Jack's Record Is Safe

[scagwi]

Re: Jack's Record Is Safe

This is so awesome to have Tiger roaring again!

[ImTellinTim]

Re: Jack's Record Is Safe

The other thing I noticed is that he doesn't get too emotionally high or low all of a sudden. No negative outbursts and no dramatic fist pumps at all yesterday until it was over. Probably because he was bedridden for a few months and realizes that he's lucky to even be playing. A mentally focused Tiger coupled with his natural skill is a dangerous combo even at this age.

Maybe he was just taking out any emotions out on that gum, lol

[binga30]

Re: Jack's Record Is Safe

I'd love to see a few Tiger of old celebrations should he win again. Even a chase the ball in the cup would be great.

[pietasterp]

Re: Jack's Record Is Safe

Jack gets the distinction in part because the field on both sides of the pond was significantly less strong than it is today. Had TW not run into scandal and injury Jack's record very likely would have vanished I think it still could, though the field as I say is so strong today compared to when Jack was at his peak. Only time will tell but I'm going to put my $$ on TW--he is clearly driven big time, and his win at the '19 Masters was anything but a fluke. I don't ever recall a test like Augusta's back nine yesterday--the mega strength of the players going down the home stretch. It is very conceivable TW could win another 4 majors--Jack was 46 when he won his last major. TW at age 43 despite his impressive injury history is so much more physically fit than Jack was at age 46.

I would disagree that the fields Jack played against were "significantly less strong" than today. In his career, Jack played against the likes of Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Gary Player, Johnny Miller, etc. Not exactly bums, and he did it over 3 decades. And as far as Tiger being more physically fit than Jack, I think that depends on how you look at it. Jack didn't have multiple knee, back, and neck surgeries before he was 40 years old and didn't spend the better part of 10 years rehabbing his body so that he could bend at the waist, so I'm not sure it's accurate to say that Tiger is in better physical shape than Jack was at 43.

Augusta under any circumstances is not really the test of golf that the US Open or British Open can be (yes, I know...they want us to call it "The Open"), so I would agree that it's the one major Tiger can contend in every year going forward for the immediate future. I don't know anyone who thinks Tiger winning last weekend was a "fluke" by any stretch of the imagination, especially after winning the Tour championship, contending at the PGA until the 72nd hole, and holding a back-9 lead at Carnoustie last summer.

The other thing I noticed is that he doesn't get too emotionally high or low all of a sudden. No negative outbursts and no dramatic fist pumps at all yesterday until it was over. Probably because he was bedridden for a few months and realizes that he's lucky to even be playing. A mentally focused Tiger coupled with his natural skill is a dangerous combo even at this age.

Maybe he was just taking out any emotions out on that gum, lol

I find Tiger a lot easier to root for lately, since he's been chastened a bit by life at this point in the second/third act of his career. In his prime, he played golf in what I perceived to be a joyless, aloof way that made me want to root against him despite his obvious superior talent in every facet of the game. But you could see, for the first time maybe last weekend, how much winning the Masters meant to him after all he's been through when he made that last putt. He plays the game with more appreciation and joy now, and that makes his 'comeback' a lot more palatable in my opinion.

I just hope the golf courses don't get all crowded again now that he's back to winning...

[lowpaiddonkey10]

Re: Jack's Record Is Safe

Back in the days of the Big Three and later on with Miller and Watson maybe 10 guys could win any given week. Now I think that number is closer to 25. The guys back in the day weren't bums but there is a lot more exceptional talent in the field today week in and week out.

[pietasterp]

Re: Jack's Record Is Safe

Back in the days of the Big Three and later on with Miller and Watson maybe 10 guys could win any given week. Now I think that number is closer to 25. The guys back in the day weren't bums but there is a lot more exceptional talent in the field today week in and week out.

I'm not sure this is true, and I'm of the opinion that such arguments are largely a function of recency bias. I think you could also make the argument, if you were so inclined, that Tiger's competition during his prime in the early-to-mid 2000's was less than Jack's in his prime. But we could go back-and-forth on this forever, and it's not really productive to do so.

[lowpaiddonkey10]

Re: Jack's Record Is Safe

Koepka is killing it. Lots of good players did nothing this week. I wouldn't put too much into this missed cut by Tiger at the PGA.


I think they made a good move playing this tournament in May.

[lowpaiddonkey10]

Re: Jack's Record Is Safe

Two poor Major showings in a row now. The clock is ticking.

[BDKiiing]

Re: Jack's Record Is Safe

Two poor Major showings in a row now. The clock is ticking.

I think he'll be alright.

[ASB37]

Re: Jack's Record Is Safe

I think he'll be alright.

I agree...he's never going to be the Tiger of old but I think he'll be competitive in the masters for years to come if he stays healthy.

The question is going to be if he is able to pick up one of the other majors moving forward. With his inability to play a consistent schedule leading up to these major's he's going to always be a little rusty going into them.

The weather conditions at Portrush did not help him at all.

[lowpaiddonkey10]

Re: Jack's Record Is Safe

I agree...he's never going to be the Tiger of old but I think he'll be competitive in the masters for years to come if he stays healthy.

The question is going to be if he is able to pick up one of the other majors moving forward. With his inability to play a consistent schedule leading up to these major's he's going to always be a little rusty going into them.

The weather conditions at Portrush did not help him at all.

Not being able to play a full schedule is a big problem. If he plays too much he risks fatigue or injury not enough and he is not tournament ready. While his game suits Augusta there are a lot of guys who seem to play well all the time there too.

[lowpaiddonkey10]

Re: Jack's Record Is Safe

Looks as good as anyone at the Zozo but is as good as anyone enough to win 3-4 more major championships?

[BDKiiing]

Re: Jack's Record Is Safe

Looks as good as anyone at the Zozo but is as good as anyone enough to win 3-4 more major championships?

Yes.......

[pietasterp]

Re: Jack's Record Is Safe

Well, I could not have been more wrong about Tiger's ability to come back and compete with the best players in the world again. I continue to be amazed that he's come all the way back. While I was never a Tiger fan, I admit that this second act of his career is much easier to root for than his robo-winner days of total dominance. Having been chastened a bit by life, he is much more relatable and seems more appreciative of his wins.

While I never doubted the talent was still there, I thought his health would never hold up. I mean, the guy could barely even walk 2 years ago, and every time he tried to come back, something else would go wrong with his body. It's just nice to see that he's able to play pain-free again. Watching him struggle through rounds during his many aborted 'comebacks' was just agonizing to watch.

At this point, how can he NOT pick himself to play on the President's Cup team?

[ncp10]

Re: Jack's Record Is Safe

Looks as good as anyone at the Zozo but is as good as anyone enough to win 3-4 more major championships?

I believe he is. Jack won his last major at age 46 and Mickelson too and they don't seem anywhere as physically fit as Tiger is now even w/ his injuries and I actually believe that is true both physically and emotionally. But the field is much stronger now than in Jack's day which is why I see Tiger's career as clearly superior to Jack's even if he doesn't nail down 3-4 more majors--especially considering he was out of commission for 4y or so right at his prime.