Aaaaaannndd... he face plants once again in the Ryder Cup.

Jazzhawk wrote:Aaaaaannndd... he face plants once again in the Ryder Cup.

Phil is worse lol..The Ryder Cup?Anyone really watching it?I just can't get into that format.
I have watched the singles a few times.I hear the course is extremely brutal so I may check out
some but not because Tiger is in it..I have had enough of golf for a few months.

Sgt. Largent wrote:

getnasty wrote:Good for the game of golf but there's something about Tiger that makes me want to punch him in the face.

Tiger's never been affable and likable...........like Nicklaus in his heyday, Tiger won fans over with his sheer talent, not his personality. People forget, Nicklaus was also very standoffish and prickly at times.

I actually find Tiger more likable now, because he's been humbled and that's palpable when he's being interviewed. He's far more gracious than he's ever been.

I love what he's doing, there's nothing better in sports than a great comeback story. In a sea of robotic golfers like Spieth, Jordan Thomas and Koepka? This is EXACTLY what the sport needs, some of the older players like Tiger to inject some drama and personality into these majors.

Nicklaus in his day, was continuously compared with Palmer. Palmer was an old school charismatic golfer. Like most golfers prior to Nicklaus he came up hustling at country clubs and etc.. These guys were not schooled-coached golfers with perfect swings and so on. Most were ex-caddys, ball boys, sons of greens keepers, or local pros. Their swings were individualized and sometimes even laughable (by today's standards), but they worked.
Lee Trevino used to hustle by challenging club golfers to contests. He would bet players that he could beat them with a Coke bottle or a sand trap rake and so on. He usually won. The hand eye coordination of these guys was amazing.
I'm in my 70's, but 40 years ago I went to senior event at Tahoe and saw some of these pros from the 50's -60's play and it was amazing. Miller Barber's back swing for example, at the top, the club was vertical, at a right angle with the ground.

The equipment they played with is ridiculous compared to today's. Go find a 1950-60's's forged McGregor iron with a steel shaft and try to hit it. Now imagine playing a round with those clubs and persimmon woods (also steel shaft). NOW imagine scoring under par on courses that were considerably rougher than today's courses.
To say so and so, playing today, is the best golfer ever is preposterous. Comparing eras in any sport is impossible.

BTW, Nicklaus was quite an athlete. As an Ohio prep he was all state honorable mention in basketball and played prep football, tennis and did track and field. (How he did all this and excelled in golf is beyond me.)

TreeRon wrote:To say so and so, playing today, is the best golfer ever is preposterous. Comparing eras in any sport is impossible.
)

That's why we use tangible measures like trophies, championships, wins and in the case of golf, majors as who we determine as the "greatest."

IMO it was also much easier for Nicklaus to get to 18 majors when he played vs. Tiger or any modern golfer. Nicklaus had maybe 10-15 other golfers to worry about every time he teed it up, Tiger and others have literally 50 golfers that are capable of beating them on any given weekend, and for majors even more.

No way if Nicklaus played today does he get to 18 majors, not with how insanely competitive the sport is now.

That's why Tiger's solid 15 year run of dominating the sport is so impressive to me, and his recent comeback is almost equally impressive.

Sgt. Largent wrote:

TreeRon wrote:To say so and so, playing today, is the best golfer ever is preposterous. Comparing eras in any sport is impossible.
)

That's why we use tangible measures like trophies, championships, wins and in the case of golf, majors as who we determine as the "greatest."

IMO it was also much easier for Nicklaus to get to 18 majors when he played vs. Tiger or any modern golfer. Nicklaus had maybe 10-15 other golfers to worry about every time he teed it up, Tiger and others have literally 50 golfers that are capable of beating them on any given weekend, and for majors even more.

No way if Nicklaus played today does he get to 18 majors, not with how insanely competitive the sport is now.

That's why Tiger's solid 15 year run of dominating the sport is so impressive to me, and his recent comeback is almost equally impressive.

