While I’m no fan of Gwyneth Paltrow, let’s for a moment apply the concept of one of her less nauseating movies to the life of Tiger Woods. In this Sliding Doors scenario, Tiger kept his 3-iron in his pants at the peak of his career.
What would his career statistics look like now? Might he long ago have passed the two records he most covets, Jack Nicklaus’ 18 majors and Sam Snead’s 82 PGA Tour event wins? What impossible benchmarks might he have set by now?
And the biggest question of all: does this thought ever cross his mind?
Until that fateful Thanksgiving night in 2009, when Eldrick wrapped his car around a fire hydrant and a conga line of mistresses knocked each other over in the rush to the public confessional, Tiger was invincible.
He had been the world’s number one golfer for more than nine years, give or take a couple of patches in 2004-05. He had long since overtaken Greg Norman in the most weeks at No. 1 department.
(Greg Norman was number one for 331 weeks. Tiger has been number one all up for 677 weeks and counting, though not for much longer, one suspects. The official rankings were introduced in 1986, long after Jack Nicklaus’ best playing days.)
No record – not Nicklaus’ or Snead’s – looked safe in Tiger’s sights.
More than that, he possessed that coveted psychological edge. Other players were beaten before they even got their putter out.
But in November 2009, we found out he was human after all. And fallible. Oh so fallible. And therefore beatable.
Tiger hasn’t won a major since, preoccupied at various times by divorce, sex rehabilitation, injury and erratic form. Though he has managed to claw his way back to the world No. 1 position for the past 54 weeks, his record pre-Fornigate and post tells the story of two different golfers.
On Thursday, the US Masters will tee off at Augusta without him for the first time in 20 years, while he rests up from surgery to a back which has been sorely tested throughout his career.
Even when he’s fit to play, Tiger’s presence no longer intimidates the rising new guard. The Adam Scotts, Rory McIlroys, Jason Days and Patrick Reeds of the golf world are following their own call to greatness. By the end of the tournament, one of a handful of players – the two Aussies among them – could well be the new top dog.
Golf writer Dan Jenkins declared somewhat prophetically in 2001 there was little standing between Tiger and the mantle of the greatest golfer of all time. “The only two things that can stop him,” he said, “are injury and a bad marriage.”
Woods, always the over-achiever, pulled the quinella. He may yet snare Sam Snead’s record, now just three wins out of grasp. But he will never catch the Golden Bear.
There will forever be a debate about which of them is the greatest, a debate which Tiger, if you’ll pardon the pun, could have put to bed long ago.
Steele
Guest
Well I think only a fool or an Indian person would suggest that Bradmen has peers, his record is so far ahead it's inconceivable that there's been a better batsmen. Roger Federer is obviously superior to Sampras, due to his ability to win on all surfaces and much superior record. The Golfing debate is much closer when you delve into it. The Lebron/Jordon debate will heat up in a couple of years. Some sports are clear cut, for example Wayne Gretsky has knowone within Cooee of his mantle.
chivasdude
Guest
Johnno, and Tiger played in an era with unprecedented advances in club and ball technology. There are also more tournaments and larger purses, incentivising more play and more opportunities to win (albeit with larger fields of course). Who did Tiger have to contend with during his heyday? How many multiple Major winners did Tiger have to beat? Jack had to regularly play against Arnold, Gary Player, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson. All multiple Major winners and Hall of Famers/Living Legends. Later on he played against Seve and Greg Norman. Come on. As stated before, very hard to compare golfers (and indeed sportspeople in general) across eras). So, we revert to statistics as a guide. And Jack has 18 Majors and 19 Major runner ups. He has multiple Ryder Cup wins as Player and (1) as Captain. He won World Cups, Walker Cups and Eisenhower Trophies. An outstanding personal record in team events. He has 73 PGA tour wins and 10 senior PGA tour wins. 5 Australian Opens. I think that record is better than Tigers'. Why don't we just say that these are 2 of the greatest golfers that ever lived?
Johnno
Guest
Tiger Woods is greater. Woods played in an era when golf had gone global, where as the golden Bear only played golf, when it was played in western nations and by exclusively almost white middle class people only, so a much smaller market. You only have to look at Augusta's golf club history to know what i'm talking about.
