Opinion & Analysis
Jordan Spieth: Great, but young Tiger he is not
Standing on the eighth tee at Augusta National on Sunday, Jordan Spieth was the Masters leader by two strokes. It was looking very much like the 20-year-old could supplant Tiger Woods as the youngest winner of the tournament Bobby Jones started in 1934.
Of course, by the time Spieth made it to the 10th tee, he trailed leader Bubba Watson by two, thanks to a pair of bogeys, and eventually finished tied for second. And while he didn’t mount a back-nine charge, Spieth didn’t fold either, stringing together eight pars and just one bogey over the final nine holes.
In basketball, fans and talking heads have been engaged in the project of finding “the next Jordan” since late in His Airness’ career. In the world of golf, panic is emerging about the PGA Tour P.T.W., or Post Tiger Woods, and the quest for his successor is on in full.
It seems logical, given Jordan Spieth’s near-miss at the Masters, to ask if the young Texan might be the heir apparent to Mr. Woods. Of course, Rory McIlroy, just 24 and twice a major champion, will surely take issue with his exclusion from this discussion.
Let’s tap the brakes a bit.
Just as there hasn’t been a next Jordan, there’s even less likely to be a next Tiger Woods. Do you remember the climate 20 years ago? When Tiger came to the Masters as an amateur in 1996 and said he expected to win, we believed him!
Indeed, Woods set the golfing world on fire as a junior and arrived into a climate of expectation and enthusiasm that’s unlikely to ever be seen again. The steady march, which began when young Tiger hopped from his high chair and imitated his father’s swing, with its resultant fervor and expectation that (as Arnold Palmer himself said) the young golfer from Cypress, Calif., would one day have more majors than Nicklaus and Palmer combined, is not going to be repeated.
We aren’t likely to have another father like Earl Woods, who anointed his son as a messianic figure not only in golf but in the world at large. Nor are we likely to have a captive audience that, again, believes this is somehow possible. We are never again going to see such foolishness as the famous Sports Illustrated “The Chosen One” article nor the early Tiger Woods Nike commercials.
However, as we prepare for the P.T.W. era, acknowledging that Woods’ slow decline began in late 2009 and could continue for the next 10 years (depending on what his battered body allows him to do), Jordan Spieth has shone as brightly as any golfer, save for Rory McIlroy at the 2011 Masters (for three rounds at least) and the 2011 U.S. Open.
The essential point of distinction between Spieth and McIlroy is that the latter fired a final-round 80 after entering Sunday with the lead at Augusta. Spieth, for his part, carded an even-par 72 but was beaten by Bubba Watson. Despite untidiness early, Spieth didn’t shoot himself in the foot Sunday. In 2011, McIlroy committed a gruesome act of seppuku.
Does this mean Spieth is ready to hop in Tiger Woods’ throne? Not exactly. However, he (along with McIlroy) seems due to succeed El Tigre as the face of the PGA Tour. Neither golfer can have the transcendent faculty or crossover appeal of Woods, but that isn’t their fault.
Sticking to what can be quantified, let’s look at a few points of comparison between the two prior to their first seasons on Tour and between their maiden campaigns.
Comparing amateur records
Tiger Woods’ amateur record will likely never be equaled. Although Jordan Spieth was a very good amateur and became the only golfer since Woods to win the U.S. Junior Amateur twice and sat atop the Rolex rankings as the best amateur in the world, these achievements are a far cry from what Tiger was able to do as an amateur.
Woods won three consecutive U.S. Junior Amateurs and three consecutive U.S. Amateurs.
Think about that for a second.
There’s absolutely no comparison between what Spieth did as an amateur and what Tiger did. The chasm between Woods and the next-best amateur golfer in recent memory is even larger than the one between him and any current PGA Tour player.
Comparing first seasons
Last year, in his first season on Tour, Jordan Spieth competed in 23 events. He made 18 cuts, won once and finished second three times. He notched nine top-10 finishes as well. In 1997, Tiger’s first full season on Tour, he competed in 21 events. Woods made 20 cuts, winning the Masters and three other tournaments. Like Spieth, he finished inside the top 10 nine times.
