The Skyliner

Issue date: 4/12/06 Section: Sports

This weekend the PGA tour had the first of four majors, and arguably the biggest, of their season. Now that the Masters is over, the PGA tour is in full swing. And for those fashion buffs out there, Phil Mickelson has a new green blazer added to his wardrobe, this being his second in three years. With this win, Phil has now moved into second in the world rankings.

By now you can see where I'm going with this and if you can't then here are a few clues: He's the number one player in the world, he's the name and face of golf today and he is the last person anyone wants to go head-to-head with in a play-off hole, just ask Chris Dimarco. Now that I've made it completely obvious where I'm going with this I'm just going to ask the infamous question. Is Tiger Woods truly the number one player in the world? And if so how far above the rest in he?

Tiger won two majors last year along with several other PGA tour events. He's won two events so far this year. These aren't inhuman stats nor do they look much different than second place Phil Mickelson. The world rankings are a score that is made up of wins, average finish, and other physical stats. The things that set Tiger apart are not the things that are taken into consideration when formulating the world rankings. Similar are the reasons that Michael Jordan is considered the greatest basketball player ever, it wasn't that his physical abilities or even his stats were so untouchable, but his mental approach and his emotional balance on the field of play set him apart from all others.
How many golfers can bring their "C" game and still compete with the "best of the rest" when they're on their "A" games?

How many golfers finish tied for third in the Masters and say it's one of their poorest performances? How many golfers can hit their tee shot in the woods and still have the upper hand on the hole? How many golfers can be behind going into the final round and still be the favorite to win? How many golfers can strike fear in their fellow players by just being there? And finally, how many golfers always have the largest gallery on the course no matter what city or country? Only one and that's Tiger.

As long as Tiger is playing, the only ranking that will be assured is the number one, everyone else will be competing for second. Now, he may drop from his throne from time to time, but he'll always bounce right back. In no other sport are the odds better to take one team or in this case one player over the field week in and week out.

With all of these reasons being good arguments for Tiger's legitimacy as the number one player in the world you may still have doubt so I will leave you with this to think about: If not Tiger, then who?

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