The TIGER factor $$$

[Baynative]

I just stopped to view the career money leaders http://www.pgatour.com/stats/leaders/r/2006/110 and noticed how many of the top 100 and further back have risen to amazing fortunes since Tiger joined the tour. Not all household names excatly but certainly making a handsome living without driving to tournaments and sleeping in their station wagons.

What he brings to the tour in the way of star power is undeniable and certainly appreciated by his peers, I'm sure.

If a solid rival shows up and starts giving him some grief on the course we are liable to see Tiger's game go to another level. I can just imagine the viewership ( and subsequent purses) for a few showdowns like he had with Ernie at the Mercedes a few years back.

I just wonder if there's someone out there who is capable of fantastic shots under pressure, or if it will be a plodder/grinder who can putt lights out day after day.

[allin]

I don't really see anyone. But if I was going to define a player who could play with Tiger, Retief Goosen with a better short game or Chris Dimarco with 20 extra yards would be my choices, or maybe the original David Duval.

[Baynative]

I'll be watching the Q-School to see if any young guns look like they will pose a threat. Keep an eye on Ryan Moore. He played injured and still finished in the top 100 on the money list. After an unseccessful wrist surgery the pain is so great that he can't take the club back from the ball, so he lifts the club straight up toward his head to assume a baseball swing posture and then plays the shot from there.

With this odd swing adaptation and refusing to give up without finishing a complete season he had 5 top 12 finishes to close the year with over $1.2 MM.

I met a friend of his from prep tournaments last year and he said when Ryan was invited to the Masters after winning the US Amatuer he came home actually depressed after finishing T-7. He actually expected to beat the pros even though he had never seen agusta. --He has the heart of a lion.

[billpar]

Looking over the stats sheet, it seems Vijay Singh is benefitting the most in earnings and very consistent in his game too. As you said, a lot of non-household name players are making top dollar too.

[BASHERBAKER69]

Hello

yes they do seem to make awseome amounts of money on the PGA tour and play on courses that are not too difficult, except for the majors of course....some of the courses are true country club tracks, not too testing with trees but no real trouble...the courses on the European tour seem to be more difficult, but still, no real trouble and if you do find yourself in stuck for a moment you can speak to an official and get a free drop for some obscure reason

Id like to see more Americans playing on the European Tour...in a strange way it might help them to win the Ryder Cup again becasue they can get to know how the Euro players operate on the course more which helps in a matchplay situation..but what the Americans really need is an American like David Duval spitting blood again for his team....did you notice how subdued the players were in the 2006 Ryder Cup in Dublin?..there's a problem there from a European's point of view....it was almost as if they were'nt interesting in team competition and would have preferred to have been playing in an individual event on the US tour..not team players methinks!!!

BB69

[Young04]

I just stopped to view the career money leaders

Yeah, I forgot who it was, but some PGA tour pro basically thanked Tiger for making everyone rich.

That said, I don't think there is anyone on tour right now who can seriously give Tiger a challenge for world #1. i would argue that he's probably the best all around iron player to have ever lived (evidenced by the fact that he ranks #1 in GIR while being middle of the pack with driving accuracy, among others). he also has stellar stats on proximity to hole from <100 yards. combine all this with his undeniable ability to make clutch shots/putts when it counts...don't think anyone can touch him... guys like adam scott may have the raw ability (though his talents are still not fully refined yet) to possibly catch tiger, but i question whether adam has the mental toughness upstairs.

[Baynative]

guys like adam scott may have the raw ability (though his talents are still not fully refined yet) to possibly catch tiger, .

I think when a threat to Tiger's dominance shows up it might be a steady down the middle guy like Fred Funk or Cory Pavin who has a stellar short game and can putt lights out.

Of course, when a threat appears on the horizon Tiger seems to take it a little higher.

[Upright]

I think you guys are right. It takes mental toughness. "Hunger", as it were. The motivation has to come from within. I find it hard to believe anyone else can be but so driven, given that they can finish 10th or worse all year and be a multi-millionaire. Anyone not born rich can't help but be content with that kind of success. Just look to Phil for a perfect example.