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SPORTS Wednesday 24 January 2018

Column: Today’s best wonder what it was like to face Tiger

By DOUG FERGUSON played with him over the second when Woods won him? neck and neck. But he was
AP Golf Writer last few months have been Bay Hill by 11 shots. He also “My self-confidence and playing at his best for 10
HONOLULU (AP) — The glowing. While it’s doubtful was on the wrong end of self-belief would say, ‘Yes,’” years.”
question was as much rhe- that Woods — now 42 and an 8-and-7 outcome when Thomas said. Spieth, realizing there is no
torical as it was cynical. way of knowing because
Matt Kuchar was playing of how much the game has
alone on a slow Monday changed in 10 years, found
in Shanghai last fall, hold- his answer in numbers.
ing court on all things golf There are a lot of numbers
in between shots when when it comes to Tiger.
the topic turned to Tiger Spieth had his best year
Woods. Out of the game in 2015 when his five PGA
for nine months, Woods Tour victories included two
had just begun to post vid- majors. Woods had years
eo of his swing. that good or better in 2000,
Woods was still a week 2002, 2005 and 2006.
away from announcing he “You get out here and you
would return to competi- get caught up in the world
tion in the Bahamas after ranking, what you’re do-
recovering from a fourth ing compared with those
back surgery. around you,” Spieth said.
“Do you think guys today “It’s not until you look at
believe they could have data, or statistics, where
taken on Tiger at his best?” I’ve started to see, ‘Wow,
Kuchar asked. that was absolutely incred-
He didn’t offer an answer, ible.’ The win percentage is
perhaps knowing that just the most amazing stat of his
like comparing genera- career.”
tions, there are no answers, Until Woods had his first
only speculation. back surgery in April 2014,
Besides, what could any- In this Dec. 3, 2017, file photo, Tiger Woods lines up a putt on second hole during the final round his rate of winning on the
of the Hero World Challenge golf tournament at Albany Golf Club in Nassau, Bahamas. Woods
one say? makes his return to the PGA Tour this week at the Farmers Insurance Open. PGA Tour was 26 percent.
“You’d be stupid to say you Associated Press Spieth is the most reason-
couldn’t. You’d be doubt- able comparison because
ing yourself,” U.S. Open with eight surgeries behind Woods won his third Match Then he paused and be- of his age and the sched-
champion Brooks Koepka him — can ever get back Play title. gan to smile before adding ule he keeps. He already
said. “I watched it grow- to who he was on the golf “I’ve played with Tiger with a chuckle, “But every- has 11 wins and two majors
ing up. I knew exactly how course, it’s enough to won- when he was playing the thing I’ve watched and ev- at age 24.
good he was. I wish I could der how close he can get. best he’s ever played, and erything I’ve heard ... no.” His rate of winning is 9 per-
have played against him. Only then will today’s stars it was a real treat to see Thomas learned last year cent.
I think it would be cool to get an idea of how they it — although it wasn’t a that he didn’t need his “It’s absurd,” Spieth said.
compare yourself to it.” could fare. treat to be humiliated by absolute best stuff to win “What he was able to do
The question now is wheth- “Truth be told, I’d love to his dominance,” Cink said. tournaments. He’s not sure year in and year out ... I
er it’s too late to find out. have these young guys “I’ve also played with some anything but his best would don’t think it’s going to
Woods begins the real test that are dominating the of these younger guys. have worked against happen again.”
in his latest comeback this game have a piece — just They’re special players. I Woods. But to get just a glimpse of
week in the Farmers Insur- one year — of what we ex- would love for the game to Dustin Johnson, the No. 1 it, would that be asking too
ance Open at Torrey Pines, perienced,” Zach Johnson give us Tiger getting back player in the world, has 17 much?q
the public course along said. to where he was so we victories on the PGA Tour.
the Pacific bluffs that once Johnson is among 78 play- could see what he would Woods played in only one
served as his personal play- ers who have been runner- do against Justin Thomas, of those events, the 2010
ground. He won eight times up to Woods on the PGA Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spi- BMW Championship.
as a pro at Torrey Pines, in- Tour. He finished eight shots eth and Rory McIlroy. “If I’m playing my best?
cluding the 2008 U.S. Open. back in 2007 at the Tour “The golf world would get a Yeah, I’d take him,” John-
He looked healthy — and Championship. real kick out of it.” son said. “But over the
strong — in the Bahamas, Stewart Cink was intrigued Thomas, Dustin Johnson course of a season? For
when he tied for ninth by the question. and Spieth are the last nine years, 10 years in a
at the Hero World Chal- He competed against three players to be voted row? He kept that level up
lenge against an 18-man Woods his entire career PGA Tour player of the year. for 10 years. That’s very,
field. Scouting reports from and knows how difficult They are major champions. very sick. My best versus his
the elite in golf who have it could be. Cink tied for Could they have taken best, I think it’s going to be