Another important detail regarding their respective first PGA Tour campaigns: At the beginning of the 1997 season, Woods was 21. Spieth, for his part, was 19. While this doesn’t level the playing field, it is a significant credit to what Jordan Spieth has been able to accomplish on Tour before he can legally sit at the bar in the grill room of the venues at which he plays and order a beer.
Tiger Woods’ Masters win and the manner in which he won are significant points of differentiation between the golfers, as are the multiple victories. However, the fact that Woods was two years older than Jordan Spieth during his first full season as a PGA Tour member is the item that tips the scales in Spieth’s favor more than any other.
Also, Spieth finished second in his first Masters appearance. Woods, who competed as an amateur for the first time at Augusta in 1995, tied for 41st. This is hugely significant.
Comparing key stats
Let’s see what the numbers indicate — namely, Spieth’s and Woods’ stats from their respective freshman campaigns.
Obviously, significantly fewer stats were kept in the pre-ShotLink era. Still, the first point of comparison is that Tiger was nearly five yards longer off the tee in his rookie season — 294.8 yards vs. Spieth’s 289.4 — while using a steel-shafted Titleist driver with a head that seems like it’s a quarter of the size of drivers in play today.
Spieth was also less accurate off the tee last year than Woods was in 1997. However, as is the trend, Woods was 80th on Tour in 1997, hitting 68.6 percent of fairways. Spieth placed 18th last year, even though he only found the short grass 67.8 percent of the time.
There’s a healthy gap between Woods of ’97 and Spieth of ’13 in the greens-in-regulation department as well. Tiger hit 70.3 percent of all greens in regulation, whereas Spieth hit 66.9.
Looking at the two golfers’ scoring averages: Woods’ average for 1997 was 69.1, while Spieth’s last season was 69.6. That’s a sizable difference over the four rounds of a golf tournament.
Still, the golfing world is right to be excited about Jordan Spieth. Beyond the stats above or the fact that he won a PGA Tour event at 19 years of age, the resolve he showed down the stretch at Augusta in his first appearance (even while being visibly frustrated), the way he said all the right things in interviews, and his humility and work ethic should pay serious dividends in the near future.
This quote from the young golfer after his final round stood out: “I’m hungry. That was fun, but at the same time it hurts right now. I didn’t come out on top, but I can take a lot of positives away.”
Spieth wants to win. He enjoys the spotlight. He hates to lose. He keeps perspective and stays positive. The quote sounds like something another young Tour star might have said nearly 20 years ago.
As the editor-in-chief of this website and an observer of the GolfWRX forums and other online golf equipment discourse for over a decade, I’m pretty well attuned to the grunts and grumbles of a significant portion of the golf equipment purchasing spectrum. And before you accuse me of lording above all in some digital ivory tower, I’d like to offer that I worked at golf courses (public and private) for years prior to picking up my pen, so I’m well-versed in the non-degenerate golf equipment consumers out there. I touched (green)grass (retail)!
Complaints about the ills of and related to the OEMs usually follow some version of: Product cycles are too short for real innovation, tour equipment isn’t the same as retail (which is largely not true, by the way), too much is invested in marketing and not enough in R&D, top staffer X hasn’t even put the new driver in play, so it’s obviously not superior to the previous generation, prices are too high, and on and on.
Without digging into the merits of any of these claims, which I believe are mostly red herrings, I’d like to bring into view of our rangefinder what I believe to be the two primary difficulties golf equipment companies face.
