player in this decade. That is a fact. It is also a fact that the players I mentioned plus hundreds of other players have extremely high level of skill that can be lit with a gear at any given time. That is what produces those wins. Look at Rich Beem and his victory at the PGA. What about Ben Curtis and the Open overseas? Shawn Micheel with his stab within 2' from the cup at the PGA? Any of these guys can steal any one of these tournaments on any given Sunday. Tiger may have been the best at one time, but at the present time. He may attract the crowds, but that has more to do with star power and celebrity status than anything else.
Yes, I remember when Tiger won the last tournament he played in and that was the U.S. Open. If you know about golf, how could you not know that?
The point is this. What good is it to sit there and say Michael Jordan was the best basketball player, Muhammed Ali was the best boxer, and Tiger Woods the best golfer, when that statement excludes so many of the others who have come before them competed with them will carry on well after they are gone?
It would be more mature to say, "Ya, I remember when Tiger won those 3 U.S. Opens. He won that last one with a hurt knee too."
As opposed to saying, "Ya, Tiger blew 'em all away. Nobody had a chance, ever. He's the best ever."
It's kinda like two little children arguing over who's got the best toys.
I say worry about the best in yourself, not someone else. People love a hero and love to feel like they are part of their journey, but it's all a false sense of mentality. Why do you think children love Spider-Man or Batman so much? It gives them a false sense of reality giving them the idea that they can climb walls too.
We have threads on here all the time on who makes the lowest deflecting shaft, and who can draw the ball the best, and who is the best and hardest breaker, who can saw down the biggest tree, and who's got the biggest dick.....
It's just a pissing contest all the time and to me, it's rather shallow. It's kinda like professional wrestling, or Ultimate fighting in a sense. Give credit to Tiger, Ben Hogan, Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson, Bobby Jones, Arnold Palmer, and anyone else who had the guts to step up to the plate. It discredits the greats of the past, present and future to say only one man is the best, cause it really ain't true.