Article:Transcending History

Tiger Woods is the most dominant athlete of all time. There it is. Can’t have a bigger statement then that…

Sure, we’ve always known Tiger was great. We’ve known it since he was two years old on the Mike Douglas Show. We’ve known it since he was three years old shooting a 48 over nine holes. We’ve known it since he was five years old and since he was eight years old and since he was twelve years old. Tiger has always been great. But now, he’s preparing to go beyond that greatness.

Tiger Woods looks better than ever this season. This week at the Buick Invitational, he’s made the rest of the star-studded field look like Sunday duffers. You can say Tiger is on top of his game, but he doesn’t believe that. And that’s why he’s so great.

Tiger never thinks he’s on top of his game. The swing has changed over the years to much criticism from people who believe in the adage, “don’t fix it if it ain’t broke.”  But Tiger knows what it takes to be a champion. He always knows that he can be better, and that’s what separates him from the rest of the pack: desire. Tiger Woods doesn’t just use pure talent to win tournaments (although, he’d still do pretty well if he did), Tiger uses mental toughness and wills his way to lower and lower scores.

Roger Federer has been thought to be Tiger’s rival in this generation for most dominating, but this week, while Tiger is winning his fourth straight Buick, Federer is sitting at home watching the finish of the Australian Open, which is a tennis major. It would be fair to make the prediction that Tiger isn’t going to be outside the winner’s circle in too many golf majors this year.

I’m not going to go so far as to predict a Grand Slam, but I think 2 or 3 majors are almost a lock. However, if anyone were ever in position to win that Grand Slam, it’s Tiger Woods right now. His family life is in order (something very important for golfers), and he can really focus on his golf fame. If Tiger were to take the four-peat this year, he goes beyond the most dominating athlete of all-time. Tiger will transcend all categorization of his domination. He will be above and beyond any team or player to ever play any sport.

These may seem like pretty bold statements, but there is no comparison to Tiger Woods. You could make the argument that he’s playing against inferior opponents, but I think it’s much more likely that Tiger is simply a freak of nature. The fact is that Tiger would be doing the same thing if he were put in any generation, including those of Hogan, Palmer, or Nicklaus.

There’s the game of golf, then there’s Tiger’s game of golf. It’s a game of perfection, that no normal human will ever be able to experience.