I have to admit I am surprised at his play. He is improving the more he plays. I don't know how much better he can get, but I am intrigued. Honestly, I want him to win today.
I will be watching. Can he do it? What will it do for his confidence? The next 5 weeks (don't know how many tournaments he will play) leading up to the Masters will be must see TV. Watching him on Sunday, wearing red and black, seeking his first tournament win in 5 years will be fascinating.
That’s just whack logic. So, when Tiger was behind in majors he didn’t try hard because it was someone like Michelson or Singh in front instead of Nicklaus or Palmer?
Good gosh, however did Nicklaus ever find it within himself to mount a charge when guys like Tom Kite or Tom Weiskopf were leading?
Tiger had plenty of players to push him. Or maybe he is just that damn good. Me thinks it’s both.
[quoteAgain, most of his success came on the downside of Palmer’s career and before many of the other golfers you guys listed. [/quote]
Not sure how you figure that with Palmer. 3 of his 7 majors and 14 of his 19 other top 5 finishes occurred during Nicklaus’s pro career.
Yes, he won a lot when Jack was playing. However, the reality is that Palmer won the majority of tournaments before and during the first 3/4 years of Jacks career. By the time Jack getting it going, Palmer was winding down.
The point is, prime Jack didn’t have to compete with prime Palmer.
Yes, he won a lot when Jack was playing. However, the reality is that Palmer won the majority of tournaments before and during the first 3/4 years of Jacks career. By the time Jack getting it going, Palmer was winding down.
The point is, prime Jack didn’t have to compete with prime Palmer.
Did Palmer’s prime start before Jack hit the scene? Sure. But most of his prime was during Jack’s career. 3 of 7 majors, and 35 of his 62 overall victories.
Palmer’s prime started late, in large part because he served 3 years in the coast guard.
Sure.
And beyond Palmer:
7 of Player’s 9
All 8 of Watson’s
All 6 of Trevino’s
4 of Ballesteros’s 5
Here's a list of Tiger major wins with Els' in top 6.
US Open 00 - 2nd
British Open 00 - 2nd
Masters 01 - 6th (tied)
Masters 02 - 5th
British Open 06 - 3rd
PGA Champ 07 - 3rd
Els' also won the British Open in 2012 with Tiger tying for 3rd (his closest Major loss in a decade). But yeah, Phil is Tiger's only great contemporary and nobody good was ever on his heels.
Quote:
came during Tigers prime. Soooooo....
Sure.
And beyond Palmer:
7 of Player’s 9
All 8 of Watson’s
All 6 of Trevino’s
4 of Ballesteros’s 5
Great! Still doesn’t prove anything, it’s a cherry picked biased tale on being the one and only reason player X would be better ham player Y. Conveniently, no one has commented on Federer. What’s the difference?
Quote:
came during Tigers prime. Soooooo....
Sure.
And beyond Palmer:
7 of Player’s 9
All 8 of Watson’s
All 6 of Trevino’s
4 of Ballesteros’s 5
Ballesteros’ majors came in Jacks prime? His first major was in 1979 when Jack was nearly 40 years old. Watson? Seven of his eight majors came in the late 70s into the early 80s. Again, Jack was nearly 40 years old or older. That’s prime age for a golfer? Just stop.
Ballesteros’ majors came in Jacks prime? His first major was in 1979 when Jack was nearly 40 years old. Watson? Seven of his eight majors came in the late 70s into the early 80s. Again, Jack was nearly 40 years old or older. That’s prime age for a golfer? Just stop.
I suppose he was past his prime. But past his prime Jack still won 4 majors when Seve was winning his 5. And 6 while Watson was winning his 8.
Quote:
Ballesteros’ majors came in Jacks prime? His first major was in 1979 when Jack was nearly 40 years old. Watson? Seven of his eight majors came in the late 70s into the early 80s. Again, Jack was nearly 40 years old or older. That’s prime age for a golfer? Just stop.
I suppose he was past his prime. But past his prime Jack still won 4 majors when Seve was winning his 5. And 6 while Watson was winning his 8.
Nice stat. Still don’t know what that has to do with the fact that Jack didn’t have to play against a lot of these players for a large chin knot his career.
Yes, Jack played against some great competitors at different points in his career in a very small field. Tiger also played against some great competitors while also competing with a vastly larger field of good to great golfers. In my opinion, there’s a lot more pressure with what Tiger had to play with, in terms of competition.
But honestly, we can debate this forever. People's dislike for Tiger tends to cloud their view of his place in history IMO. What I didn’t know is that Jack was generally disliked in the beginning of his career because Palmer was such a beloved golfer and Jack was taking over the throne. Clearly that changed as time went on but I still found that interesting.