United States
Profile: Tiger Woods
| Born | Cypress, California |
|---|---|
| age | 30 |
| height | 6ft 2in |
| Turned Pro | 1996 |
| World ranking | 1 |
| Appearances | (4) 1997-99-2002-04 |
| Won | Lost | Halved | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Singles | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| Foursomes | 2 | 5 | 1 |
| Fourball | 3 | 5 | 0 |
| Total | 7 | 11 | 2 |
| Win Rate | 35% |
What Tiger Woods can't do with a golf ball really isn't worth knowing for the world number one is quite simply the best golfer on the planet. Whether he maintains the hunger and desire to surpass Jack Nicklaus' haul of 18 majors is a big talking point especially since he edged closer with his emotional 11th major win in the Open at Hoylake.
To make comparisons between the two legends isn't exactly fair because they played in completely different generations and circumstances. However, the fact remains they have been an inspiration to their respective generations and both will go into the annals as the two best players in the game.
When Tiger Woods won the Open at the home of golf in St Andrews for a second in 2005, it was also the stage Nicklaus felt appropriate to announce his retirement from the game. In doing so it was seen as one of the most seamless passings of the baton in sport from one great champion to another.
This year at Hoylake Woods stuck to his game plan with regimented precision – he only used the driver once in four rounds – to lift the Claret Jug for a third time. He was the epitome of concentration and focus for 72 holes. However, when holing the final putt the wave of emotion hit him as he realised his father, who died earlier in the year, would never get to see him win again.
Earl Woods was his son's guiding light, the one who help mould him into the player and individual he is today but that one moment on the 18th at Hoylake emphasised he is human like the rest of us.
Woods has also shown his human frailties in Ryder Cups down the years. It has been suggested the 30-year-old simply doesn't get fired-up for team situations which, if true, is understandable given the ruthless manner he has been able to notch up so many wins in such an individual sport.
Woods has played every possible match since his debut in 1997. The stats read, played 20, won seven, halved two and lost 11. However, any team with Woods on it is still a better one.
- Paul Gallagher