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Despite loss, Tiger rules
Sports Illustrated senior writer Gary Van Sickle will answer your questions every Thursday during the golf season. Click here to send him a question. A funny thing happened at Disney World. Tiger Woods played in a tournament and didn't win. Duffy Waldorf won, not that you probably noticed. Duffy is an underrated personality on tour. He's a wine gourmet, a family man, a golf-ball artist, a fashion statement (or something), an underrated player and ... well, who am I kidding? You all just want to talk about Tiger some more. Same old story. On to the this week's letters -- and, remember, you asked for it:
It's that time of year when your readers start speculating on Sports Illustrated's Sportsman of the Year. I'm betting SI won't pick Tiger even with the record year he has had because it's too soon after SI gave it to him in '96. If by chance he does get it, I bet he has to share it with Lance Armstrong, or maybe even Pete Sampras. What's your take on who'll be SOTY, and if it's Tiger, do you or Shipnuck get to write the cover story?
I have no idea how it's picked or who picks it, Pat. This was the year Tiger became the biggest figure in sports, not just golf, so it would be hard not to honor him. Tiger wins hands down on achievements in his field, impact on the game and on the world. On the other hand, you can't pick the same guy every year. Pete Sampras? Get serious. Tennis is barely a significant major professional sport anymore, but I could see the Williams sisters with SOTY potential. Shaquille O'Neal would be another candidate, having finally made a free throw. The word sportsman covers a lot of ground, Pat. It could be a non-player, like someone who rebuilt sport's most recurring dynasty, George Steinbrenner. But let's hope not. I don't think they'll let Shipwreck or I write Tiger if he wins. We're almost out of Tiger superlatives. Maybe they could get Earl Woods. He keeps writing books about his kid.
Now that Tiger Woods has won his fifth major he is eligible for the Heavenly Open. The following golfers (grouped in threesomes by era) qualified by winning at least five majors since World War I: Walter Hagen, Bobby Jones and Gene Sarazen; Ben Hogan, Byron Nelson and Sam Snead; Peter Thomson, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player; Jack Nicklaus, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson; and Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo and Tiger. Assuming all are in their prime, answer the following questions, please: Which group would you like to join as a fourth? Which group do you think would attract the largest gallery? Which group would lead in the charisma department? Finally, which group would you bet on to be low aggregate at an old, classic course like Brookline's The Country Club or Merion?
Is that all, Daniel? How about a shake and some fries? I'd join the Hogan group to play and I'd take them to win the team title. They could shoot low. Hagen's specialty was match play, not stroke play. The Nicklaus group would get the biggest gallery, maybe. Arnie's Army would be challenged and Tiger's big following might be overwhelmed, although personally I find the Jones-Sarazen-Hagen group the most intriguing since they came before the days of decent video, and we never saw them play. As for charisma, I don't think you could beat Jones-Sarazen-Hagen. They were characters in different ways, all of them. Of course, I'd pay money to watch any of those threesomes play Candyland.
What's with all the hype concerning whether Callaway has a right to sell a "non-USGA approved" club? When someone buys equipment for other sports does the NFL, NBA, MLB, etc., get up in arms over whether it has been approved by its governing body, or is it happy to see someone showing interest in the sport by purchasing a product? Isn't it ironic that golf continues to believe that it needs to be in a class by itself?
Your comparison is flawed, Brian. Imagine a Little League baseball team allowed to buy bats that are livelier and hit the ball farther than legal bats. Think there wouldn't be an uproar over that? That's what the Callaway controversy is about. Callaway's driver is allegedly a game-improvement device, which could lead to an unfair playing field. I don't have a problem with someone using it as long as they don't play in a match, keep score or post their score on a USGA handicap index. In fact, hit that club all you want ... on the driving range.
Can you comment on the similarities between Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus as far as their abilities to beat back all of the competition they face almost all of the time? Some say Tiger will go down as the best because he had far more talent challenging him. I say the argument about talent is moot when you consider the money involved now. A guy today can average less than a top-10 finish and still keep his tour card. In Jack's day, you had to fight to really earn a decent living. What do you think?
While Tiger is beating deeper fields -- that is, more players who can win -- Nicklaus played against half the Hall of Fame: Palmer, Player, Trevino, Johnny Miller, Billy Casper, Watson, Seve Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Greg Norman, Tom Kite, Hale Irwin, Lanny Wadkins, Tom Weiskopf, Bruce Crampton. They're not all in the Hall, but they were formidable. What future Hall of Famers is Tiger beating? Faldo and Norman are on their last competitive legs. Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els, probably, but I don't see anybody else under the age of 40 even close to that category. Davis Love would have to suddenly turn into a tiger, pardon the pun, and rack up two or three more majors to make the Hall. David Duval has a chance but has quite a ways to go. Jack played for less money, which may have driven him a little harder early in his career, at least before he started racking up big endorsement dough. Jack and Tiger both used their power game to dominate their opponents and both were great putters. I say Tiger is a better golfer -- he has more game than Jack. Whether he sustains it over 30 years like Jack did is another question. Check back in 2030, Ed. I'll update you.
Click here to send your golf question to Gary Van Sickle.
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