Tiger Woods

[corporatejay]

well how about a pitcher in the American league in baseball who's got the fat gut like david wells? is that guy an athlete?

I think what people fail to realize is that maybe the reason tiger is so dominant is because he's in such tremendous shape.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by troutman

I'm amazed by Tiger, but I often wonder if he is an "athlete" in the traditional sense of the word. I know he works out and is in great shape. But to golf, you really aren't going to sweat or have your heart rate go up very much.

Is golf a sport? Or, is it more like darts and bowling (a game)? Discuss.

http://www.thegolfblog.com/2004/02/i...just-game.html

http://sports.espn.go.com/golf/news/story?id=2857006

The question was given serious analysis in a study conducted in 2004 by ESPN.com, and, for golf lovers, the process resulted in an unflattering answer. A panel of experts which included sports scientists from the U.S. Olympic Committee, academics who study the science of muscles and movement, sports journalists and former pro baseball and football player Brian Jordan was polled to identify the most demanding of 60 sports. Various activities were graded on 10 components of athleticism: endurance, strength, power, speed, agility, flexibility, nerve, durability, hand-eye coordination and analytic aptitude. Boxing ranked first, followed by hockey, football and basketball. Golf ranked -- take a deep breath -- 51st out of the 60 sports, just behind table tennis and horse racing. It did, however, place just ahead of cheerleading and roller-skating, with fishing finishing last. Those poor fish have no one to defend them. We do.

Jansen says. "The difference is, you can smoke a cigarette while doing it. But it is a game, and it's the hardest game I've ever played.''

It's like darts, bowling and billards.

[You Need a Thneed]

Originally Posted by corporatejay

well how about a pitcher in the American league in baseball who's got the fat gut like david wells? is that guy an athlete?

I think what people fail to realize is that maybe the reason tiger is so dominant is because he's in such tremendous shape.

And xactly how does his being in tremendous shape help his golf game? The only aspect in which it might make the slightest distance is driving distance. But, accuracy is much more important in golf. Accuracy isn't affected by how much muscles you have.

[Bobblehead]

If they had to carry their own clubs for 18 holes, then it may start becoming more like a sport.

Perhaps add weights to the bag based on how close to the cut line they were. Or add weight for each bogie or worse, take off weight for each eagle or better - make the weight dependant on the Stableford scoring method.

[HOOT]

The guy benches 300 lbs and the stress you put on your body when you swing it like him, its amazing he is not hurt all the time.

Golf is the hardest sport to play in the world! When you play it at the level as PGA it is a sport, when its a weekend hackfest with buddies you are not playing a sport but seeing who can hopefully break 90 after a case of beer.

I don't see how people don't classify it as a sport. What makes a golfer less of an athlete than a hockey goalie?

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

And xactly how does his being in tremendous shape help his golf game? The only aspect in which it might make the slightest distance is driving distance. But, accuracy is much more important in golf. Accuracy isn't affected by how much muscles you have.

No but if effects the spin, shot shapes and getting it out of tough situations like deep bunkers and grass. And because he is so strong he can controll his swing alot better than the "normal" golfer in those situations.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by HOOT

The guy benches 300 lbs and the stress you put on your body when you swing it like him, its amazing he is not hurt all the time.

Golf is the hardest sport to play in the world! When you play it at the level as PGA it is a sport, when its a weekend hackfest with buddies you are not playing a sport but seeing who can hopefully break 90 after a case of beer.

I don't see how people don't classify it as a sport. What makes a golfer less of an athlete than a hockey goalie?

I have to agree. These golfers have to be in great physical shape to be playing weekend after weekend. I've played 4 days in a row of golf a few times last summer. By the end of the fourth day my legs and arms were spent. I didn't ride a cart in those 4 rounds but instead walked and pulled a heavy bag behind me.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by You Need a Thneed

And xactly how does his being in tremendous shape help his golf game? The only aspect in which it might make the slightest distance is driving distance. But, accuracy is much more important in golf. Accuracy isn't affected by how much muscles you have.

You use arms for swinging a club. If they are tired or sore it does affect the whole swing in general. That's why they work out.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by HOOT

I don't see how people don't classify it as a sport. What makes a golfer less of an athlete than a hockey goalie?

Hmmmm, let's see. Could it be the difference between having a puck shot at your head at 100 mph while you are standing on ice skates, and a leisurely walk in a park while someone carries all your equipment?

[Bench Warmer]

Originally Posted by Dion

I have to agree. These golfers have to be in great physical shape to be playing weekend after weekend. I've played 4 days in a row of golf a few times last summer. By the end of the fourth day my legs and arms were spent. I didn't ride a cart in those 4 rounds but instead walked and pulled a heavy bag behind me.

You have to be in good shape to golf. Tiger had to play back to back days of 36 holes, plus three days of 18 prior to that and that is not easy. I golf 36 holes with a cart in in the same day and I'm totally bagged (although, I swing the club 25 times a round more than Tiger does). Tiger is an athlete, no question. Phil...well, sorta...