I think maybe not 16 but over 10 is likely ..You do know he finished 2nd in majors like 23 times
right?That's just off what I remember reading.I think today's golfers have had a major technology boost
with the equipment and ball.Jack has said go back to the ball he used and the courses do not need to be
so long..
As for the era's -I think Jack and Tiger are the best ..No doubt.
In their primes with any equipment because to win like they did it becomes more than what the other
50 golfers have..The next elite golfer still isn't here yet...

Like I said go play a round with 1950's-60's forged MacGregors (or another club of that era) and then imagine 5'7" 140# Ben Hogan bending shots around trees and playing into 40 mph Texas windstorms.

I urge any of you guys that are really into golf, find some of those old clubs and play with them. At least take them to the range. They will be a test of your prowess. Then take those clubs and an old canvas bag and put them in your den or office and add them to your golf "collection".

TreeRon wrote:Like I said go play a round with 1950's-60's forged MacGregors (or another club of that era) and then imagine 5'7" 140# Ben Hogan bending shots around trees and playing into 40 mph Texas windstorms.

I urge any of you guys that are really into golf, find some of those old clubs and play with them. At least take them to the range. They will be a test of your prowess. Then take those clubs and an old canvas bag and put them in your den or office and add them to your golf "collection".

You speak from wisdom. I had persimmon woods back in the day. I had mix of clubs back in the day bought from a friend. he Is no longer with us. I used them a lot. It was hard and heavy to play back then...but I was a young pup at my 20s. I am not playing any longer and have a great GREAT set of clubs. But that is life. Press on.

IndyHawk wrote:

Sgt. Largent wrote:

TreeRon wrote:To say so and so, playing today, is the best golfer ever is preposterous. Comparing eras in any sport is impossible.
)

That's why we use tangible measures like trophies, championships, wins and in the case of golf, majors as who we determine as the "greatest."

IMO it was also much easier for Nicklaus to get to 18 majors when he played vs. Tiger or any modern golfer. Nicklaus had maybe 10-15 other golfers to worry about every time he teed it up, Tiger and others have literally 50 golfers that are capable of beating them on any given weekend, and for majors even more.

No way if Nicklaus played today does he get to 18 majors, not with how insanely competitive the sport is now.

That's why Tiger's solid 15 year run of dominating the sport is so impressive to me, and his recent comeback is almost equally impressive.

I think maybe not 16 but over 10 is likely ..You do know he finished 2nd in majors like 23 times
right?That's just off what I remember reading.I think today's golfers have had a major technology boost
with the equipment and ball.Jack has said go back to the ball he used and the courses do not need to be
so long..
As for the era's -I think Jack and Tiger are the best ..No doubt.
In their primes with any equipment because to win like they did it becomes more than what the other
50 golfers have..The next elite golfer still isn't here yet...

Of course today's golfers have a technological boost, but it's not an edge for any one golfer because everyone's using that technology.

I'd still put Nicklaus #1 and Tiger #2, because as I said in my very first sentence, that's the only way we have to compare athletes from different eras, trophies, wins and majors.

My point was only that I don't think Nicklaus would have won 18 majors if he played in Tiger's era, the number of great golfers is far greater now then it was when Nicklaus played.

TreeRon wrote:Like I said go play a round with 1950's-60's forged MacGregors (or another club of that era) and then imagine 5'7" 140# Ben Hogan bending shots around trees and playing into 40 mph Texas windstorms.

I urge any of you guys that are really into golf, find some of those old clubs and play with them. At least take them to the range. They will be a test of your prowess. Then take those clubs and an old canvas bag and put them in your den or office and add them to your golf "collection".

My dad had a set of Jacks clubs(ones from golf store) I still have one from
that set..The "white fang"putter..I can't use that style but fun to look at.
I have used old woods and irons..When you hit them the feel is not the same
as these oversized ones today but Jack and Arnold were hitting old style balls
over 300 using the old woods..Imagine what they could have done today in their
primes..Yep this why I say any era..

IndyHawk wrote:

TreeRon wrote:Like I said go play a round with 1950's-60's forged MacGregors (or another club of that era) and then imagine 5'7" 140# Ben Hogan bending shots around trees and playing into 40 mph Texas windstorms.

