Horns247 Board

Look what Rory did to the field at Congressional in 2011 in the Open, and then at Kiawah last year in the PGA. When he's on, he's ten strokes better than anyone else in the field. The only other major that I remember seeing being dominated like Rory did was Tiger at Pebble; and even though Tiger is playing better than he has since his knee surgery; he still isn't close to be the player he was then.

I'm not any more worried about his back than I am any other golfer. You do have to wonder if his hip can stand up to that stress though.

Gerry, how does Stricker fit in at Augusta? I really don't know his game, but he is really playing well.

Being one of the admitted Phil "homers", I really think he is healthy and this might be his last best shot at a major.

down voter, really, get a life. Your obsessed.

I think Rory is going to struggle for most of this year. Too many changes and loads of pressure, takes normal human beings a while to get that figured out.

The most encouraging thing about Tigers game right now is his wedge play. He has really cleaned that up. It's the key to victory at Augusta IMO.

I think too much is made of Tiger off the tee. Even at the peak of his career, he still wasn't "elite" in terms of driving accuracy, and this year he's probably right around his career average, minus a percentage point or two. I don't know if Tiger off the tee was much more than show. When he first hit the scene, Jon Daly was the big hitter, and created a stereotype about what long hitters should look like. All of a sudden there's this wiry teen hitting it out there past everyone, too. It created attention as long drives usually do. As I consider Tiger's run to 19, I think his confidence with his putter will far more detrimental than his confidence with his driver.

I've always thought Tiger's impact was greatest with his iron play. There are few golfers in the history of the game that can match Tiger Woods as a ball striker, a pure iron player. He's in a class with guys like Bobby Jones, Ben Hogan, and maybe even Mo Norman (if you want to give a guy like Norman his due). Simply put, nobody on tour has the ability to recover the way Tiger can, and that's always what put him way ahead of his competition. Playing in the final group on Sunday, and you think you have the guy beat when he hits it into the trees, and all of a sudden he's busting a 4-iron 220 within 10 feet - that sucks if you're the guy whose got to answer down a stroke with 4 to play.

The most important thing going Tiger's way currently is that he's got the rest of the field slowly believing his game is reaching an elevated status compared to their own, that he can truly hit any shot in the bag. The field is starting to believe that Tiger's focus is sharpening, that he once again has ice running through his veins, that he's starting to crave clutch golf again.

To read the way the top 5 players behind Woods were gushing all over him, the way he won with ease was nostalgic.

EDIT: As I read that back, I'll acknowledge that I'm clearly inferring that you were talking about Tiger's struggles to turn his driver over.

Sort of. I get the majors argument, but check this out...

Nicklaus won 12.7% of the tournaments he started. Tiger has won 26.9% of the tournaments he's started. Think about that.

OK, that counts Nicklaus' decline. Through age 37, Nicklaus had won 19.9% of the tournaments he started.

Tiger could go WINLESS from now until 2021 and still be on pace to break Snead's victory total. Think about that.

If Rory would get rid of that worthless new Nike Driver, it would help.

A Sports Radio co-host commented that his short game is well, his long game is where he struggles, and can do well at Augusta.

On the Rory and Tiger winning by margins talk, just to add some facts to the convo...

Tiger won The Masters by 12 in '97, the USA open by 15 in 00' and the British Open by 8 in 00'. He won the 2000 WGC-NEC by 11, the 2006 WGC-Am Ex by 8, 2007 Bridgestone by 8 in 2007 just to name a few...there are many more.

Rory when he is on is no different than Tiger when he was/is on. Both guys that can demolish a field on a given week.

Great points, however, I think the top golfers in Jack`s time were more competitive than in Tiger`s. Each week, the entire tour was out to cash a check because few were rich. Today, if you stay in the top 125, you can live a pretty good life.

And remember, once Jack got past 14 majors he had accomplished his goal. Tiger has always had the luxury of trying for Jack`s record of 18, but so far remains 4 short. Personally, I don`t think he ever will match it or break it.

Jack-most majors
Sam-most wins
Byron-most consecutive wins
Tiger- best win percentage

Nope. Not even debatable.

Every era can say that about the previous one.

The Masters returning to its original intention on a few holes does hurt Tiger, but his short game and putting (if it is really back) should be plenty advantage over guys like Keegan and Rory.