Tiger Take

After Tiger Woods won his 13th major yesterday without being seriously challenged, we’re left wondering if there is any contemporary competition for him. The answer may go a long way toward defining his legacy. It hasn’t gotten a lot of attention yet, but in his ongoing quest to surpass Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major championships surely questions will begin to emerge about the quality of Tiger’s competition.

Think about it. Nicklaus won 18 majors playing against some of golf’s all-time greats: Arnie Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino. Who, if anybody, is in that class among Tiger’s colleagues? Sergio Garcia? Please. Still hasn’t won a major. Justin Leonard? Remember him? Vijay Singh? Phil Mickelson, he of the man boobs? Be serious. Woody Austin and Bob May – journeymen he has beaten for previous championships? Maybe his most formidable rival will be Ernie Els. But revelations in yesterday’s broadcast make me skeptical. Tiger is playing for history and destiny. Els is playing, so said the CBS announcers, to win the “career grand slam.” (he’s got 2 of the 4 legs: the US and British Opens). It hardly seems a fair fight, they’re playing for two radically different goals.

It is worth noting that Tiger has more major championships than the rest of the top 10 players combined.

It sort of reminds me of the Larry Holmes era in boxing. Ali was champion in an era with Sonny Liston, Joe Frazier, George Foreman, Ken Norton and Ernie Shavers. Holmes (the Easton Assassin) was the subsequent champ who reigned over a mediocre (at best) heavyweight division in which Leon Spinks and Jerry Quarry were considered top contenders. Indeed, Spinks was briefly champion. It was so bad that Randall “Tex” Cobb and Ed Too Tall Jones took up boxing and were considered serious fighters.

Without a doubt, Tiger - along with Nicklaus – is of the two greatest golfers of all time. But in another major or two, hard questions are going to have to be asked about his reign. Is he pummeling the field into submission? Or is the field so bereft of talent – certainly less talent then when Nicklaus played – capable of making it a competitive contest.