One: As Terry Koehler, back when he was the CEO of Ben Hogan, told me at the time of the Ft Worth irons launch, if you can’t regularly hit the golf ball in a coin-sized area in the middle of the face, there’s not a ton that iron technology can do for you. Now, this is less true now with respect to irons than when he said it, and is less and less true by degrees as the clubs get larger (utilities, fairways, hybrids, drivers), but there remains a great deal of golf equipment truth in that statement. Think about it — which is to say, in TL;DR fashion, get lessons from a qualified instructor who will teach you about the fundamentals of repeatable impact and how the golf swing works, not just offer band-aid fixes. If you can’t repeatably deliver the golf club to the golf ball in something resembling the manner it was designed for, how can you expect to be getting the most out of the club — put another way, the maximum value from your investment?
Similarly, game improvement equipment can only improve your game if you game it. In other words, get fit for the clubs you ought to be playing rather than filling the bag with the ones you wish you could hit or used to be able to hit. Of course, don’t do this if you don’t care about performance and just want to hit a forged blade while playing off an 18 handicap. That’s absolutely fine. There were plenty of members in clubs back in the day playing Hogan Apex or Mizuno MP-32 irons who had no business doing so from a ballstriking standpoint, but they enjoyed their look, feel, and complementary qualities to their Gatsby hats and cashmere sweaters. Do what brings you a measure of joy in this maddening game.
Now, the second issue. This is not a plea for non-conforming equipment; rather, it is a statement of fact. USGA/R&A limits on every facet of golf equipment are detrimental to golf equipment manufacturers. Sure, you know this, but do you think about it as it applies to almost every element of equipment? A 500cc driver would be inherently more forgiving than a 460cc, as one with a COR measurement in excess of 0.83. 50-inch shafts. Box grooves. And on and on.
Would fewer regulations be objectively bad for the game? Would this erode its soul? Fortunately, that’s beside the point of this exercise, which is merely to point out the facts. The fact, in this case, is that equipment restrictions and regulations are the slaughterbench of an abundance of innovation in the golf equipment space. Is this for the best? Well, now I’ve asked the question twice and might as well give a partial response, I guess my answer to that would be, “It depends on what type of golf you’re playing and who you’re playing it with.”
For my part, I don’t mind embarrassing myself with vintage blades and persimmons chasing after the quasi-spiritual elevation of a well-struck shot, but that’s just me. Plenty of folks don’t give a damn if their grooves are conforming. Plenty of folks think the folks in Liberty Corner ought to add a prison to the museum for such offences. And those are just a few of the considerations for the amateur game — which doesn’t get inside the gallery ropes of the pro game…
Different strokes in the game of golf, in my humble opinion.
Anyway, I believe equipment company engineers are genuinely trying to build better equipment year over year. The marketing departments are trying to find ways to make this equipment appeal to the broadest segment of the golf market possible. All of this against (1) the backdrop of — at least for now — firm product cycles. And golfers who, with their ~15 average handicap (men), for the most part, are not striping the golf ball like Tiger in his prime and seem to have less and less time year over year to practice and improve. (2) Regulations that massively restrict what they’re able to do…
That’s the landscape as I see it and the real headwinds for golf equipment companies. No doubt, there’s more I haven’t considered, but I think the previous is a better — and better faith — point of departure when formulating any serious commentary on the golf equipment world than some of the more cynical and conspiratorial takes I hear.
Agree? Disagree? Think I’m worthy of an Adam Hadwin-esque security guard tackle? Let me know in the comments.
@golfoncbs The infamous Adam Hadwin tackle ? #golf #fyp #canada #pgatour #adamhadwin ? Ghibli-style nostalgic waltz – MaSssuguMusic
Episode #16 brings us Cliff McKinney. Cliff is the founder of Old Charlie Golf Club, a new club, and concept, to be built in the Florida panhandle. The model is quite interesting and aims to make great, private golf more affordable. We hope you enjoy the show!
Last week, I came across a reel from BBC Sport on Instagram featuring Scottie Scheffler speaking to the media ahead of The Open at Royal Portrush. In it, he shared that he often wonders what the point is of wanting to win tournaments so badly — especially when he knows, deep down, that it doesn’t lead to a truly fulfilling life.
