[BenSeattle]

From SI.COM:

Tiger Woods. Best ever?

No, not yet, Jack's 18 [majors] are the standard. But I will say this: I really understood what Jack was doing. I watched and I said, "Yeah, OK, I get that. I understand that shot. Every once in a while I can hit that shot." I don't have a clue with this kid. I knew it early. I'd go, "You've gotta be kidding me -- out of that lie he did that?! First time in broadcasting I didn't understand. That scared me.

He's in a different galaxy.

Different. I remember one time -- damnedest shot I've ever seen: 18th hole, Firestone. He hit this shot out of the left rough, which was up to your fetlocks, deep in the trees. He had 192 to the flag. Feherty, after the round, comes over, gets me, he's got a wedge and a ball, says, "Come on, get in the cart." We go over there. He bet me $100 I couldn't get the ball from the divot right next to where Tiger's was, couldn't get it to the fairway, which was 30 yards away. I didn't take the bet. I couldn't do it. He hit this ball out of this lie -- he hooked it 70 yards and he hit it 196 to the back fringe with a wedge. Dear God! I don't care -- you can go out there and you can trip on acid, you can do anything you want and come up with something but you couldn't come up with that. That's frightening. It's a bad time to be a pretty good player.

(The whole inteview is worth reading.)

Happy golfing

[Baller]

That is unbelievable! Can you be kind enough to let us know where we can get the rest of Gary on Tiger. I love Gary McCord

Never mind SI.COM Doh

[Lionstar]

I think McCord and Feherty are right. Although clearly human, Tiger is other worldly with what he can do with a club and ball.It's not just about distance or power or shotmaking or focus or imagination or,or,or,,,,he is simply the BEST golfer ever,period.
I also don't expect some to agree with this opinion,and more than a few seem to "dislike" him for whatever reason,,but take note,,you are witnessing the most superior athlete in any particular sport that has ever lived.He does things that are beyond our true understanding of how good he really is.

[Iron Mike]

Lionstar, on Mar 22 2007, 12:30 PM, said:

but take note,,you are witnessing the most superior athlete in any particular sport that has ever lived.

I don't agree with this statement when you consider the likes of Michael Jordan and Roger Federer.

[Lionstar]

Iron Mike, on Mar 22 2007, 01:07 PM, said:

Lionstar, on Mar 22 2007, 12:30 PM, said:

but take note,,you are witnessing the most superior athlete in any particular sport that has ever lived.

I don't agree with this statement when you consider the likes of Michael Jordan and Roger Federer.

I respect your view,,but neither Jordan,Federer,The Babe or even Ali was as dominating as early or as often as Tiger Woods.That is why Jordan and Federer admire him,,,even they know he is more than special,,,he is a true once in a millenium phenomenon.

[scores]

Lionstar, on Mar 22 2007, 02:30 PM, said:

Iron Mike, on Mar 22 2007, 01:07 PM, said:

Lionstar, on Mar 22 2007, 12:30 PM, said:

but take note,,you are witnessing the most superior athlete in any particular sport that has ever lived.

I don't agree with this statement when you consider the likes of Michael Jordan and Roger Federer.

I respect your view,,but neither Jordan,Federer,The Babe or even Ali was as dominating as early or as often as Tiger Woods.That is why Jordan and Federer admire him,,,even they know he is more than special,,,he is a true once in a millenium phenomenon.

Only Time will tell but the way this kid plays majors time could be short lived. However Tigar will be a farther soon and Golf will take a back seat to his family but it is also high on his list.

[j0npeterson]

that article was great, it made good bathroom reading material -- i actually still remember that shot he hit from 190 with a pw out of that shin biting rough, i was simply in awe that anyone could take lash and actually move the ball, let alone 190.

i don't mean to sound insensitive, but I can't see Tiger slowing down for a lengthy period of time just because he's starting a family.

he's said before it'll just drive him to want to win more. clearly his best golf is still ahead of it (scary?),

[samm980]

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ben is here, now I don't need to read the news sites.

[aaronp]

can you give the link i cant find it on the website?

[leetch]

Lionstar, on Mar 22 2007, 10:30 AM, said:

Iron Mike, on Mar 22 2007, 01:07 PM, said:

Lionstar, on Mar 22 2007, 12:30 PM, said:

but take note,,you are witnessing the most superior athlete in any particular sport that has ever lived.

I don't agree with this statement when you consider the likes of Michael Jordan and Roger Federer.

I respect your view,,but neither Jordan,Federer,The Babe or even Ali was as dominating as early or as often as Tiger Woods.That is why Jordan and Federer admire him,,,even they know he is more than special,,,he is a true once in a millenium phenomenon.

Ooof...I'm not sure I can agree with that. Remember that Babe Ruth was an accomplished pitcher before becoming a Home Run king. Jordan changed the face of basketball in the same manner Tiger has changed golf. Federer hasn't been around long enough for me to assess but what he's done in a short period of time is just sick.

