Tiger Woods athlete of the decade?? A Rant about Golf

[Coast2Coast27]

Kmp No haha. I guess I just see through the whole advertising with Tiger because I work in that field. With this scandal Professional Golf will lose alot of money, they need to do some serious Pr work now with Tiger, thus the athlete of the decade award. If they decide to move away from Tiger alittle , they will need to pick another Young Golfer who's talented and who they can design Golf courses around.

 

[Rogah]

Kmp No haha. I guess I just see through the whole advertising with Tiger because I work in that field. With this scandal Professional Golf will lose alot of money, they need to do some serious Pr work now with Tiger, thus the athlete of the decade award. If they decide to move away from Tiger alittle , they will need to pick another Young Golfer who's talented and who they can design Golf courses around.

I agree golf will suffer without Tiger, but are you honestly implying the the AP Athlete of the Decade Award was arrange as a way to rehab Tiger's image and PR stunt? You have got to be kidding.

 

[mldardy]

Say what you will about golf being a sport or not (though it clearly is), but don't forget that Tiger doesn't have a teammate to rely on if he's having an off day, and if he misses a tourney, he doesn't get paid.

Remember, this isn't the Fitness Award........this is the Athlete of the Decade award.

You can look at it this way and also Tiger not having a teammate helps him because he doesn't have to rely on someone else. Peyton Manning goes back to pass and the receiver drops it or Kobe Bryant passes to a wide open teammate and he misses the shot. Neither are in control of that situation, Tiger is in control of everything he does.

 

[ajk23az]

You obviously dont play golf, understand it, have studied it, nor are any good at it. Thus you think its not a sport. Toughest major SPORT to play. Period.

I was a scratch golfer (equates to shooting par or better in a single round) and then tore my ACL playing pickup basketball, took 6+ months off, came back and played basketball, tore my meniscus, then took another 3+ months off and started playing golf again. I was consistently shooting in the mid 80s. I lost practically ALL skill I accumulated. Started playing basketball again after and I am just as good at it, if not better than I was before tearing my ACL & meniscus. I am now 4 months removed from my 2nd knee surgery and am still no where close to where I was performance wise.

Hardest major sport to play, not even contested.

PS I am only 22 years old, and not one of those 40+ somethings you keep talking about.

 

[jimmy40]

Your entire argument is flawed if you really consider race car drivers athlete's and golfers not.

If you want to get technical, it requires more energy, strength, and stamina, to walk a 7,000 yard layout (3.5-4.0 miles), than it does to sit on your butt in a car, and drive around in circles for a few hundred miles.



:starspin

That may be the dumbest thing ever said.

 

[ajk23az]

That may be the dumbest thing ever said.

Actually the OP topped that.

 

[Coast2Coast27]

If we changed the rules of football, you could make it the toughest sport around. what if only passes of 50 yards or more counted? or what if in baseball only balls that went over the fence counted? it's pretty relative when you change the rules around.

Your 22 and playing Golf,all that goes to show is the success of the marketing of Golf in our time. Any ''sport'' were you don't work up a sweat can hardly be considered a sport in my opinion . There's no running in golf, just a nice little stroll in the park.

And please grow up with your dumbest post remarks, it's overused and show's a lack of maturity on your part.

 

[michaeljr1186]

golf is a tough sport. tiger deserve all the credit.

i hope that scandal blows away quick so he can continue to break records.

 

[ajk23az]

If we changed the rules of football, you could make it the toughest sport around. what if only passes of 50 yards or more counted? or what if in baseball only balls that went over the fence counted? it's pretty relative when you change the rules around.

Your 22 and playing Golf,all that goes to show is the success of the marketing of Golf in our time. Any ''sport'' were you don't work up a sweat can hardly be considered a sport in my opinion . There's no running in golf, just a nice little stroll in the park.

And please grow up with your dumbest post remarks, it's overused and show's a lack of maturity on your part.

What if, what if, what if, what if my aunt had balls she'd be my uncle? The what if game is lame in itself. The main rules of golf have been around since the 1700s.

Right now, I am in tip top shape and I still sweat during golf. Dont feed me the BS that you have never caught a part of a golf tournament and seen Tiger, Adam Scott, Ochoa, Wie, Pressel, Creamer, Sergio, Paul Casey, McIlroy (given you know ANY of these golfers). I could go on and on with golfers that are in tip top shape and have sweated during their round.

You never responded to the part of where I said you dont understand golf or anything of the sorts so you must not play it. I am taking your no response as a no you dont play golf. So, my point being, if you have never tried to play golf SERIOUSLY you have no credibility in dissing the sport since you have NO IDEA what you are talking about.

 

[Avaj]

He probably also got the title because of the money he generated during the decade. He is the first billionaire in sports history.

 

[ajk23az]

Well then bottom line is we have a disagreement in what makes an athlete and athlete. To me it's not all about how fast you can run, or how high you can jump . It's alot about hand eye cordination, awareness, precision, balance, mental toughness as well . Now to say it takes great athletic ability to hit a stationary white ball into a hole is insane, it doesnt ... but to say to throw a 45 yard pass on the money, while avoiding 300 lb lineman , and 240 lb line backers coming after you does.

