...but Nicklaus still has my vote for the Greatest ever, based on money available and sponsors that would cater to every need. Here's an example of 1st place money in 1965. And don't give me this **** that was worth 9 million in todays times. The difference between 1st and and 10th place in 1965 compared in todays times is a 2nd job. When Gary Player won in 1965, he became the first non-American to win since 1920. His pay check that year was $26,000. Nicklaus, Trevino, Player, etc., were good because they had to be. Sergio Garcia doesn't.
Shame on me!! How did I forget the King? The guy that took the CC aspect of golf and put a blue collar on it. Arnie is credited for making Golf popular in America. Nicklaus made it great
It's not even close. First of all when Jack played there was the American tour and what? And where did the players on the tour come from? Today we have the Nation Wide Tour, the Hooters Tour, The Gulf Coast tour, etc. We have a European tour, Asian tour, Austrailian tour and many more. How many non-Americans played on the PGA tour when Jack played? How many now do. I think that the competition on the tour has never been better. Right now of the 4 majors, 3 titles are held by non-Americans. So other than Gary Player, what non-Americans did Jack have to battle with? Isao Aoki? Once maybe. Bob Charles? Once in a while. Today we have great players from all over the world that play regularly on the PGA tour. But still, one player dominates. Today 33 yr. old Tiger Woods won his 70th PGA tournament after missing 9 mos. with a injured knee. Jack was 40 when he won his 70th. Not even close.
You are missing a ton of players off that list Gipper. The point being is what was the incentive. We already know Tiger wants to win, but if Sergio never finishes in the top 20 again, do you think he'll need to find another line of work? Not in today's times. There's no real incentive to survive on tour like Jack and the boys had to.
Maybe that's the greatest testement to Wood's consistency and unparalled success.... that he competes with that intensity even though he need not ever swing a golf club again. The guy wins because he is the best prepared, in the best physical shape and has the most drive. All of those things are what separates him from Phil.
Incredible match today. Ended with a thud though when Padraig screwed that shot from the rough. ...of course it takes somebody like Tiger to put the nail in the coffin. His shot from deep in the rough to the lake is one I'm very familar with!!
And I guess that when Jack played in the majors, the rest of the field wanted to win the Masters, Open etc. but today, only Tiger really cares and the rest just care about their check.
Well, if I made 300,000 a year and played golf 4 days a week....yeah. I'll take the Major if it comes, but what incentive is there to really work hard? Once again, I'm not knockin' the guy, During Nicklaus's time, the field was hungrier to give more competition.
I predicted earlier that Tiger wouldn't win a major this year. He's had a great year now doubt, but I stand by my prediction that he won't win a major maybe not next year.
Doc I thought your prediction was a little crazy when you first made it but right now you're looking pretty smart. I can understand why he wasn't completely ready for the Masters, he'd recently gotten back on the tour. He caught a bad break having to play on Thurs. morning of the US Open. Of the top 15 finishers in the tournament only 1 had to play in those bad conditions on Thurs. .....Woods. He still had a chance on Sun. He's hitting his irons better these past 2 weeks than he has all season. If the flat stick behaves, he'll be playing late on Sun.
Certainly all the indicators are pointing up for El Tigre, but for some reason I think he's over focused on the majors. I think he puts incredible pressure on himself to win the majors, I understand he's the ultimate competitor and probably wants to win everything he does, might have a tough time letting his kids beat him in a game of Sorry or CandyLand. Besides even for Tiger it's tough to win 3 in a row.
I think that Tiger used to be supremely confident going into majors. I think 2 things have shaken his confidence. First, his injury left some doubt he could come all the way back. Second, Notredamus DDS in Houston predicted he'd come up dry this season.