View this post on Instagram
“Is it great to be able to win tournaments and to accomplish the things I have in the game of golf? Yeah, it brings tears to my eyes just to think about it because I’ve literally worked my entire life to be good at this sport,” Scheffler said. “To have that kind of sense of accomplishment, I think, is a pretty cool feeling. To get to live out your dreams is very special, but at the end of the day, I’m not out here to inspire the next generation of golfers. I’m not out here to inspire someone to be the best player in the world, because what’s the point?”
Ironically — or perhaps perfectly — he went on to win the claret jug.
That question — what’s the point of winning? — cuts straight to the heart of the human journey.
As someone who’s spent over two decades in the trenches of professional golf, and in deep study of the mental, emotional, and spiritual dimensions of the game, I see Scottie’s inner conflict as a sign of soul evolution in motion.
I came to golf late. I wasn’t a junior standout or college All-American. At 27, I left a steady corporate job to see if I could be on the PGA Tour starting as a 14-handicap, average-length hitter. Over the years, my journey has been defined less by trophies and more by the relentless effort to navigate the deeply inequitable and gated system of professional golf — an effort that ultimately turned inward and helped me evolve as both a golfer and a person.
One perspective that helped me make sense of this inner dissonance around competition and our culture’s tendency to overvalue winning is the idea of soul evolution.
The University of Virginia’s Division of Perceptual Studies has done extensive research on reincarnation, and Netflix’s Surviving Death (Episode 6) explores the topic, too. Whether you take it literally or metaphorically, the idea that we’re on a long arc of growth — from beginner to sage elder — offers a profound perspective.
If you accept the premise literally, then terms like “young soul” and “old soul” start to hold meaning. However, even if we set the word “soul” aside, it’s easy to see that different levels of life experience produce different worldviews.
Newer souls — or people in earlier stages of their development — may be curious and kind but still lack discernment or depth. There is a naivety, and they don’t yet question as deeply, tending to see things in black and white, partly because certainty feels safer than confronting the unknown.
As we gain more experience, we begin to experiment. We test limits. We chase extreme external goals — sometimes at the expense of health, relationships, or inner peace — still operating from hunger, ambition, and the fragility of the ego.
It’s a necessary stage, but often a turbulent and unfulfilling one.
David Duval fell off the map after reaching World No. 1. Bubba Watson had his own “Is this it?” moment with his caddie, Ted Scott, after winning the Masters.
In Aaron Rodgers: Enigma, reflecting on his 2011 Super Bowl win, Rodgers said:
“Now I’ve accomplished the only thing that I really, really wanted to do in my life. Now what? I was like, ‘Did I aim at the wrong thing? Did I spend too much time thinking about stuff that ultimately doesn’t give you true happiness?’”
Jim Carrey once said, “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.”
Eventually, though, something shifts.
We begin to see in shades of gray. Winning, dominating, accumulating—these pursuits lose their shine. The rewards feel more fleeting. Living in a constant state of fight-or-flight makes us feel alive, yes, but not happy and joyful.
Compassion begins to replace ambition. Love, presence, and gratitude become more fulfilling than status, profits, or trophies. We crave balance over burnout. Collaboration over competition. Meaning over metrics.
Interestingly, if we zoom out, we can apply this same model to nations and cultures. Countries, like people, have a collective “soul stage” made up of the individuals within them.
Take the United States, for example. I’d place it as a mid-level soul: highly competitive and deeply driven, but still learning emotional maturity. Still uncomfortable with nuance. Still believing that more is always better. Despite its global wins, the U.S. currently ranks just 23rd in happiness (as of 2025). You might liken it to a gifted teenager—bold, eager, and ambitious, but angsty and still figuring out how to live well and in balance. As much as a parent wants to protect their child, sometimes the child has to make their own mistakes to truly grow.
So when Scottie Scheffler wonders what the point of winning is, I don’t see someone losing strength.
I see someone evolving.
