11/05/24
December 30, 2005
Tiger Makes the Turn at 30: Tiger Woods' is 30 today, finishing a decade in which he won 10 majors, 36 other tournaments, and was the No. 1 ranked golfer for 372 weeks. If he follows the tradition of peaking after 30 like other golfers, he'll break the records of Sam Snead (82 tour wins) and Jack Nicklaus (18 majors) before he's 40.
Happy birthday, Tiger Woods! He's single-handedly brought the game of golf to a new level, not only at the professional level, but for the everyday golfing masses around the world. Nobody in the sport has had more to do with the popularity the game is enjoying than Tiger Woods. Little kids who have yet to pick up a club don't know any player in any tournament, but when Tiger comes on screen, they automatically recognize him. The adult crowd always loved Nicklaus and Palmer, but the young people idolize Tiger Woods. Can you imagine? Young people idolizing a GOLFER as someone who's cool? He still is, and will be for years to come, the odds-on favorite to win every tournament he enters. Hopefully some of his success will take place during the Ryder Cup in Ireland, because the US needs him to dominate and take them to a higher level or they'll get absolutely KILLED (again).
posted by dyams at 09:18 AM on December 30, 2005
by the time tiger woods is fourty or fifty no ones gonna care about golf
posted by bronxbomber at 09:54 AM on December 30, 2005
I hope you don't choose stocks for a living. You sound like the guy who said rock and roll is just a fad.
posted by yankee0758 at 10:40 AM on December 30, 2005
Tiger Woods is the best golfer to ever live. The old boys better move over and make room for the billion dollar man.
posted by mcstan13 at 10:47 AM on December 30, 2005
I don't know about billion dollar man- if he earned between endorsements and actual winnings $30m a year, it'd take 33 years to earn a billion dollars, not counting taxes, etc. It seems unlikely that even golf's longevity that he'll sustain that level of pay and dominance. As good as he is, some time in the next 33 years there will be a few people who can challenge him consistently, so as to even out his current edge. However, yes, it's pretty much indisputable that he is the greatest golfer that ever lived, probably as responsible for the growth in the popularity of golf as Johnson/Bird/Jordan were for the popularity of the NBA. His alleged slump is more him taking the time to rework his game for the long haul (meaning he'll probably have another explosion of majors in the near future), and breaking those records like career victories and major victories is more a mere a formality of the calendar at this point. 86 is right- he'll probably have another surge over the next few years, win a bunch of majors... especially with his key challengers regressing and no clear upstart on the horizon who can legitimately threaten him tournament to tournament.
posted by hincandenza at 11:02 AM on December 30, 2005
if he earned between endorsements and actual winnings $30m a year, it'd take 33 years to earn a billion dollars Not exactly. One assumes he wouldn't spend all $30 million per, so some of it would be earning interest. Billionaire might be a long shot as things currently stand, but not out of the realm of possibility if he parlays his endorsements into bigger deals like Jordan with Nike.
posted by yerfatma at 11:47 AM on December 30, 2005
Not to mention that in 33 years, $30m will get you a cup of coffee and a sandwich on the corner. If he keeps winning, he'll keep adding zeroes to his net worth. He's among the most famous sports figures on the planet now, and that's only going to grow. Never mind Jordan, he could be the next Ali. (Granted, minus the political power, but with a better marketing machine behind him.)
posted by chicobangs at 01:43 PM on December 30, 2005
Strangely enough, it's also LeBron's 21st Birthday.
posted by Ufez Jones at 03:32 PM on December 30, 2005
However, yes, it's pretty much indisputable that he is the greatest golfer that ever lived ... Not yet. Nicklaus, Snead, and Bobby Jones all have legitimate claims on that title.
posted by rcade at 04:43 PM on December 30, 2005
I agree that Tiger is the greatest ever, but greatest ever of golfers at 30 years old. He has a ways to go to catch Jack and no doubt he will and I will be cheering loudly when he does. However, for now, let Jack bask in the sun for a while longer. He's earned it.