I urge any of you guys that are really into golf, find some of those old clubs and play with them. At least take them to the range. They will be a test of your prowess. Then take those clubs and an old canvas bag and put them in your den or office and add them to your golf "collection".

My dad had a set of Jacks clubs(ones from golf store) I still have one from
that set..The "white fang"putter..I can't use that style but fun to look at.
I have used old woods and irons..When you hit them the feel is not the same
as these oversized ones today but Jack and Arnold were hitting old style balls
over 300 using the old woods..Imagine what they could have done today in their
primes..Yep this why I say any era..

Nicklaus averaged 276 off the tee, and yes he'd be right there with everyone else today, over 300 yards off the tee.

Again, I'm confused with what you guys are saying. If everyone's using the same technology, I don't get the advantage any one golfer has over another. So to say "well if Nicklaus had the ball and equipment he'd be EVEN better!"

Makes no sense, cause Tiger and every other insanely talented golfer today is using the same tech. There is no advantage.

Sgt. Largent wrote:

IndyHawk wrote:

TreeRon wrote:Like I said go play a round with 1950's-60's forged MacGregors (or another club of that era) and then imagine 5'7" 140# Ben Hogan bending shots around trees and playing into 40 mph Texas windstorms.

I urge any of you guys that are really into golf, find some of those old clubs and play with them. At least take them to the range. They will be a test of your prowess. Then take those clubs and an old canvas bag and put them in your den or office and add them to your golf "collection".

My dad had a set of Jacks clubs(ones from golf store) I still have one from
that set..The "white fang"putter..I can't use that style but fun to look at.
I have used old woods and irons..When you hit them the feel is not the same
as these oversized ones today but Jack and Arnold were hitting old style balls
over 300 using the old woods..Imagine what they could have done today in their
primes..Yep this why I say any era..

Nicklaus averaged 276 off the tee, and yes he'd be right there with everyone else today, over 300 yards off the tee.

Again, I'm confused with what you guys are saying. If everyone's using the same technology, I don't get the advantage any one golfer has over another. So to say "well if Nicklaus had the ball and equipment he'd be EVEN better!"

Makes no sense, cause Tiger and every other insanely talented golfer today is using the same tech. There is no advantage.

I'll just say what seperates Tiger/Jack from the rest is simply the mind in high pressure golf...
There are shots that they can/could do that others cannot..One example is Tigers 5 wood
out of a fairway bunker that goes 250 yrds..I'll leave the era equipment out of this.

And the comeback is complete. Tiger Woods wins the Masters. Again.

Doing his cut shots and playing smart golf gets him the win..
Major #15 and win #81..There is no other Tiger that is for
sure..

IndyHawk wrote:Doing his cut shots and playing smart golf gets him the win..
Major #15 and win #81..There is no other Tiger that is for
sure..

It really as an example of playing smart and not trying to do too much if you didn't have to.

I got up early and watched the whole thing, a truly fun and entertaining day!

As much as I was disappointed in Tiger, and became less of a fan of his 10 years ago when he went through all his personal problems, all self inflicted................I'm a sucker for a comeback, and honestly I can't think of a greater comeback story then what we witnessed yesterday.

2-3 years ago Tiger was broken man, in every sense of the word, physically, mentally and emotionally. He could barely walk, let alone pick up a gold club.

It's a testament to his insane willpower, work ethic and competitive drive to do what it took to get back to the top and win the Masters.

I do believe in forgiveness, redemption and contrition. I think we saw it on full display yesterday, a man that was on top of the world was humbled in front of the entire planet, grew from it and hopefully changed, and he was rewarded by getting to hug his kids on the 18th green of the Masters just as he hugged his dad 22 years ago.

Amazing.

I always rooted against Tiger because he didn't seem human to me. Then when I read about how human the guy was, that he was prone to the pressures and stresses of the world, that he wasn't this picture perfect dude that could no wrong, I had no choice but to start liking him. Great win for him.

Oh, and hopefully this pushes EA to reacquire the PGA license and start making Tiger Woods video gamed again.