Is Tiger the Best Closer Ever??

[Xt1ncT]

I would have to say yes.

12 from 12 when leading or tied for the lead in majors. He's won all bar 3 of the tournaments he has led in the final round (I think that's correct, correct me if I'm wrong please).

To me that equates to him being the best closer in golf history...anyone else??

[Konrad]

Yes, he is.

I swear he could be playing bad, and just because he's tied for the lead, he'd win. You could remove half his fingers and he'd win leading a major...

[ezmoney5150]

Has anyone else won 12 out of 12 after leading at the end of 54????? I don't think so.

I'll give credit where credit is due.

[muskegman]

This questing borders on silly because there is no doubt Tiger is the best closer ever. He's a major machine.

[Rafcin]

is pope catholic?

[Mennon]

Remember a few years ago when the pasta dinner he had on the Saturday night poisoned him? I'm not sure which tournament it was, maybe someone can help me, but he spent all the last round sitting on his bag and heaving his guts up, and still won comfortably. Has it ever been the case that when a certain player is leading a tournament, the pressure falls on the rest of the field? Nicklaus made others choke and snuck upbehind them, Tiger just takes the lead and the rest of the field know they have to make birdies and fast.

[Thrash13]

This questing borders on silly because there is no doubt Tiger is the best closer ever. He's a major machine.

Yeah, this question isn't needed. Tiger is beyond the shadow of a doubt the best closer in the history of golf. He could actually be considered the best closer in the history of any sport, and he is only 30 years old for crying out loud.

I just wish there was a Roger Federer-type golfer to challenge Tiger. Federer and Tiger are easily the two most dominant athletes in the world today. Just for those who don't know, Roger Federer plays tennis.

[Puttin4Bird]

Simply put, yes Tiger Woods is the best closer in the history of golf and perhaps the best closer in the history of sports or even the best closer in the history of the world. Deals, sales, insurance, delivery you name it.

I can't wait til the day we get to see Tiger start a final round of a major maybe 2 or 3 behind and watch him have to play catch up when someone else is playing well in front of him.

[iacas]

I just wish there was a Roger Federer-type golfer to challenge Tiger. Federer and Tiger are easily the two most dominant athletes in the world today.

One big difference (and I don't follow tennis closely, but I'm pretty sure this is right): how long has Federer been on top of his sport? How long has Tiger (arguably 10 years with a few short breaks - and there's no such thing as "swing changes" in tennis). What's Federer's record in the majors? His win %?

I'm asking because I don't know, not to drive a point home. Though I do think the answers will make a point.

[Baynative]

I can't wait til the day we get to see Tiger start a final round of a major maybe 2 or 3 behind and watch him have to play catch up when someone else is playing well in front of him.

Tiger has an intimidation quality beyond that of anyone before him. Lanny Wadkins pointed out yesterday that others had started their day by going into red numbers, but as soon as Tiger did the same it forced them to try to do things they wouldn't normally do or play shots beyond their ability to keep posting red.

I think the same will happen when someone is a couple of strokes ahead of him and he gets a couple of big roars. They will try to play above their zone to keep their cushion - that's when trouble happens. Wasn't it the last Masters when Tiger was several strokes back, three putted three times in the final round and STILL almost caught Mickelson and DiMarco?

[Madriver]

No according to Dave Pelz...Phil is....

[Thrash13]

No according to Dave Pelz...Phil is....

*shakes head*

What would have happened if Luke Donald birdied the 18th hole on Saturday to finish at -15? Would Tiger have won #12? It's an interesting thought because he has never won a major unless he was tied for the lead or held it outright going into the final round. It's a very weird stat. It's crazy to think Tiger has never won one coming from behind and never lost one when in the lead.

[Madriver]

What would have happened if Luke Donald birdied the 18th hole on Saturday to finish at -15? Would Tiger have won #12?

...dunno....but Tiger did win. I do find it intersesting that Tiger has not won a major coming from behind. I don't know Jacks stats but I know he won the British coming from behind. I would like to see the stats of Jack coming from behind to win majors. Regardless, Tiger needs NO ONE telling us of his accomplishments or abilities, his record, and domination of golf and his fellow competitors is self evident. Sergio and Phil will caddie in his shadow as long as they keep telling us how lucky Tiger is or how great they are. Tiger needs no publisist....

[Baynative]

*shakes head*

Donald would still have crumbled like an aluminum can on Sunday. There is an educational process that has to be experienced in order to deal with Tiger's atmosphere on the final day. Donald was in a zone on Saturday, as many have been before him. But it ain't the same as a Sunday with everybody watching, and a gallery of thousands scrambling for position and then running down the fairway as soon as Tiger plays.

[allin]

Jack in the 86 Masters from way behind. Usually it seems when someone wins one from way behind it is because the leaders back up. Tiger almost never backs up when in the lead. That level of contol, and mental toughness, is what sets him apart as much or more than his physical talent.

[Thrash13]

If you would have told me Tiger would finish at -18, I would have guessed he would lost by one shot or win in a playoff. I thought someone in the last two or three groups would go low, and that wasn't the case at all. Adam Scott shot a 67, but he started seven shots back. I really thought Geoff Ogilvy would shoot a 65 or 66 on Sunday to get in the thick of it. I also thought Weir or Donald would go pretty low. None of the above happened, and Tiger cruised around the back nine.

[SubPar]

Three bogeys over four rounds and -18 on a course with a slope of 158 , as set up for the PGA Championship! (The course rating is normally 77.1 and it has a slope rating of 149).

It is hard to comprehend how good that is.

[Madriver]

really when you ask who is the best in golf at closing the deal...after Tiger it gets pretty thin. I thought the stat of theorehtical winners if Tiger didn't was pretty interesting. I think Phil had three while you had about ten others with 1 or 2 wins. So really after Tiger it's a toss up as to who can win. Does anyone even put Phil in the Tom Watson catogory?