Tiger Woods winning streak can't touch Byron Nelson's
Tiger Woods’ streak is nowhere near as impressive as what Byron Nelson did. Nelson won 11 straight back in 1945 over the course of about five months.
Woods won five straight from the British Open through Deutsche Bank Championships, then lost in the first round of the HSBC Match Play before winning a PGA Tour event again.
Woods himself downplays his streak, yet there is a tendency to elevate today’s players over everyone else in history. Woods may indeed be the best player of all time. We’ll see. But, as far as winning streaks, Nelson’s is right up there with Joe DiMaggio’s 56-game hitting streak.
During his streak, Woods has taken off about six months. Nelson skipped exactly one tournament.
Now, if Woods actually breaks it, then we can talk.
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10 comments
Is it more of an accomplishment to have a winning streak over a long period of time or catch a hot streak over a short period of time?
Nelson's streak was accomplished during the World War II era against player depleted fields.
Additionally his victories came against considerably less overall quality of players.
The streak then and now is PGA tournaments. That does not include foreign tournaments, silly season golf, exhibitions or any non PGA tour event. That seems pretty clear.
Just as Tiger downplays the streak so did Nelson downplay his streak using some of the same points listed above.
Nelson's streak is justifiably and historically impressive.
Tiger’s streak in modern golf is second to none.
I think it is no longer a question of, "maybe Woods is the best player of all time". He is clearly the best player of all time - even if he never plays another round. Why can't everyone go ahead and admit that?
Chris
Comparisons between the ages, however, are very difficult if not impossible. Inevitably we like to make them, but so much is different about the game, the courses, the players, the equipment, etc. Woods wants to achieve 19 grand slam events to eclipse Nicklaus. The debate will rage even then when that is complete.
As far as who is the best player of all time? No contest: Woods
defended his streak by pointing out that
Hogan was in more than half the tournaments
he won that year.
The fields today are child's play. Every
Saturday leader can't shoot even par on Sunday. Don't think for a minute
Woods isn't aware of this.
When he reaches Nicklaus' mark in the majors, then we can have that discussion.
It's typical, though, in that many people have generational blinders on, and lack historical insight.
America's greatest moment. America
lost WW2.....just look around you. The
communists won.
===========
Elliot Kalb, author of, "Who's Better, Who's Best In Golf," would disagree, Tim. Listen here:
http://www.travelgolf.com/blogs/travelgolf.this.week/2006/06/25/ron_garl_s_great_wall_of_china_elliott_k
Tim--While I agree that many of us have generational blinders on, I usually see the bias coming from past generations. My father is still convinced that 5"11 Bob Cousy would have matched up well against 6"9 Magic Johnson. No amount of statistical data or just plain common sense will change his mind.
descendants control the US, Canada,
Europe, Australia and New Zealand.
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