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Originally Posted by QuadrupleEagle
The reason Tiger doesn't have a rival is because no one else in golf today has stepped up to his level. Overall, Tiger's competition isn't lacking from Jack's competition. If anything, the competition today is much stiffer than Jack ever saw. Tiger is just that good.
There are at least 10 golfers today that have the talent to challenge Tiger in the way that Seve and Watson and Player and Palmer (and several others) challenged Nicklaus. But they don't have the same mental game that Tiger has, and that is why they don't challenge him on a regular basis.
Even Jack didn't have the same mental game that Tiger has. I was watching a masters replay last night from over 20 years ago (I forget the exact year), and Jack held a big lead in the 2nd round, but then gave back 3 or 4 strokes in a few holes. Then he had a big lead again in the 3rd round and again gave back 3 or 4 strokes in a few holes. I've never seen Tiger do that in a major ... have a lead and give back 4 strokes twice. Plus Tiger overall has a vastly superior win percentage in overall tournaments. He plays a great game every time he goes out, and when he struggles, he still almost always makes a top ten.
Jack elevated his game for the Majors. Tiger doesn't elevate his game. He plays the best he can every tournament.
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Try to come up with 10 players in today's game that measure with the competition that Jack faced through the years. You cannot. Today's players are generally good tee to green, but lack the short game that many champions that Jack faced on a regular basis. This is not Tiger's fault.
Look at how Mickelson, Els, Goosen, Furyk, Singh played today. This is not the first time that they "did not show up". Look at who finishes second when Tiger wins, look at the sunday round scores when Tiger wins. I think the "top" pro's today just lack something. It's not like Tiger's major total is really stealing major wins from his main competitors.
I would take Tom Watson, Lee Trevino, Hale Irwin, Gary Player, Seve, Tom Kite, Crenshaw, Miller, Arnold, and Ray Floyd over any ten players in today's game from a career comparison standpoint.
Invariably, you will use Adam Scott or Sergio in your list of today's players or Tiger's era and realize Tiger's era just do not match up. Remember, Els has won 1 championship since Tiger started as a pro.
I loved watching Jack and I love watching Tiger, but being objective, you would have to admit Jack faced better players that knew how to win and win majors. Tiger is still off the charts in performance, but take a hard look at the Singh, Mickelson, Goosen, etc and you will be hard pressed to find a great final round score to win a major or for that matter a big event.