posted by STLCardinalfan at 05:41 PM on December 30, 2005
Yes, but one has to feel that Tigers going to just rewrite the book. Baring injury or sheer boredom. His pace isn't exactly slowing down.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 05:58 PM on December 30, 2005
I also feel as though Tiger will break most of those records; If not all of them.
posted by dahmyze5280 at 06:01 PM on December 30, 2005
No point in letting Jack bask; let the young boys take the helm!
posted by dahmyze5280 at 06:03 PM on December 30, 2005
No point in letting Jack bask; let the young boys take the helm! Jack's records (especially majors) won't fall easily but they will eventually and to Tiger. In my lifetime, no one person has had a greater impact on a sport than Tiger excepting possibly Ali. For my money, when he wins his 19th major he will be the best there ever was and probably the best there ever will be.
posted by STLCardinalfan at 06:38 PM on December 30, 2005
Tiger is the greatest golfer I have ever seen, I really did not see Nicklaus in his prime. Though the 1986 Masters was inspiring. Tiger has also been a beacon for the sport a dramatic influence comparable only to Arnold Palmer in attracting people to the game. One thing I can't explain is why I just can't like him. I loved to hate Jack, he was so obnoxious. What a snob, simply legendary, yet he has a discernable character. I know he wants me to hate him. I'm okay with that, only happy to oblige. Tiger has 0 personality. He is the worst interview in sports. even his nerd appeal is pale in comparison to the Bill Gates of the world. I can only hope that golf will continue to grow in popularity ultimately to draw as many NASCAR type fans as possible and hopefully an element of WWF(WWE) will emirge. Hopefully before Tiger bores us all to death with his excellence, domination and uber nerdness.
One thing I can't explain is why I just can't like him. I loved to hate Jack, he was so obnoxious. I used to hate Jack also mostly because he kept beating Arnold and Arnie was everyone's favorite. At that time I thought I was a Tom Watson fan (Arnie was getting too old) but it was more of an anybody but Jack attitude. At a tournament years back (I think Riviera Country Club here in LA. - LA Open) I met both Tom and Jack. Tom was the asshole and Jack couldn't have been nicer. Maybe he had mellowed by then or maybe it was a bad day for one and good for the other. In any case, my opinions changed on both guys.
posted by STLCardinalfan at 07:20 PM on December 30, 2005
Great stuff. Thanks STLC.
posted by yerfatma at 08:01 PM on December 30, 2005
tiger is the greatest player in the game today and will break all the records that stand today before he's 40
posted by toocole at 08:23 PM on December 30, 2005
tiger is the greatest player in the game today and will break all the records that stand today before he's 40 I'd be surprised to see Tiger shoot a round of 58.
posted by grum@work at 11:32 PM on December 30, 2005
All I'll say, w/o details is this: time is on Tiger's side. Let's watch and enjoy.
posted by koyaan at 03:09 AM on December 31, 2005
I met both Tom and Jack. Tom was the asshole and Jack couldn't have been nicer. Okay - that's freaking awesome. I love hearing stuff like this. What a dream round.
posted by WeedyMcSmokey at 11:09 AM on December 31, 2005
I'd be surprised to see Tiger shoot a round of 58. So would I. (So would Tiger.) But I wouldn't bet the house against him pulling it off at least once between now and the end of his career.
posted by chicobangs at 01:07 PM on December 31, 2005
Isn't he in a slump or something? Without injury, I think Tiger wins 8 of the next 16 majors and catches Jack before he's 34. His rivals are getting older and the young ones that are supposed to catch him will have to "learn how to win" with Woods himself in the field, making that task so much tougher. We've all been quite amazed at what Woods has done over the last ten years. It's hard to imagine that the best still lies ahead, but everything seems to point in that direction. As always, it should be fun to watch.