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The Golf Thread

That's why sport is the best reality tv. You really couldn't write this story if you tried. The hugging of his son at the finish was Tiger coming full of him hugging Earl after his first win.
 
Well that was beyond awesome. The best golfer of my generation, maybe of all time. Totally falls from grace. Loses his way totally, loses his way, his career nosedives, loses most of his sponsors, vices from gambling to booze and cheating on his wife, worldwide condemnation, crashes his car, loses his greatest inspiration his dear old dad.. ...apologises to everyone, suffers endless injuries, undergoes umpteen operations BUT never gives up home...Slowly claws his way back from 2000th in the world and almost retired hurt...starts to win the odd tournament agaiin and finally he arrives on this sunny day at the worlds greatest golf tournament and wins the damn tournament on the last hole...Best of all with all his family there , his dear old mum and his beautiful kids and all those who have supported him through thick and thin...

Struggling to think of many comebacks to even compare

Probably off the top of my head

Only the rumble in the jungle can beat it ...Theres a load of other great comebacks...Bothams ashes, he was sacked after second test lol...King cantona, sugar ray leonard beating marvellous marvin hagler, nicklaus 86 was epic, hurricane higgins 1982, federer winning his last major in 2018, serena post baby record slam win, pele last world cup in 1970 after being kicked out of 1966, goran winning wimbledon after losing 3 finals...few others perhaps less well celebrated niki lauda winning world ***le after being caught on fire, steve davis 97 masters win over the rocket, bruno finally winning the world ***le etc
 
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Before we start to put this in the lexicon of greatest comeback ever, let's remember a lot of Tiger's problems were his own fault. Not to undermine his achievements in the past twelve months but this story of a fellow grand slam golfer trumps what Tiger has endured should add some perspective.

"During Hogan's prime years of 1938 through 1959, he won 63 professional golf tournaments despite the interruption of his career by World War II and a near-fatal car accident. Hogan served in the U.S. Army Air Forces from March 1943 to June 1945; he was stationed at Fort Worth, Texas, and became a utility pilot with the rank of lieutenant.

Hogan and his wife Valerie survived a head-on collision with a Greyhound bus on a fog-shrouded bridge, early in the morning, east of Van Horn, Texas on February 2, 1949. Hogan threw himself across Valerie in order to protect her. He would have been killed had he not done so, because the steering column punctured the driver's seat.

This accident left Hogan, age 36, with a double-fracture of the pelvis, a fractured collar bone, a left ankle fracture, a chipped rib, and near-fatal blood clots: he would suffer lifelong circulation problems and other physical limitations. His doctors said he might never walk again, let alone play golf competitively. While Hogan was in the hospital, his life was endangered by a blood clot problem that led doctors to tie off the vena cava. Hogan left the hospital on April 1, 59 days after the accident.

Hogan regained his strength by extensive walking and resumed his golf activities in November 1949. He returned to the PGA Tour to start the 1950 season at the Los Angeles Open, where he tied with Sam Snead over 72 holes, but lost the 18-hole playoff." - wiki

He we t on to win two Masters, an open and three US opens.

Hogan, along with Bobby Jones, are the two men who in my opinion stand in front of Tiger as the undisputed greatest of all time.
 
Before we start to put this in the lexicon of greatest comeback ever, let's remember a lot of Tiger's problems were his own fault. Not to undermine his achievements in the past twelve months but this story of a fellow grand slam golfer trumps what Tiger has endured should add some perspective.

"During Hogan's prime years of 1938 through 1959, he won 63 professional golf tournaments despite the interruption of his career by World War II and a near-fatal car accident. Hogan served in the U.S. Army Air Forces from March 1943 to June 1945; he was stationed at Fort Worth, Texas, and became a utility pilot with the rank of lieutenant.

Hogan and his wife Valerie survived a head-on collision with a Greyhound bus on a fog-shrouded bridge, early in the morning, east of Van Horn, Texas on February 2, 1949. Hogan threw himself across Valerie in order to protect her. He would have been killed had he not done so, because the steering column punctured the driver's seat.

This accident left Hogan, age 36, with a double-fracture of the pelvis, a fractured collar bone, a left ankle fracture, a chipped rib, and near-fatal blood clots: he would suffer lifelong circulation problems and other physical limitations. His doctors said he might never walk again, let alone play golf competitively. While Hogan was in the hospital, his life was endangered by a blood clot problem that led doctors to tie off the vena cava. Hogan left the hospital on April 1, 59 days after the accident.

Hogan regained his strength by extensive walking and resumed his golf activities in November 1949. He returned to the PGA Tour to start the 1950 season at the Los Angeles Open, where he tied with Sam Snead over 72 holes, but lost the 18-hole playoff." - wiki

He we t on to win two Masters, an open and three US opens.