This is your post from the "Name your 3 greatest athletes of the decade" thread.

The part in bold further solidifies my statement that you know ABSOLUTELY NOTHING about golf. So lets see here...

Eye hand coordination in golf? Do you need this, im not really sure /sarcasm...
Awareness? Haha, Yes (wind, the way the grass is bent on putts, chips, practically every single shot, gotta be aware of where the water is, sand traps, and other obstacles. I could go on and on here)
Precision? In the pros, you have to be able to stick a pitching wedge from 125 yards on in or you wont make the cut. If you keep putting the ball in the rough on the drive in the US Open, good luck making a payday.
Balance? HAHA OMG, you are named absolutely everything that is VITAL in golf..
Mental Toughness? I just cant stop laughing how much you are contradicting yourself...
:laugh2: :laugh1:

 

[silverbear]

It doesnt take great athletic skill to be good at golf

Spoken like somebody who has never played the game before... frankly, you don't have the first clue what you're talking about...

 

[Biggems]

I cant hit a golfball correctly or accurately.

That being said, golf is more skill than athleticism. It does take athleticism to play, but I would definitely not confuse the athleticism of a golfer to that of a football, basketball, hockey, tennis, soccer, boxing, or fighting.

I firmly believe the two toughest athletic feats are trying to hit a baseball from a major league pitcher, even when you know what pitch is coming and driving a race car at speeds of up to 200 mph for 4-5 hours straight, while avoiding several other cars on the same track. To maintain that level on concentration, while fighting off the heat and exhaustion is downright impressive.

 

[silverbear]

If John Daly or Phil Mickelson dominated like Tiger (yes that's a big if), would they be called the greatest athlete? I think b/c Tiger looks athletic (I think I read he can bench 300lbs), that also helps this so called "greatest athlete".

SI did a survey years ago about the most athletic sport and the sport that rank #1 was boxing. Golf was like #99,999. j/k but it was pretty low. Definition of athlete per merriam-webster:

: a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina

IMO, I don't see agility or stamina in golf.

Ask Ken Venturi about that some time... ask him about his experience at Congressional in 1964... look him up, and you'll understand...

Golf at the highest levels does require strength (you won't find anybody puny cranking out 300 yard plus drives), and it requires a delicate touch at the same time... and if you don't believe it requires stamina, go play 18 in the afternoon on a 100 degree day, walking like the pros do, and let's see how you're feeling when you're standing on the 18th tee...

Now, permit me to offer you a few other definitions of sport, from reputable sources... first up, the Cambridge Dictionary:

a game, competition or activity needing physical effort and skill that is played or done according to rules, for enjoyment and/or as a job

Golf is an activity, and a competition, needing physical effort and skill, and it is played according to a rather strict, codified set of rules... it is played by millions for enjoyment, and by a select few as a job (I happened to be one of them, for about 15 years)...

Next up, the Encarta Dictionary:

competitive physical activity: an individual or group competitive activity involving physical exertion or skill, governed by rules, and sometimes engaged in professionally

Again, golf is a competitive physical activity, it requires both phyical exertion and skill, it is governed by rules, and is engaged in professionally...

Now, the American Heritage Dictionary:

Physical activity that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often engaged in competitively.

An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.

An active pastime; recreation.

Once again, golf fits every one of these criteria...

And last but not least, Webster's New World College Dictionary:

any activity or experience that gives enjoyment or recreation; pastime; diversion

such an activity, esp. when competitive, requiring more or less vigorous bodily exertion and carried on, sometimes as a profession, according to some traditional form or set of rules, whether outdoors, as football, golf, etc., or indoors, as basketball, bowling, etc.

That's right, Webster's specifically mentions golf in its definition of sport...

If you want to argue that Tiger Woods is not the athlete of the decade, I'll agree with you... he might be the media-made sports celebrity of the decade, but he's not the athlete of the decade... but when you try to argue that golf is not a sport, you're simply full of crap...

 

[silverbear]

Golf , the whole marketing behind Golf is , let's make those who can't play real sports anymore feel good about themselves with the Tiger Wood's Product.

Sadly a few of you no doubt 30-40something's bought it.

Actually, I started working as a club pro when I was 20... I got out of the business when I was 35...

Amd while you can play golf reasonably well (if you're talented) into your 50s and even 60s, you're past your prime by the time you're in your mid-40s... since 1920, there have been only 5 golfers who won major champiohships when they were older than 43... only 3 since 1986, none in the last 19 years...

Championship golf is a young man's game... again, if you knew the first thing about golf, I wouldn't have to explain that to you... that's precisely why they have a separate "Senior's" Tour, for players 50 or older... some of us old farts like the see the golfers of our youth compete against players their own age, to basically relive old memories...

In fact, if you peruse the top 20 of the FedEx Cup Tour standings this year, you'll find that their average age is 34.25 years old... only 1 is over 42 years old (Kenny Perry, who is 49)... 7 of the top 25 are 30 or younger...