There have been a few athletes who have changed their sport due to their dominance. Not to take anything away from Tiger, he absolutely is the best golf out today and could very well be the best ever, however it's hard to compare Tiger to Hogan or Jones or even Nicklaus based on two totally different eras and massive equipment differences. We always try to make comparisons like Ali vs Marciano, Ruth vs Bonds, Shaq vs Chamberlain but we can never really know because they never played against each other. It's easy to win when you are playing against inferior opponents but when you play an equal, you never know what could happen and who's going to shine. Nicklaus was one of the toughest mental golfers of his era in the same way Tiger is now. Nicklaus used to bomb his driver the same way Tiger does now (excpet Jack used a wooden club). It would have been great to see a grouping of Hogan, Nicklaus, Jones and Woods all in their prime to see who'd win but unfortunately that will never happen.

I just enjoy watching Tiger for what he is...the most dominent golfer I've ever been able to witness first hand (I've seen Jack play but never went to a tournament in his 70's prime - I was just a wee lad back then).

[BenSeattle]

samm980, on Mar 23 2007, 06:00 AM, said:

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ben is here, now I don't need to read the news sites.

Got that right, buddy. You're in for a big heapin' helping of cut 'n' pasting!

(I'll only share the good stuff, however. Just like I know you would for me. Speaking of hilarious, has anybody seen the BSG "workout" thread? Don't dare go there if laughing will cause you to break your stitches. Picture: Bloated Stinking Golfer in a bat-suit. I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP. Oh... and plenty of smackdowns to the newbies who dare question his workout. BSG: where the fun never sets.)

Happy golfing.

[rockmastermike]

First - I agree that Tiger is flat amazing and does things most don't even enter our minds

Second - the whole greatest athlete at his sport thing....better than his peers more so than Tiger:
Babe - Yes, short discussion
Jordan - No but he did carry his sport so that counts for something
Great One - See Babe and the only reason we have hockey in Tenn, Fla and in the freakin desert, now that's impressive
The Greatest - not really but changed America's conscienceness and that counts for something
Federer - okay, maybe I'll give you that one
Lance Armstrong - Yes. period.
Bo Jackson - yes, but sadly for a short time - people forget how above and beyond every other person on the planet he was.

[lhsgolfer2]

really cool article, thanks for sharing!


mike

[Simp]

scores, on Mar 23 2007, 12:46 AM, said:

Only Time will tell but the way this kid plays majors time could be short lived.

Only time will tell!? Time has already told us that he's probably going to blow 18 majors out of the water!

[thusgone]

Did you hear Miller's comment on Tiger this weekend? He said his driving is suspect, but that he has "the highest IQ of any golfer," in that he remembers every detail from every round he has ever played -- yardages, breaks, everything. Miller also said that Tiger is "the greatest putter who ever lived." I tend to agree with him, but I was impressed because it seems like you rarely hear Miller compliment anyone, and that is some pretty high praise.

In addition to Tiger (and Miller), I think McCord is another guy who has done a lot to make golf what it is today (in terms of its relevance and popularity). He deflated a lot of the stuffiness without losing sight of the fact that it's a great game, and the stuff these pros do on a regular basis is really amazing.

[Status]

Thanks for the link. A bit of light reading for the train ride home. After a 2 hour session on a golf simulator!

[j0npeterson]

BenSeattle, on Mar 23 2007, 07:59 PM, said:

samm980, on Mar 23 2007, 06:00 AM, said:

YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ben is here, now I don't need to read the news sites.

Got that right, buddy. You're in for a big heapin' helping of cut 'n' pasting!

(I'll only share the good stuff, however. Just like I know you would for me. Speaking of hilarious, has anybody seen the BSG "workout" thread? Don't dare go there if laughing will cause you to break your stitches. Picture: Bloated Stinking Golfer in a bat-suit. I AM NOT MAKING THIS UP. Oh... and plenty of smackdowns to the newbies who dare question his workout. BSG: where the fun never sets.)

Happy golfing.

don't even get me started on that thread, lol!

i just had to register and go look at the thread. it's a huge crock of crap -- i honestly think the guy might be a pathological liar.

[samm980]

This site is so much better not that Ben is here.

[Ace In The Hole]

leetch, on Mar 23 2007, 12:35 PM, said:

It would have been great to see a grouping of Hogan, Nicklaus, Jones and Woods all in their prime to see who'd win but unfortunately that will never happen.

Never say never, once I get my hands on that Time Machine I sent away for from that mail order cataloge I'll start picking the boys up, and bringing them to Augusta for a showdown in the swamp.

[onkelbenz]

Thanks for the article and link.
I agree about Tiger having brought the sport to a much higher level than it had been before him. Be it 18 majors or not, that accounts for dominance, and he's dominating for 10 years now. No arguing, IMO. Lance Armstrong - yes, Federer - not long enough yet. But in tennis, I think it's difficult to maintain a 10 years dominance. There were the likes of Boris Becker (Heidelberg! ), Pete Sampras, André Agassi and maybe most of them all: Steffi Graf (Heidelberg, again! ) who did it. But even the Williams sisters, although not dominating that long, DID bring women's tennis to a new level, too. Annika Sorenstam and Tiger Woods are true dominators, and there is still "lots of life" in them. Imagine TW could dominate for another 20 years and then take Champions Tour by storm!!! He, he!
OB

[BenSeattle]

samm980, on Mar 28 2007, 06:17 AM, said:

This site is so much better not that Ben is here.

Uh... I'm hoping you mean to say "NOW that Ben is here."

[mth1081]

LMAO on that McCord article.....thanks for sharing.