He’s beginning to look beyond the leaderboard. Beyond metrics of success that carry a lower vibration. And yet, in a poetic twist, Scheffler did go on to win The Open. But that only reinforces the point: even at the pinnacle, the question remains. And if more of us in the golf and sports world — and in U.S. culture at large — started asking similar questions, we might discover that the more meaningful trophy isn’t about accumulating or beating others at all costs.
It’s about awakening and evolving to something more than winning could ever promise.
‘Why would anybody want to change that swing?’ – Brandel Chamblee says PGA Tour star was wrong to change his swing
‘The stupidest freaking thing I’ve ever heard’ – Billy Horschel slams Open idea suggested by Padraig Harrington
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Golfer proudly posts photo of ball mark on iron, receives immediate roasting
WITB Time Machine: Matthew Wolff’s winning WITB, 2019 3M Open
Oakmont Country Club bans Wyndham Clark over locker incident; Reveals specific conditions to earn reinstatement
Adam Scott puts Callaway blades in the bag at Wyndham Championship
Report: LIV star fires caddie and coach in shock shake up
Rickie Fowler makes equipment change to ‘something that’s a little easier on the body’
The championship formula: How 3 key stats separate winners from the field
Peter Malnati WITB 2025 (August)
Peter Malnati what’s in the bag accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. More photos from the event here. Driver: Titleist...
Cameron Young’s winning WITB: 2025 Wyndham Championship
Driver: Titleist GT2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting) Buy here. Shaft: Mitsubishi Tensei 1K Pro Orange 70 TX 3-wood: Titleist...
Camilo Villegas WITB 2025 (July)
Camilo Villegas WITB accurate as of the Wyndham Championship. Villegas was undecided on a 3-wood when we shot his bag. ...
WITB Time Machine: Brandt Snedeker’s winning WITB, 2018 Wyndham Championship
Brandt Snedeker fired a final-round 65 at the 2018 Wyndham Championship to outlast Webb Simpson and C.T. Pan. His 5-under...
Mike K.
Jul 13, 2015 at 1:21 am
Nicklaus remains the greatest ever. 18>14 by a long shot. When one also considers Nicklaus’s far greater number of runner-up finishes in majors; the much better competition from top opponents Jack faced throughout his career; and the fact that Nicklaus finished in the top ten at Augusta at age 58, with only one good hip, one can see that it’s really not much contest. Then, when one takes into account Nicklaus’s far superior on-course demeanor AND vastly superior conduct in his private life – well, the discussion’s over, isn’t it?
So, while Woods might yet have another major, or even two, in him, Nicklaus is the one to whom Spieth, and all others, will be compared. So everyone check back in about thirty years, when it will actually make sense to have this conversation.
Brad Ingarfield
Apr 26, 2014 at 10:18 pm
Great young player. Will he move the needle? – Brad Ingarfield
Golfraven
Apr 18, 2014 at 5:56 pm
No golfer will reach same status and money Tiger did manage over the past 15 years. We unlikely will see another games manufacturer bringing out games named after golfers, or did someone see already ‘Bubba’s Golf 2014’ ? What we will see are young golfers coming on the tour and inspire next generations. Soon no kid will say he wants to play like Tiger – more like Rickey or Spieth. Sadly the kid named Rory tried to walk in Tigers shoes and failed so far – he still has talent to go big.
Chris Hale
Apr 17, 2014 at 5:54 pm
I would argue that the level of athleticism in the pro game has been elevated since Tiger burst on to the scene 20 years ago. As such, it’s impossible to legitimately compare what Tiger did at Augusta in 1997 to what Jordan did last week. Never mind the fact that they’ve made numerous changes to the golf course because of Tiger’s dominance, the 2014 Masters field is flat-out more competitive than the guys Tiger beat in 1997. Tiger has raised the bar (and paycheck) for every tour player and made professional golf a far more competitive enterprise than it’s ever been. Just think about how good the “next Tiger” will need to be in order to elevate the game in the same way.
In that light, I give Jordan Speith enormous respect for ascending to where he has at the age of 20. I’m excited to watch him.
