RateItAll: The Opinion Network

this thread was started 9 years ago, so many of the posters would offer different comments now. it's pretty obvious that tiger is the greatest golfer ever. his wins and majors are only part of the story. like muhammad ali, he's risen to the challenge when everyone has written him off...especially those who wondered what he was smoking when he kept saying 'i'm close, really close', when everyone wanted to know what was wrong with his swing in the early hank haney years. to those who say he doesn't have the competition of the other greats i agree with the last poster on this thread --- the talent now exceeds the talent of those times by a mile. that there are so few other multiple major winners just means that the talent pool is so much deeper now than it was in the day (especially internationally), and it's anybody's tournament. back in the day, golf was a lame spectator sport, appealing mostly to the u.s. and european country club types and just a step above bowling in popularity. arnie and later jack and tom watson increased the audience in the u.s., and others like seve, faldo, and norman expanded the international audience afterward, but tiger made it a worldwide phenomenon appealing to all people. most of the great golfers before would have wilted under the public exposure and pressure golf has now when the number 1 golfer in the world is playing.

Tiger Woods like most of you say is the best for his age hands down but the players on tour even the long time veterans fear Tiger. We a talking about a force never before seen in golf. Tiger is great Hall of Fame in rookie year type player no question..that being said, Tiger's Competition is no where even close until 3 or 4 years ago none of his best competition had even won majors..Phil Mickelson:0 now 3, David Duval:1.., Sergio:0.... Jack Nicklaus on the other hand had players like Gary Player:9, Arnold Palmer:7, Seve Ballesteros:5, Lee Trevino:6,the list is pretty long so lets wait on this statement deeming tiger the greatest ever...

Goldenbear, you hit it pretty square. Where is Tiger's Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Billy Casper, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson or (even) Julius Boros? The only contemporary Jack never beat head-to-head on Sunday was Lee Trevino. Lee got on tour when he was twenty-seven. By that time, Jack was only playing in Majors and tournaments he really liked.

Tiger Woods has played against the weakest competion in the modern history of golf. Most of his wins have been the result of the serial chokers who take up space on the PGA tour handing him the tourmament. (how many Masters did Jack Nicklaus win with bogeys on the last two holes?) As Johnny Miller once put it "Tiger has gotten more gifts on Sunday than any golfer history". How can you put Tiger in the same league with Hogan and Jones when his only serious challenge in a major championship came from the winless Bob May?

Tiger is the best at his age and the amount of years he's been a professional.He's done more in less than ten years than most have done in a lifetime, and compared to Nicklaus' first 9-10 yrs. Woods is ahead. Overall, he may be second to Nickalus, but let's give Mr. Woods time.

How many cuts did Nicklaus (who btw is the greatest golf champion of all time...but no longer the greatest player of all time) Tiger has been around for 9 years...how many cuts did he miss? like 4? 3?

The best golfer right now and will continue to be!!

He must be near the top of the list...

Should be ranked #2 all-time, already.

Golf is one sport that has been dominated by white guys for a long time and a long comes Tiger and just tears it up. This guy did not just cross racial barriers he destroyed them. A role model for every ethnic background.

I would drop Tiger down a couple of places. As his tally and legend continues to grow he will climb the ladder.

Ranked to high at this time!

In a slump, but clearly golf's most dominant player ever.

This is a rating of his career to date. He has the potential of surpassing others or falling back to mere Greatness.

Golfers have long careers. Can't judge him on an all-time list with the likes of Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Let's see if he can ever catch Jack. Until then, he's second best.

Just the Best golfer of all time! People who are racist or don't like golf or personalities should not rate the players. Rate the players on their abilities and skill.

Put this guy back in the 1970s, where there were many men who won majors, and he is slightly above average. The only thing I see in his game that differentiates him from anyone else is the "UNBELIEVABLLY LUCKY" breaks that the guy gets. If you pay attention to what commentators say often they can be heard saying things like: "Woods drives deep into trouble but wait a minute his ball hit the cart path and what was a terrible lie turns out to be an excellent break." If you take note, you will see how often this happens for Woods. Therefore, an extremely overrated player.

Tiger is the best.

He's going to beat Nicklaus' records and make such short work of it. No one will ever break his records. Unless his son/daughter decides to play too. The Joe Montana of Golf. I'm not worthy to witness his magic.

Tiber Woods is THE greatest golfer in the history of the game. hey oodie on the top, you are the dumbest kid in the world, and you deserve to die. Tiger rules bottom line. SUBMIT

not just tiger but all golf....lets get real people....thats what working people want to do play a game where you hit a tiny ball with a club then walk after it then play hide and seek with that little ball....nothing against the people who golf..its your life..but for busy working people ..its to time consuming.maybe by the time i retire ..i will be able to join the great rush to the green .but as for now ..to Lame...

#11 Thats outrageous should be in top 3 at least holder of all 4 slams in the modern era at one time Nobody else came close to that ahead on this list. Only Nicklaus & Player won all 4 majors and not at once Tiger is the best!

Tiger Woods is the #1 Golfer of All time people! Don't you get it! Some of you racist people don't like him, but it is a shame he isn't in the top 2 w/ Jack

Someone that is this dominant has to be rated high. Even Jack Nicholas in his prime wasn't this dominating.

Tiger does things that no one in history has ever been able to do. Anyone who would rate him less than 5 is a fool.

I don't like Tiger Woods. It's not because he's young, wealthy, or even b/c of race(b/c that's STUPID!!). I dont like him b/c he is the poster boy for what i consider to be THE Stupidest "sport" on the planet. Thanks to Tiger Woods, elitist golf courses are no over run by thick necked frat boys who think they're gonna win the Masters. Makes me sick to think of these date rapists glad handind w/their rich forefathers.

The Gretest golf player ever!!!!!

The greatest of all time and how old is he again! No-one was ever that good at his age! Imagine how good he'll be when he's 40 or even 50! Mind-blowing!!!!!!

Research the facts people based on age, number of years in the league, and last but not least WINS!!!!

Wow, imagine only being 24 or 25 and already considered one of the greatest ever in your field. Tiger has certainly proven that he is deserving of all the accolades and has already secured his place in history. All of the other all-time greats had weaknesses. Tiger, on the other hand, is strong in every aspect of his game. No one hits it harder and longer. He is creative with his irons around the green. He can putt. And, he is as strong mentally as any athlete in the world. Woods is one of those athletes which you will be able to tell your grandchildren about.

Tiger Woods is just the best player of all time

For some reason Tiger got a higher score on this list than on the one for current players-- which is stupid. On this list he only gets a 4-- still too soon for a five-- but well on his way.