Tigers Biggest Threat?

[Merlot]

According to Butch Harmon. GolfChannel

http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23210314-5010360,00.html

[hogannut]

I would agree for the most part that Adam Scott is the best under 30 at the moment, but Garcia is only a half step behind and if his putting was as good as Scott's it would be Garcia. Tee to green Sergio may be the best in the world now, including Tiger.

Tiger's mental game, and ability to scramble and save pars is his strong suit. Of course Tiger is a great ball striker, but he can get into trouble off the tee, and Sergio hits it as far but way straighter.

However, regardless of who the true #2 is in the world right now, they are so far behind TIger that it isn't even worth discussing.

[Merlot]

Scott is #5 in the world currently. He is young but at 27, will he suddenly find it and start winning 5 or 6 events a year and a few majors?

Seems unlikely.

[Lefty17]

All Adam needs in a consistent putter. He knows what make Tiger tick. He's played and practiced with Tiger enough when Tiger was with Butch and isn't afraid of winning bigger events.

[imAnewbie]

you guys are leaving out mickelson? He's the only guy that can keep up with Tiger, I love tiger! i love phil! :D

[hogannut]

IMO.....Phil cannot beat him. He hasn't yet, and the fact Phil is 5 years older than Tiger will become a factor sooner than later. I mean TIger is totally in his prime. His conditioning will never be better than it is right now, and Phil is always playing catch up with TIger, same with Ernie.

In Phil's defence (and I like Phil too.....he is a great ambasador) it looks like he has hit the gym in the off season and is in better shape, but like Arnold Palmer became to Jack Nicklaus, Phil is great for the game, and we need players like Phil, but he simply is not as good as Tiger now, and being he is like 36 -37 years old and TIger is 32 time is not on Phil's side.....or Mick Jaggers for that matter!!

[imAnewbie]

IMO.....Phil cannot beat him. He hasn't yet...
I think Phil beat Tiger already, on a final round last year, BMW was it? It was a great showdown! I havent seen that Doral incident Phil vs Tiger again...

I like phil vs tiger, especially last year's fed-ex cup... he made tiger scramble that tourney(was it BMW?) .. but yeah if phil can get back in shape, maybe he can be the biggest threat for Tiger.

IMO.....Phil cannot beat him. He hasn't yet, and the fact Phil is 5 years older than Tiger will become a factor sooner than later. I mean TIger is totally in his prime. His conditioning will never be better than it is right now, and Phil is always playing catch up with TIger, same with Ernie.

In Phil's defence (and I like Phil too.....he is a great ambasador) it looks like he has hit the gym in the off season and is in better shape, but like Arnold Palmer became to Jack Nicklaus, Phil is great for the game, and we need players like Phil, but he simply is not as good as Tiger now, and being he is like 36 -37 years old and TIger is 32 time is not on Phil's side.....or Mick Jaggers for that matter!!

[laps]

Well it won't be Mike Weir!

What are horribel performance this week - I must be hurt or sick. He is 5 over for the last twenty holes.

[Focker Singh]

I think Phil beat Tiger already, on a final round last year, BMW was it? It was a great showdown! I havent seen that Doral incident Phil vs Tiger again...

I like phil vs tiger, especially last year's fed-ex cup... he made tiger scramble that tourney(was it BMW?) .. but yeah if phil can get back in shape, maybe he can be the biggest threat for Tiger.

You`re correct, Phil did beat Tiger in last years BMW. I think what Butch means is that Scott will eventually be #1 in the world when Tiger moves onto the Champions Tour. :D Seriously though, I think Scott can be a threat to Tiger in 3-5 yrs but not right now. Nobody is a threat to Tiger at this moment. Scotts got the game but not consistent enough. Tiger just has a ridiculous short game and iron game.

[Merlot]

Tiger just has a ridiculous short game and iron game.

Along with making putts at will.

[hogannut]

Along with making putts at will.

When you can scramble and putt like that who cares if you only hit 50% of the fairways!

[goshawk]

When you can scramble and putt like that who cares if you only hit 50% of the fairways!
I've always thought.....what if he throttled back just a bit and hit a lot more fairways (70-80%)? Imagine how much better he "could" be playing from the fairway almost all the time. That's a bit scary, especially if you're competing with him!

[Leftygolfer30]

I've always thought.....what if he throttled back just a bit and hit a lot more fairways (70-80%)? Imagine how much better he "could" be playing from the fairway almost all the time. That's a bit scary, especially if you're competing with him!

My opinion is that TW does what he thinks he needs to on whatever course he's playing. An example would be when he won the Open by hitting an iron off the tee most of all four rounds. He was criticized for not hitting driver but it's hard to question the decision considering he won it.

I know it's be discussed at length but I really have a feeling that he's going to put up some truly unbelievable stats this year. He may not win all 4 majors but I won't be surprised to see him with 12-15 wins this year. Then again, he could win all 4 majors as part of that 12-15.

[Merlot]

I've always thought.....what if he throttled back just a bit and hit a lot more fairways (70-80%)? Imagine how much better he "could" be playing from the fairway almost all the time. That's a bit scary, especially if you're competing with him!