[Dion]

Originally Posted by Bench Warmer

You have to be in good shape to golf. Tiger had to play back to back days of 36 holes, plus three days of 18 prior to that and that is not easy. I golf 36 holes with a cart in in the same day and I'm totally bagged (although, I swing the club 25 times a round more than Tiger does). Tiger is an athlete, no question. Phil...well, sorta...

If your riding a cart for 36 holes that's not really a fair comparison.

[Dion]

Originally Posted by troutman

Hmmmm, let's see. Could it be the difference between having a puck shot at your head at 100 mph while you are standing on ice skates, and a leisurely walk in a park while someone carries all your equipment?

To be fair a golfer, outside any endorsements they may have, is paid on the basis of performance. Miss the the weekend cut and it's tough luck. A lot more than a leisurely walk in a park if you ask me.

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Bench Warmer

You have to be in good shape to golf. ...

Phil and Vijay are in good shape (the 2nd and 3rd best golfers)?

[troutman]

Originally Posted by Dion

To be fair a golfer, outside any endorsements they may have, is paid on the basis of performance. Miss the the weekend cut and it's tough luck. A lot more than a leisurely walk in a park if you ask me.

It might be stressful, but it is not strenuous.

[Traditional_Ale]

I don't think it really matters if Golf is a "sport" or not, but think of it like this:

When he is so rich and accomplished, how in the hell does he stay motivated to be so dominant for so long?

That ability to stay motivated to be the best, is what makes Tiger Woods one of the greatest athletes ever. Doesn't matter if Golf is a sport or not, or how much he works out.

Motivation.

[troutman]

Why does motivation make you an athlete? You could be motivated to be the best doctor, father, butcher, or chef.

[nfotiu]

Originally Posted by troutman

Hmmmm, let's see. Could it be the difference between having a puck shot at your head at 100 mph while you are standing on ice skates, and a leisurely walk in a park while someone carries all your equipment?

Huh, how is that a legitimate arguement?
Danger defines sport?

Serious question, which sport burns more calories played at a professional level? Hockey or golf? Even with a caddie, golfing 18 holes must burn about 1000-1200 calories or so? I would bet Eric Godard doesn't burn more than a couple hundred calories per hockey game. If a typicaly hockey player exercises for 15 minutes a game, how many calories would he burn? I think a more than fair estimate would be to compare it to running 6 minute miles for 15 minutes, which would be in the neighbourhood of 400-500 calories?
Tiger's match play week would have burned 6000-7200 calories on the course, or the equivalent of playing at least 12 nhl games in 5 days.

Does a game have to make you out of breath to be labelled a sport? It seems that golf requires every other element of sports. Learning how to use your wrists, torso, legs, etc to develop power in a golf swing is very similiar to developing power in a slap shot or baseball swing. A golf swing is an athletic skill. Couldn't a sport be defined as a contest of athletic skills?

Also, I call BS on the whole no one has the mental stamina to challenge Tiger. He is just better than everyone else by a margin that has never been seen before. When other players keep it tight for a while only to fade at the end, it is not because they choked, it is because they weren't good enough to keep up with them. When the sample size grows to 72 holes, the fluke that is small sample sizes that allowed the competitors to keep up with Tiger early goes away, and the guy who is way better than everyone else invariably wins.

Take Tiger out of the picture, no one is going to start shooting the 72 hole scores he routinely does at the same courses.

[HOOT]

Originally Posted by troutman

Hmmmm, let's see. Could it be the difference between having a puck shot at your head at 100 mph while you are standing on ice skates, and a leisurely walk in a park while someone carries all your equipment?

Do you golf much? Have you ever played 18 holes 4 days in a row? Carrying your own equipment or with a golf cart? If you have you would know that your body doens't feel like it just went for a "leisurely walk" but feels like every muscle and joint was under stress for 4 hours stiraght.

His condition is the reason he gets better as tournaments go on...I could gaurantee your rounds would get worse and wild as the days went on in the hot sun.

Maybe golf isn't as demanding as being a hockey player or football player but it is still very demanding on the body.

[corporatejay]

there's no need to compare golfing to hockey players, they are in far better shape and are much better "athletes".

But i will again use a pitcher. Tim Wakefield is a knuckleballer, his game is all based on spin and not power....is he an athlete?

[Dion]

Originally Posted by troutman

It might be stressful, but it is not strenuous.

Being an avid golfer that plays 3 days a week or more in the summer it is strenuous on the body. The wear and tear on ones shoulder is brutal. This fall i had some physical therapy on it. After a month of weekly sessions i was given some exercise programs to do to strengthen my shoulder and repair the damage done. This coming from a golfer that doesn't swing that hard. Imagine the stess on the shoulders of a pro golfer.

It's also not good on your back either. Some of the PGA's best golfers have suffered from back problems associted with the game