Cole
Apr 16, 2014 at 9:46 pm
He’s no Tiger, but I like that he’s out competing the next week.
cole
Apr 16, 2014 at 8:08 pm
No Tiger, But I like to see him out the week after!
ken
Apr 16, 2014 at 6:31 pm
I cannot stand these player comparisons. “He’s the next( fill in the blank)…
Tiger Woods is who he his. Jordan Spieth is not even the same type player.
As far as predicting the future? Spieth could undergo a slight swing tweak and wreck his game for an entire season. Sound familiar?
Let’s just enjoy watching Spieth play golf and let the putts fall where they may.
Jon Bon Jovi
Apr 16, 2014 at 6:24 pm
Can Jordan Speith even be compared to Rory Mcilroy? Those 2 players aren’t in the same class. Jordan Speith is a good player, but he’s not even a Mcilroy, nevermind a Tiger Woods for god sake.
leftright
Apr 16, 2014 at 8:28 pm
Speith is currently a better player than McIlroy, care to compare stats for the past year. No, Speith doesn’t have the major wins but currently he could give Rory 1 a side.
Dan
Apr 16, 2014 at 5:53 pm
And where exactly would the game of golf be if Tiger Woods never existed? Would young players have not played the game? Would they not be benefiting from fitness and technology just the same?
As far as I know golf has been on TV every weekend during the season long before Tiger Woods. They would still be making loads of money. I’m sure no one would have said “Y’know I just dont think that playing golf for a living is going to be worthwhile”.
Golf rounds in the US have declined precipitously since 2001. Oh Tiger please save Golf!!!!!!!!!!!! Where are you Tiger? Perhaps the “World of Golf” isnt quite panicking as much as the golf media is panicking. Might actually have to go dig up some stories and really are there many big stories that dont involve the more negative things in life? Infidelity, sex, PEDs, racist remarks, feuds, etc, etc. How is Tiger so good for golf with all these “negative” stories that have never been a part of this game?
I spend several thousand dollars yearly on golf and golf products, and I’m not panicking.
How exactly has he influenced the game? His fist pumps are the main highlights that ESPN shows? Let me ask another question, if Tiger Woods were not black, would he have the same “cult of personality” ? And in no way is this meant to be racist, we simply tend to focus on the differences and not the similarities. He’s a golfer, I’m a golfer. I dont think he’s a nice guy, I get sick of hearing about him when he’s NOT playing but I’ll be the first to tell you he WAS physically and mentally stronger than anyone on tour during his winning years
Did Nicklaus, statistically being the greatest Major champion the game has ever seen, garner the level of attention that the media has placed on Tiger Woods? He should have, no? he won the most Majors, and alot of tournaments.
No he didnt, and there are 2 reasons why. First as much as Jack won, there were plenty of others winning 4+ Majors at the same time. Player, Trevino, Palmer, Watson, Seve, Floyd…….Els, Phil and Vijay would not have been considered “great” at this time. (maybe Phil…) 14 looks like alot compared to 5,4. Maybe 18 doesnt look as much compared to 9, 8, 7, 5. Maybe Jack’s greatness is undervalued. Maybe Tiger played lesser competition.
Second, we didnt have the freaking Internet so that the absolute minutiae of every single issue could turned into a non-stop news conference back then, have every word, gesture, smile, frown, the subject of a panel discussion. And having a single icon associated with a sport wasnt important then, but seems to be an absolute necessity now. Why does Tiger need an heir? I’d rather see 10 equally talented guys go at it and every week a new drama.
I dont dispute that Tiger Woods is a great golfer in my book he’s still #2, but he’s not the only one and he’s not the game of golf. Yeah i know he WAS the latest, greatest, what ever, but put the pipe down already.
Maybe, just maybe the “world of Golf” should stop hanging on this guys underwear and worrying about PTW (so funny there are initials for it already) and selling the “new Guys”.
