DOMINANCE vs GREATNESS

As every year, just before the golf season starts in Gallup, we begin by watching golf on TV. The last few years, as the PGA Tour has been moving tournaments around their schedule, we get to see great players playing great courses. Early in the year, we saw Torrey Pines, Pebble Beach, Riviera (all three are U.S. Open sites); and we saw Tiger, Tiger, Tiger and Tiger. Oh yes, we did see Phil , Ernie and Daniel (Daniel who?... Daniel Chopra, he won the opening tournament of the year!).

That is the point, I bet none of you can name at least one more winner in the PGA Tour this year (don't worry, I couldn't either without looking at the official PGA Tour site) because to many of us, hate him or love him, there is no excitement in watching a golf tournament if Tiger Woods is not in the field. Just like in the '70's and '80's, I did not watch a tournament if Jack Nicklaus was not playing in it.

As every year goes by, the question is always raised: who is the greater golfer of the two? Because Tiger is so dominant and so far above the competition, people are beginning to say that Tiger is the greatest of all time. I say "not so fast". The two concepts, dominance and greatness should not be confused. In my opinion, Jack is still greater.... so far. During the height of his career, he competed against four players who won six or more major championships: Gary Player, Arnold Palmer, Lee Trevino and Tom Watson. Among the active players on the tour now, three players have won more than two majors, all tied with three, Phil, Vijay and Ernie.

People say that this is because the tour has more "depth", sure, that is why we have lost the Ryder Cup four of the last five times!

Tiger is much more dominant because not only because he is a great player and athlete, but because his only desire is for first places and because the competition, in comparison with him, does not measure up to the talent and desire. Even Phil, Vijay and Ernie, do not think they can beat Tiger when he is playing half decent. If you do not believe you can win, trust me.... YOU WON'T! That was not what Jack faced, all those players who won six or more majors during his career, believed in themselves more than Tiger's opponents do now.

That is were Jack's greatness is measured, he was second place to all of these guys at least twice each in his career, he was second in major championships nineteen (19) times! All four of his great contemporaries, plus a few others (Billy Casper, Johnny Miller and Tom Weiskopf among others), never played for a "top 10", they all played to win, just like Tiger and Jack have done in their own generation.

My advice? Quit trying to compare. Time will only raise more questions. They are both the best of their time. I believe Tiger has had much more impact in the game than Jack did, he is sort of an Arnold Palmer of modern times, by reviving the interest of the crowds; and he is also a Ben Hogan of modern times, he is as private and enigmatic, maybe more, as Ben Hogan ever was.

No, we cannot watch these players any more, nor their contested duels on the course, so go and enjoy watching Tiger's pursuit of excellence!