It would be interesting. Or just leave the driver in the hotel room everyday.

My opinion is that TW does what he thinks he needs to on whatever course he's playing. An example would be when he won the Open by hitting an iron off the tee most of all four rounds. He was criticized for not hitting driver but it's hard to question the decision considering he won it.

I know it's be discussed at length but I really have a feeling that he's going to put up some ruly unbelievable stats this year. He may not win all 4 majors but I won't be surprised to see him with 12-15 wins this year. Then again, he could win all 4 majors as part of that 12-15.

Tiger will win the Grand Slam this year.

[Biffm1]

Tiger has no threats....objects in mirror are farther than they appear. Tiger's only competition was, and still is Jack.
Bob MCowen made a good point on the radio a couple of weeks ago. It was basically that there really isn't a number 2. Guys have taken their shots, Phil, Ernie, Vijay etc...but nobody has really competed with Tiger when Tiger was playing his best...It appears Tiger is ready to dominate in a way we havent seen since 2000, he might even win everything he enters..lol. Not likely but you get how I feel on this subject.

[GQuizzle]

The only real "threat" to Tiger is injury. Other than that, no one on tour can challenge him or threaten his standing as No. 1

[Richard]

Tiger's real threat is similar to the threat Bill Gates mentions, the kid in the garage that he doesn't know yet. That turned out to be the two kids who made Google.


Of all the kids watching Tiger there will be some kid with similar talent and desire who practices to get to that level. Haven't seen him yet.

So Tiger's only competition now is Tiger, can he keep up the desire and pace?

[golf nut]

So Tiger's only competition now is Tiger, can he keep up the desire and pace?

I'm thinking Yes.

[ebaj1]

No threat at all, however, Phil Mickelson, who BTW has acknowledged that he is statistically far away and will not measure himself against TW, is probably the only one out there who looks forward to and relishes the thought of going head-to-head with him. Phil plays very well when paired with TW. The two of them head-to-head is a media coverage coup. The rest of the young lions, well, they're all so awed that the battle's lost already even before stepping on the tee-box. It's the battle of the minds and we all know whose mind it is that's the toughest. I don't see Tiger's star waning until maybe he joins the Champions tour where he'll most probably dominate....there's no use....

[jcggolfer]

His wife!:rofl:

[goshawk]

His wife!:rofl:
Tida!!

[chiantibro]

I've always thought.....what if he throttled back just a bit and hit a lot more fairways (70-80%)? Imagine how much better he "could" be playing from the fairway almost all the time. That's a bit scary, especially if you're competing with him!

Yeah, remember how he played Hoylake? Exactly like that...

His wife!:rofl:

lol...that's what I was going to say

[golferboy]

Tiger has no threats....other than himself. Boredom maybe or an injury. Other than that...no one has the mental game and the will/determination to be and stay at #1. Everyone else talks a good game once in awhile, but their games just dont support the words they speak.

[Weirfan]

Tiger has no threats....other than himself. Boredom maybe or an injury. Other than that...no one has the mental game and the will/determination to be and stay at #1. Everyone else talks a good game once in awhile, but their games just dont support the words they speak.

LOL, Tiger has separated himself from the rest of the tour no doubt . He is the best out there by a wide margin without argument.

In most of the public's and Tiger worshipper's eyes , he is deemed so far ahead that he really should win every tourney he enters by a wide margin. but he doesnt ( well so far this year he has) and he wont........why, he's human and will not play his best all the time .....much like Federer in tennis...........the debate when one of these dominant forces who should always win actually loses is did he choke or was it an upset?? Did Tiger choke in match play by missing short putts or was he beat by Ohearn ? did Tiger choke in the Pres Cup against Weir by driving it in the hazard on 18 or was he beat????

Neither Tiger, nor Federer has a real threat ....someone who can challenge them week in and week out.....Nadal is probably closer t o Federer than anybody is in golf to Tiger.

Adam Scott has not proven himself and IMO dies not have the mental toughness, nor the creativity in shotmaking to be a dominant player...sure he'll win here and there.

the way golf is today with the equality and paraody outside of Tiger, means that anybody on any weekend can be a threat.......but it will only be in maybe 50% of the cases at most that Tiger will get beat in an event he enters............even in his last tournament outing he had 2 poor rounds and still won,,,,,,,,,not many can do that.

Tiger does not have the challenge from his contemporaries that Jack did..........he is alone at the top and likely will be for a long time to come

[gatsby]

All very interesting comments. It would seem that Tiger must keep himself motivated. I think that the drive to get to Jack's and Sam's Totals. will take him there. When that happens, perhaps someone new will be on the horizon. If not, then it is left to us to either enjoy the lesser brand of TV when he doesnt play or concentrate on our own level of golf. If and when winter ends, I certainly watch a lot less golf on tv, tuning in basically to the majors. Hurry spring. I have cabin fever.:(

[Merlot]

His wife!:rofl:

Migth turn out to be the opposite afte rhe wins the GRANDSLAM this year.