I´m only 17 and I´ve watched golf on tv since 2000 and for this years Tiger has been the best player, he has won eight majors and he has monopolized the PGA Tour. Tiger only won two majors on 90´s and other players like Nick Price or Couples were on the top of their career. I´d like to know what´s your opinion about this. I think that is not easy choose one player because this decade was extremely competitive and there were so many good players. I will choose Jose Maria Olazabal and Nick Price. The first is spanish like me and the second won three majors and many PGA titles. What´s your election?
Sorry for my english. I like this language but I haven´t dominated it yet. Thanks.
Nick Price and Tiger Woods tied for the most PGA Tour titles in the 90s, so they'd be a good start. Nick Faldo had a good decade as did Greg Norman, although both tailed off toward the end.
As a Scot, I've got to go for Colin Montgomerie. He won the European Tour money list SEVEN YEARS in succession between 1993-1999; He won 28 European Tour events in the 90's and two more wins outwith Europe; He performed magnificently for Europe in several Ryder Cups, remaining unbeaten in the singles.
Many think of Monty as a failure simply because he hasn't got a major championship under his belt. He was however narrowly beaten in 2 (or possibly 3) U.S. Open/USPGA play-offs. One of those defeats only came about when Steve Elkington drained a monster putt to join him in the play-off. As Monty himself said, over 72 holes no-one beat him in those events.
In the 90's (as well as today) the European Tour was the minor leagues of professional golf. Montgomerie, with his 7 consecutive Order of Merit wins, was undoubtably the best "minor league" player of the 90's. He never won a tournament when the majority of the best players in the world were in the field (i.e the PGA Tour or a Major) so he cannot be seriously considered for the title of best player of the 90's. Unfortunately, he was a "big fish" in a small pond and couldn't (or wouldn't) overcome the American crowds to play and win against the big boys. Unless of course you count all the times he kicked our rear ends in the Ryder Cup!
Nick Price and Tiger Woods tied for the most PGA Tour titles in the 90s, so they'd be a good start. Nick Faldo had a good decade as did Greg Norman, although both tailed off toward the end.
I think Stlcard makes a good point! You would almost have to say first half and second half of the 90's to make a choice. And although some would like to disparage anything "Tiger", he made quite an impact straight away, didn't he?
By the way, Juan, no need to apologize for your English!!! It is much, much better than my Spanish and for the most part, is better English that many Americans I know could compose!
Hi Juan! And welcome to the wonderful world of golf!
As you stated, the decade of the '90's was a very competitive era in professional golf. However, that decade's stars did not come close to attaining the greatness of guys like Nicklaus, from the '60's and '70's, or Tiger.
I'd say the biggest stars of the '90's (aside from Tiger) were Greg Norman, Nick Faldo and Nick Price. Norman was easily the most consistent of the three, but he won only two major championships...and only one of those in the '90's.
Faldo won four of his six major titles during the '90's but, in looking back over his record, Nick did not contend as often as Norman. He just made the most of his opportunities.
As for Nick Price, the bulk of his substantial accomplishments came, really, during a short, two-year period. He won his first major in August of 1992; had a big '93, which included a PGA TOUR money title and a victory in the PLAYERS Championship, and followed that up with a spectacular 1994, in which he won a second TOUR money tile and two majors, the last one being his PGA Championship victory in August of 1994.
As for the World Golf Rankings, Greg Norman logged more weeks in the #1 position than Faldo, Price and Freddie Couples combined.
Prior to joining the LPGA Tour she competed on the WPG European Tour, where she was the 1993 Rookie of the Year. In 1995, Sörenstam won Sweden's most prestigious award in sports -- the Athlete of the Year. In 1994 Sörenstam was Rolex Rookie of the Year, becoming the second foreign player to win the honor. She is the only player besides Nancy Lopez to have won Rolex Rookie of the Year followed the next year (1995) by Rolex Player of the Year and Vare Trophy.
In 1996 Sörenstam successfully defended her 1995 title at the U.S. Women's Open, where she recorded four rounds of par or better, 70-67-69-66, and surpassed the $1 million mark in career earnings. She also won her second consecutive Vare Trophy for lowest season scoring average with 70.47. She won the 1997 Rolex Player of the Year Award for the second time in three years. For the third consecutive year, she finished the season in the top-three on the season money list. In 1998 she again won player of the year (for the third time in four seasons), and she won the Vare Trophy for scoring average by becoming the first woman to break 70.
In the 90's (as well as today) the European Tour was the minor leagues of professional golf. Montgomerie, with his 7 consecutive Order of Merit wins, was undoubtably the best "minor league" player of the 90's. He never won a tournament when the majority of the best players in the world were in the field (i.e the PGA Tour or a Major) so he cannot be seriously considered for the title of best player of the 90's. Unfortunately, he was a "big fish" in a small pond and couldn't (or wouldn't) overcome the American crowds to play and win against the big boys.
The European Tour can only be classed as a "minor league" with regards to prize money. As the last four or five Ryder Cups have shown, since 1985 or thereabouts the players on the Euro Tour are at least a match for the Americans. The European players also have to face more varied and testing conditions which differ from week to week.
Yes, the PGA Tour has more players from the Top 20 of the world rankings but that is because the Rankings system is not exactly foolproof and is heavily weighted towards those playing on the PGA Tour. (the length of time it took the all-conquering Vijay to overthrow Tiger as No.1 illustrates this)
As for Monty not wishing to try to "overcome" the American crowds, I can't really blame him. I agree that at times he didn't help himself and should have been more crowd-friendly. However, the big man simply did not like America. He didn't feel comfortable playing there and the Ryder Cup at Boston was the last straw when the late, great Payne Stewart had to defend him from personal abuse (some of which came as he stood over putts); his wife was spat upon and his father had to leave the course because he couldn't bear to listen to any more of the filth being directed towards his son. Could ANYONE put up with that whilst golfing?
IMO the Ryder Cup is a totally different animal than the European vs. PGA Tour issue. The prize money is lower, yes, but the level of play is lower too. I'm not saying it's a minor league tour, just that it is not on the level of the PGA Tour and probably will never be. All the best players play on the PGA Tour, and even when the top Euro guys come play on the PGA Tour, they don't seem to do anything (ie Monty's never won an event, ditto for Padraig, etc.).
The European Tour can only be classed as a "minor league" with regards to prize money. As the last four or five Ryder Cups have shown, since 1985 or thereabouts the players on the Euro Tour are at least a match for the Americans.
It's not just about the money. The European tour has many fine players.....that also play on the PGA Tour regularly. That just strengthens my point. The best European players playing regularly on the PGA Tour make the fields far stronger than any European Tour event.
You can't compare, or equate, Ryder Cup success with the strength of the respective tours. 18 holes of Team Match Play have nothing to do with success in any stroke play event.
As for poor Monty....he didn't deserve the outrageous abuse he suffered at Brookline, but he brought much of the grief he encountered at other PGA Tour events upon himself. Even his "friends" from the European Tour have said as much. I like Montgomerie, but I didn't create the "Big fish in a small pond" label he carries. Unlike the treatment at Brookline, this tag is something his play has earned.
October 18th, 2004, 11:56 AM
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