Too hard to compare with the equipment changes but it would be interesting to give Tiger ( and others) say a 36 hole challenge with the old balls and clubs and see what score transpires. The most significant changes over the years have been the physical and mental fitness of the current players and this tends to seperate players from previous years.
Give them a lifetime to play with said clubs first, then see what scores come about. I guarantee Tiger would be near the best.
Quote:
Echoing a lot of what has been said already...it's just impossible to compare any of the current day greats of any sport with the greats of eras past...Federer with Becker...Gretzky with Crosby...Aaron with Bonds....Montana with Brady...Tiger and Jack....take your choice....they are all great in their time and should be given their due....
You can easily compare Aaron with Bonds and Montana with Brady because no major technological advances and rules changes have occurred in their respective sports that have dramatically changed the game (other than steroids, which is a whole other topic). The only reason you can't compare Bonds with Aaron is because Bonds gets to wear this giant right elbow pad that lets him lean over the plate without fear. Take that pad off and he never beats Aaron's record, steroids or no.
Quote:
80% of the time when a player hits it in the rough the ball sets up and its actually an easier shot.
Yeah, you could really see that in play at the US Open...lots of players aiming for the rough because a majority of the time the ball would sit up. [/sarcasm]
Oh, and go try to hit the green from up on the wall in one of St. Andrew's bunkers and tell me that they aren't designed to be hazards.
Last edited by mtcaddy4 : July 4th, 2007 at 11:46 AM.
I think that's the key point people tend to miss out on. If Tiger had grown up with old equipment and had to use old equipment to this day, would he not have adapted? I would think he would.
In the old times we would've beaten any of those modern hackers like Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh or Jim Furyk even playing with a hockey club.
no question. tiger woods is the best golfer ever. 57 wins, 12 majors, not even 32 yet, won all 4 majors before he was 24? pretty impressive. also, when tiger was five, he was a 2 handicap golfer with the same euipment jack and arnie were using on tour. 5 years old and he shoots 2 over consistently? dont think jack dd that. also, the courses are so much longer now. when technology grows so do the lengths of courses. think jack could have handled a 288 par 3 in his day? no way. technology or not, im taking tiger.
no question. tiger woods is the best golfer ever. 57 wins, 12 majors, not even 32 yet, won all 4 majors before he was 24? pretty impressive. also, when tiger was five, he was a 2 handicap golfer with the same euipment jack and arnie were using on tour. 5 years old and he shoots 2 over consistently? dont think jack dd that. also, the courses are so much longer now. when technology grows so do the lengths of courses. think jack could have handled a 288 par 3 in his day? no way. technology or not, im taking tiger.
If Tiger was a 2 handicap golfer when he was 5, he didn't shoot 2 over consistently. It meant he shot 2 over on a good day. Let's not overstate Tigers accomplishments as a golfer.
Agreed. I remember Ernie Els hitting Jack Nicklaus's vintage (can't remember the year Jack said) persimmon driver. Ernie was hitting it 280+ straight.
There's really not that much difference in the irons (forged irons, at least) of today than those of yesteryear. Now, the lofts are stronger, and (I believe) the shafts are better. Beyond that...
the same people will argue that Larry Bird, Magic Johnson are much better than Kobe and Lebron James.
There are more golfers today than ever before. The top 200 golfers from 60 mil golfers will be better than the top 200 golfers from a pool of 20 mil golfers. Another reason that players today are better is that golf training and techniques have gotten much better with technology.
For sports that performance can be measured like high jump, swimming, and long jump, today's athletes are much much better. The reasons that they are better are the same. More people participate, better nutrition and training, and better techniques through computer analysis of movement.
I'm sure that during the 50's and 60's the old guard said that if the they had to use hickory shafts and gutta balls Jack and Arnie would be nothing. There are those from older generations that feel that there luster has been lost in the light of the new day but they never learn that it cant be polished with bull **** to shine again.
Thats a hefty statement to tote around, im sure he'll get a whole bunch of hate mail and a little talk down from Tiger, or tiger will just whoop him in some match play =P
July 4th, 2007, 11:41 AM
Linear Mode
Similar Threads