Hogan, along with Bobby Jones, are the two men who in my opinion stand in front of Tiger as the undisputed greatest of all time.
Great post , bravo
certainly puts things into perspective
in terms of what hes gone through clearly hogan went through a vast deal more and as you say a lot of woods troubles were self inflicted
the lifetime comeback goes to hogan no doubt. Its a shame theres not a great deal of footage

as for who is the greatest there is very very little in it here
hogan i think has 1 single more ***le on the circuit woods has 4 more majors...but as you say hogan lost years to injured etc
When you put everything in context its hard to seperate these legends
 
Always a good pub debate when it comes to talking about who is the greatest.

I agree Woods brought on his extra marital problems; getting arrested for DUI l, on himself, but the injuries and numerous back surgeries, knee problems and to recover from those is a feat in itself. It's still a great comeback story nevertheless and shows whatever happens in life whether self inflicted or not winning in the sporting arena is largely based on merit.

Now for whether Woods can win 16, 17, 18 and overtake Nicklaus's record. What is Woods now 43 and Nicklaus was 46 when he won his last one.

I think Woods winning again has really inspired Serena, despite her appalling outburst last year.
 
For what its worth, Woods is my pick for GOAT but I do think Jones and Hogan have strong arguments themselves, Nicklaus too but less so. I had just seen a bunch of greatest sporting comeback ever in the immediate aftermath which is a bit much, I normally hate to be that guy but I'm too well read in golf history not to be here!

T Woods could win more majors this year, he's won before at Pebble and Bethpage where the other US majors are.
 
I wish I was kidding but woods is apparently about to be given the presidential medal of freedom
 
Im no expert far from it, but to my untrained eye its down to woods or nicklaus. I dont know enough about bobby jones other than he had an incredible 13 majors out of 20 at one stage which is unbelievable and snead who has 82 pga wins, hogan is up there too and overcame phenomenal odds...But the reason its tiger or jack is 1) The most majors and 2) tiger has 2nd most tour wins and jack is 3rd...The stats alone elevate them above all else imo...Though if theres a counter argument Id be happy to hear it. Id also add tiger I think still has the lowest or joint lowest masters 4 round total and the biggest winning margins at the us open and I think the open too
 
I'll outline the arguments they all have, due to the eras it's not as easy to compare based purely off wins, Jones for example played far less tournaments due to his amateur status.

1) Tiger Woods - revolutionised the game, dominated in an OK era of golf but weaker than Hogan's or Nicklaus', he is the "winningist" golfer of all time, has the 2nd most major championships and is the only player in the modern major era to hold them all at once in 2000-01. (he has 41 European Tour wins too, included are his majors)

2) Bobby Jones - The best amateur of all time, only one has won a major since Jones, the only player to win a grand slam, (all majors in one year but this was when the US and British Amateurs were majors) I can't remember the exact stat but in an era where the majority of golf was match play he didn't lose to the same player twice for the last decade of his career or something like that.

3) Ben Hogan - The best iron player of all time, won his 9 majors in 6 playing years in a strong era with the car crash in between and he only played the Open once as he did not like to travel and the PGA three times, he didn't have the opportunity to compete for the Grand Slam in 1953 as the PGA clashed with the Open. Car Crash + WWII harmed his ability to win more.

4) Jack Nicklaus - The best major player of all time beating other all time greats in Watson, Palmer, Player, Ballesteros etc... I probably don't know as much about him as his era isn't as well written about/I didn't live through it which may be the reason I don't quite rate him as highly.

I've ordered that as to how I'd rate them, if Tiger can catch/overtake Nicklaus in the major race he's the undisputed.
 
Any worst than the likes of
Springsteen, Jordan, Babe Ruth, DeGeneres and Streisand?
Not worse... but usually it's given as a victory lap award at the end of the career.

Giving it cause he one this tournament is a little odd.
 
Oldest master winner TBF.
Prob one of the biggest wins in modern golf.

Granted the adultery and bumping with pornstars aspect is the icing on the cake for mr Pres.
 
Reed copping it on social media for his "yeah Buddy" when he put the Green Jacket on Tiger and no handshake. Although I understand there was one in front of the fans later on when they recreated the green jacket moment.
 
Oldest master winner TBF.
Prob one of the biggest wins in modern golf.

Granted the adultery and bumping with pornstars aspect is the icing on the cake for mr Pres.
Nicklaus won it at 46.

It's Trump trying to make it about himself, it's not undeserved but tasteless imo.
 
Anyone punting on the PGA?

I'd avoid Rory like the plague, his driving and wedge play always make him a contender while his putting is serviceable but iron play will win this tournament and I don't think he has it.
Tiger hasn't played since the masters and accuracy with the driver is key here, he could definitely do it but I don't think he's great value.
Koepka is who I'm leaning to, he's dominated US major courses lately and seems to peak at majors.
DJ can't putt, has never really been able to, if he has a good week he has a chance though and putting is where this course can give you a bit back.
Don't think Rose quite has the length and accuracy.
Finau could do it on a great week.
Day too.
Fowler will never win a major...
Spieth is playing like a Web.com tour player.

I have a fiver in my account. I'll either go for Koepka outright or split it between him and Day outright.
 

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