What would golf look like without Tiger Woods?

[holeout]

I thought about this and compiled how the majors for the past 10 years would have looked had Tiger not been around. Now I know that these runners-up would have played and competed differently had they not been trailing Tiger, but it is interesting to see what the current state of golf would look like had they, hypothetically of course, won the tournament.

The following players would now have these titles under their belts (in alphabetical order):

Woody Austin - 2007 PGA
Chris DiMarco - 2005 Masters and 2006 British Open
David Duval - 2001 Masters (he won the British that year)
Ernie Els - 2000 US Open and British Open (he tied for 2nd with Jimenez @ the US and Bjorn @ the British...I gave him the win for argument's sake )
Sergio Garcia - 1999 PGA
Retief Goosen - 2002 Masters
Tom Kite - 1997 Masters
Bob May - 2000 PGA
Shaun Micheel - 2006 PGA
Phil Mickelson - 2002 US Open
Colin Montgomerie - 2005 British Open


Quite the list. In the words of Tongzilla and others:

Discuss.

 

[mjstrong]

You would also have had a lot more variety in the #1 spot in the World Golf Rankings...Ernie, Phil, Furyk, would all have had their spells as the world's best player as well...

Interesting thoughts.

 

[tourdeep]

golf w/out Tiger...

less golf courses
less minority involvement
ratings down the tubes
NKE nowhere near it is today, at least its golf division.
a very happy Phil

 

[kebeal]

less prize money

 

[2mongoose]

Fixed your post

less everything

Fixed your post

 

[kebeal]

I like that better

 

[self-mastery]

An even fatter Phil.

 

[jbrunk]

Less no talent, no etiquette morons chasing their golf ball around local munies and taking too much time lining up their 6 footer that will win the masters. All the while sporting their jean shorts and teeing off from the freakin tips!

I don't even play the tips! Get the freak outta here with that crap and move yo azz.









I'm not sayin'...............I'm just sayin'.

 

[Robbohank]

Kinda makes you wonder what's going to happen down the road when he retires? In my opinion I don't think he'll step foot on the Champions Tour.

I'm having a hard time believing we're not watching the best golfer to ever have played or who ever will play the game, and I wonder what happens when he no longer tees it up?

 

[Jared Willerson]

Kinda makes you wonder what's going to happen down the road when he retires? In my opinion I don't think he'll step foot on the Champions Tour.

I'm having a hard time believing we're not watching the best golfer to ever have played or who ever will play the game, and I wonder what happens when he no longer tees it up?

I have wondered the same thing. Good post. We are witnessing history..I feel pretty lucky.

I never saw any of the other greats other than highlight reels.

 

[kebeal]

Also no elin.

I do agree we are watching the best player to ever play the game, however; I am thinking people said the exact same thing about nicklaus. Someone will come and take tigers place eventually. Just like tiger had jacks record hung on his bedroom wall, some boy has tigers as well.

 

[Kevin Shields]

golf w/out Tiger...

less golf courses
less minority involvement
ratings down the tubes
NKE nowhere near it is today, at least its golf division.
a very happy Phil

Is there more minority involvement?

 

[Robbohank]

I have wondered the same thing. Good post. We are witnessing history..I feel pretty lucky.

I never saw any of the other greats other than highlight reels.

Coach,

We are VERY lucky indeed! It's kind of amazing that Tiger can, even today, leave announcers speechless and shaking their heads at the shots he is able to pull off..... and he's been doing it for 13 years!

And now I hear that even after destroying the field at Torrey last week, Tiger thought he was hitting it even better today at Dubai!!!

If another golfer comes along that's able to do MORE than what this man has done, is doing, and will do, I sure hope I get to see it.

Robbo

 

[birdie_man]

Bah!! Lucky-schmucky.

I want competition. Forget you all...



Really tho......again, I think he adds a certain excitement......but I'd like to see some balance restored. (for my viewing pleasure)

(I find myself doing much more JEERING than CHEERING for my liking...........)

(...sorry for terrible joke...)

 

[holeout]

What I think is interesting is to see who the "leader in the clubhouse" would be with current players in majors. Some observations:

- Els is the "clubhouse leader" with 5 majors (if you give him the two playoff victories )

- Phil is right behind with 4, getting his first much earlier than he actually did, and Retief Goosen is right behind him with 3

- We now have these gentlemen as multiple-major winners: Tom Kite, David Duval, Chris DiMarco (!), and Shaun Micheel (!!!)

- Sergio Garcia would be a has-been at 27 since he won the 1999 PGA and has done nothing since

- Colin Montgomerie FINALLY has a major

 

[Robbohank]

Bah!! Lucky-schmucky.

I want competition. Forget you all...



Really tho......again, I think he adds a certain excitement......but I'd like to see some balance restored. (for my viewing pleasure)

(I find myself doing much more JEERING than CHEERING for my liking...........)

(...sorry for terrible joke...)

Birdie,

I assure you, when Tiger hangs up the spikeless spikes there will be more balance than you can stand!!!

Of course as it is you only have to watch Tiger about 20 weeks a year.... and he STILL dominates!!!! Plenty of balance the other 32 weeks.

Robbo

 

[birdie_man]

Yes yes I gotcha...............but I said he still adds excitement to any tourney Robbo. (if it isn't a blowout, that is)

I don't want to see him gone. I just want to see more challengers.

Most will say that is UNpossible. I keep an open mind. (ohmmmm)

BTW the spikeless spikes are in fact spikeFULL, I do believe.

 

[Robbohank]

Yes yes I gotcha...............but I said he still adds excitement to any tourney Robbo. (if it isn't a blowout, that is)

I don't want to see him gone. I just want to see more challengers.

Most will say that is UNpossible. I keep an open mind. (ohmmmm)

BTW the spikeless spikes are in fact spikeFULL, I do believe.

It is hard to believe so few of the top-5 or top-10 in the world don't challenge him more than they seem to. So many variables to contend with in this game, you'd think he'd have a lower winning percentage than he does.

And I believe you're correct about the spikes. Can't believe how many of these guys still use steel! (Hmmmmm.... I wonder if we should read anything into that?)