Bob Anderson
Guest
Phil Mickelson has been playing in pain for many years, and won majors during that time. He doesn't make a big deal about it though. Woods has always made excuses when he doesn't win. I remember one year when he had a crappy round during the British Open he blamed it on the rain, like other players weren't playing in the rain too. He's old and washed up now, no way he'll win 4 or 5 more majors; maybe 1 or 2 at the most and I even doubt that.
Steven McBain
Roar Guru
I had a bet with a mate about 3 years ago that Tiger would never win another major. His knee alone won't let him strike the ball cleanly and that's without his 'aura' disappearing. Then I realised I'd given my mate an open ended bet I couldn't cash in until something happens in a life ending way to Tiger (which I don't wish on him) so I realised that whilst I'm probably still right, I'm a complete berk...........
duecer
Guest
Taking into account the 6 year gap between the penultimate and last major, 17 majors in 18 years is very impressive
kazblah
Roar Guru
Yes, it's always hard comparing players from different eras, no matter what sport. How do you compare a Laver to a Sampras to a Federer? A Bradman to a Tendulkar? Or a Woods to a Nicklaus? It's impossible. We're looking at different equipment, different techniques, different fitness and training regimes. I guess that's why it comes down to numbers - runs made, tournaments won, weeks at number one, that kind of thing.
Kevin
Guest
Anyone who watches the PGA tour regularly will appreciate that today's tour is " outrageous" Almost every event has a stellar cast and field... I tend to think that majors are not what they have once been simply because the fields in your regular PGA event have brought them so much closer.. Perhaps course set up is still the major difference .. So in this regard , tigers achievements are in my opinion right up there
Steele
Guest
Surely you recognize that golf is much more of a world sport now and has higher participation? Nicklaus obviously beat great players, however it pales in comparison to the sort of opposition Tiger currently faces. He is still number one by the way, at a time when he is not even close to playing at his best. Sneads record is a formality, the Golden Bears is still a remote chance. I have a feeling that Tiger still has one more really dominant patch in his career to come. I hope he gets close just for the atmosphere it will create, not because I like him. Deffinately an A grade tosser. Regardless he is the GOAT IMO.
Jock
Guest
Loath him or like him, in the period 1997 to 2005 inclusive, Woods was the finest player ever to hold a golf club Jorji's last line comment above can equally be applied to Woods in that period. Since that time, as is correctly highlighted above, Woods has been playing in pain for years. Despite this, his overall performance since 2005 is still impressive. Realistically, for reasons mainly associated with fitness, I believe matching or exceeding the Nicklaus 18 majors is unlikely to happen. However, again subject fitness, Woods should comfortably pass Snead's all time PGA win Tally.[ 82 against Tiger's current 79 if I am correct]. In regard to the latter, and whether he actually does or does not, I would suggest 79 PGA tournament wins todate [ not to mention all the others worldwide] in only 17 odd years is just as impressive as 18 majors over 24 years. I know there are those who agree but I appreciate the majority view benchmark for the "greatest of all time" tag remains majors.
chivasdude
Guest
While I think this view is probably right, it is too early to tell. Tiger has been playing in pain for years and maybe biting the bullet and submitting to surgery will, if he recovers, bring on a new lease of life. I suspect that he will also have to change his swing a little as, when you get older, you are no longer as supple. Will Tiger make that adjustment? And if he does, can he regain his form? Great players become great because they win big tournaments often over a long period of time. The Golden Bear won major tournaments over a 24 year span, 1962 to 1986. Sam Snead won his first tournament in 1936 and his last in 1965. Can Tiger do this? He may not want to. His challenge is to become fit again and stay motivated. If he does, he will certainly pass Sam's all time PGA win tally. But can he get past the Bear's 18 Major tally? That I doubt.
Jorji Costava
Guest
Jack Nicklaus, still the greatest of all time. I would say, that Woods might win up to two more majors, but he will not get the required 4 or 5 to get the outright greatest title. The Golden Bear was a superb player, just ruthless when anywhere near the top of the leaderboard.