Every time Tiger Woods doesn’t win a PGA tournament he plays in, analysts believe he has lost his edge. They comment that he’s not the same player since he won the “Tiger Slam” in 2001. Heck, even when he doesn’t play, he gets flack for not winning.

Those analysts are right. Woods isn’t the same golfer. He’s better.

If you had to bet your life savings and all your assets on one golfer in a major, whom would you bet on? Everyone would say Tiger Woods. Most other golfers would even agree and bet with you.

Woods is that good. He’s so good it hurts his reputation as the best golf ever – and soon to be the best golfer ever – when he doesn’t win. Still, doesn’t mean he’s losing competitive edge and intimidation on the field.

Let’s look at the facts:

In 2009, after missing the beginning of the golf season recovering from a knee injury, Woods has played in 10 events. He’s won three of those events and finished in the top 10 eight times. To put that in perspective, he’s leading both of those categories and tops the money list even though he has played in only a third of the PGA tournaments. Woods is also preparing to do something he never does anymore: play in three tournaments in row. I guess that eliminates any wonder if his knee is holding up.

Since only winning one tournament overall and not winning a major tournament for the first time ever in 2004, Woods has won 28 tournaments (including six majors). He won seven straight tournaments from the end of the 2006 to the beginning of 2007 season. And let’s not forget his string of wins from the end of 2007 through the beginning of 2008 when he won eight of the eleven tournaments he played in – including a major on a hobbled knee. What makes his wins total even more impressive is the fact that Woods almost always plays in the tournaments that attracts the best golfers.

Analysts like to note that Woods is starting to waiver from his current golf coach. Woods has a tendency to go through golf coaches like the TV show Lost goes through mysteries that make no sense to anybody (including the writers and producers). Typically, Woods play disappears for a year or so when he switches golf coaches. However, even though Woods just missed the cut at the major for only the second time in his career, he looks as good as always does. True, he hasn’t won a major in 2009 yet, but the rest of his stats are there and let’s not ignore the upcoming fourth – and final – major of the year.

What more do you need to say to prove that Woods hasn’t lost his edge and is the best ever? How many athletes can say they have gone through two major technique reconstructions and come out the best athlete in their sport each time?

There is only one active athlete on the planet right now that compares to Tiger Woods: Michael Phelps (sorry Roger Federer but your armor has been pierced by Rafael Nadal). Woods and Phelps are so dominant in their sport that if they don’t win, people gasp in shock.

Right now, Woods is golf. Without him, his passion, and his immense talent, golf wouldn’t be mainstream. Great golfers like Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson, and Vijay Singh would still be popular, but they wouldn’t be household names without Woods.

Woods might not be setting records at Augusta anymore, but he set the bar pretty high in 1997. Let’s just not forget that he’s not perfect (even if he strives for it and comes pretty darn close). He will lose from time to time, but even the best the do.

Read more about Tiger Woods at these blogs:

Share this: Twitter

Facebook

Like this: Like Loading... Related