And as for pro golfers being "fat", that's just further proof that those making the claim don't really follow golf... the only one of this list who's even slightly doughy is the aforementioned, 49 year old Kenny Perry, who's 6-2, 220... the only other one on the list who's over 200 pounds is Ernie Els, who's a rather muscular 6-3, 210 pounds... the top 20 averages 6-1, 183 pounds...

The moral is, while it is possible to be competitive on the Tour if you're out of shape (Craig Stadler stands as testimony to that, so does John Daly), the vast majority of PGA Tour pros are quite fit... in fact, the Tour has a semi-trailer rigged as a fitness center for the pros to use at each stop, and it is quite heavily used...

You are right about one thing, though-- part of golf's appeal to the masses is it's possible to keep playing the sport until you're quite old, if your health permits... you won't play it as well as you did in your prime (which for golfers seems to be those years between 30 and 45), but you can still get pleasure from the game...

I just don't see why you consider that a bad thing-- some day, you'll be too old to play baseball or basketball or football, or whatever your favorite sports are, and if you enjoy competing, you might be happy to find a sport you can still play... my knees won't let me run any more, so I sure am happy to have some options where I can indulge the old competitive urges...

 

[silverbear]

I cant hit a golfball correctly or accurately.

That being said, golf is more skill than athleticism. It does take athleticism to play, but I would definitely not confuse the athleticism of a golfer to that of a football, basketball, hockey, tennis, soccer, boxing, or fighting.

They are different kinds of athleticism, but that doesn't mean golf does not require athleticism... I ask you, how many professional athletes from other sports have found the same level of success playing golf?? Many, many have taken up the game, only a very few play it well at all... and the only one I can think of who played the PGA Tour and found any success at all was former Niners quarterback John Brodie, who in 1991 won the Security Pacific Security Classic...

Ask any professional athlete from any sport who has tried to master the game of golf, and he'll tell you that to play it well requires a high level of athleticism...

 

[silverbear]

Kmp No haha. I guess I just see through the whole advertising with Tiger because I work in that field.

Oh, I'm with you on that one... the media has chosen to shove Tiger Woods down our throats... before him, they did the exact same thing with Michael Jordan, and that also made me sick...

I suspect we'll see that fade real quick now...

they need to do some serious Pr work now with Tiger, thus the athlete of the decade award.

I don't think the PGA Tour had anything to do with the voting for that one, actually...

 

[silverbear]

Your 22 and playing Golf,all that goes to show is the success of the marketing of Golf in our time. Any ''sport'' were you don't work up a sweat can hardly be considered a sport in my opinion .

ROTFLMAO... tune in any golf tournament in August, and all you'll see is guys with shirts sticking to their backs, drenched in sweat...

There's no running in golf, just a nice little stroll in the park.

There are lots of sports that do not require running, though I'd imagine you wouldn't consider any of them sports... too bad for you none of the commonly accepted definitions of sports mention running as being a criterion...

Frankly, your definition of sports is idiotic...

And please grow up with your dumbest post remarks, it's overused and show's a lack of maturity on your part.

Well, your attacks on the sport of golf aren't exactly the height of intelligence... particularly since it's abundantly clear that you've never even tried to play the game, let alone put in the effort to try to excel at it...

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

The whole scandal aside, How does a golfer win athlete of the decade? Espically when he's beating mostly 40 something's and is hitting a stationary white ball into a hole. Give me a break, I'd say 90 percent of the players in the NFL, 100 Percent Nba, and 90 percent MLB are better athlete's then a very good golfer. The media, Professional Golf, has so overhyped this guy all for the sake of profit. Its a ploy to appeal to the younger crowd, since usually only old men , who couldnt play a real sport any longer play or watch golf. They made Tiger Wood's into some advertising product and now with this scandal , there putting him up on the shelf to be used later.

Tiger Wood's isnt even in the top 10,000 of the decade when it comes being an athlete. I havent even mentioned all the great tennis pro's, Hockey, Track and field, or even race car drivers. Golf is a pitiful excuse for a sport because your not playing against someone, no one is trying to counter you , its just you hitting a ball. It's not pitched...it just sits there. I put Golf lower then slow pitched softball... seriously.. To me Golf will always be an old man sport nothing more. It doesnt take great athletic skill to be good at golf, all it takes is alot of practice and getting down a good drive. Id put skateboarding above Golf, Runner's , the list goes on and on.

I equate Golf with 2 other ''sports'' bowling and pool.

I like your premise, but how is NASCAR any different?

 

[Doomsday101]

They are different kinds of athleticism, but that doesn't mean golf does not require athleticism... I ask you, how many professional athletes from other sports have found the same level of success playing golf?? Many, many have taken up the game, only a very few play it well at all... and the only one I can think of who played the PGA Tour and found any success at all was former Niners quarterback John Brodie, who in 1991 won the Security Pacific Security Classic...

Ask any professional athlete from any sport who has tried to master the game of golf, and he'll tell you that to play it well requires a high level of athleticism...

I agree. I have played the game a long time also played organized football, baseball and ran track. All require athletic ability as does golf. I have seen people play who do not have an ounce of athletic ability try and play golf and were miserable in attempting it. It may look easy but there is a lot to the game from a physical stand point and a mental stand point. It is not by accident that you see many top athletes involved in the game of golf.