PS I go to golf media outlets to get golf commentary, certainly not NPR and the ny times. Expected better here.
leftright
Apr 16, 2014 at 8:29 pm
Tiger is “black.” The world, especially America is ate up with patronization of blacks and Arabs. Wait until some Arab guy makes the tour. He will be the second coming of Jack Nicklaus, even he if can’t bust an egg.
lh95
Apr 16, 2014 at 10:42 pm
Was anyone excited about Arjun Atwal or Jeev MIlka Singh? They are Indian (technically not Arab but most of America would know that) and no one really cares. Tiger was big because America is/was racist and he wasn’t welcome at many of the courses where was winning tournaments.
The next coming of Jack is going to be someone who wins 10+ majors whether they are black, white or brown. There will be no second coming of Tiger.
SBoss
Apr 20, 2014 at 4:51 pm
There WILL be a player that comes along better than Tiger and Jack. We don’t know when but its always a matter of time in sports. It’s foolish to think otherwise.
This whole American “is/was racist” thing is all nonsense about why Tiger was idolized. Yes, he brought minorities into golf. But, he brought a lot of interest period. Now, he’s still drawing the same interest level but many hate him (no, not because he’s a minority although I’m sure the victim mentally will run wild) because he’s polarizing.
Tiger is not a great dude off the course. I worked a major and he blew kids off and didn’t tip anybody involved with the event. A bunch of people sort balls every day from the range and ensure that each player’s balls are ready for the next session on the range. Phil tipped them all $100 a day. Tiger didn’t tip a nickel all week to anyone. He’s moody and arrogant. He’s certainly not the only one (Vijay can give him a run for major jerk) but it’s a factor in why some can’t stand him.
jim
Jun 23, 2015 at 9:29 am
Tiger needs his dough for hookers.
Rich
Apr 16, 2014 at 5:13 pm
Who’s Jordan Spieth? I thought Patrick Reed was The next big thing? We’ll that’s what he said anyway.
ken
Apr 16, 2014 at 6:28 pm
Looks like Reed’s mouth got in the way of his progress.
If you remember, he shot off his mouth stating he thought of himself as in the top 5 in the world.
Even his wife is in the act. She overheard a writer ask another writer who Reed was. Mrs Reed’s response, I cannot believe they don’t know my husband”.
I have news for Patrick Reed. That news is “let your golf clubs do the talking”.
Golfraven
Apr 16, 2014 at 5:00 pm
hey, give Spieth some respect, he worked his whole life to get there, though ge is only 20. Still I give him credit for being so bold – balls of steal. Nice chap. The tantrum on the 10 wasn’t great style and don’t think he is proude of it. However nothing compared to Tiger who is throwing clubs all the time.
ShakeNBake
Apr 16, 2014 at 4:41 pm
It’s simply not a fair and reasonable comparison. This article is like comparing Michael Jordan’s first few NBA seasons to Kobe’s first few NBA seasons. Of course a 22 year old Michael was way better than an 18 year old Kobe. One guy was in his 20’s and the other was a teenager. Duh.
Same thing with Spieth and Woods. One was a teenager when he got on tour and the other was in his 20’s. Let’s wait until Spieth turns 22. If he hasn’t won a Masters by then, maybe he isn’t the next tiger.
Oh, and no one thought Woods was going win the Masters in 1996. Sorry, he didn’t even make the cut.
Oldplayer
Apr 16, 2014 at 4:31 pm
I think Spieth is an amazing young talent. For a 20 years old he has great poise and confidence without arrogance. He has an extremely sound all round game.
I do not think it is helpful to compare him with Tiger whose long hitting (early in his pro career) and clutch putting set him apart and gave him the edge that produced his dominance.
Spieth displays qualities far more like Nicklaus than Tiger.
Level headedness, sportsmanship, belief in his game, calmness under pressure etc. etc.
I think that if Jordan Spieth is fortunate enough to not have his career derailed by misfortune or injury he has the real potential to become one of the best of all time.
Colin
Apr 16, 2014 at 3:58 pm
It is unfair to compare Spieth to Tiger. Who has ever said they would have comparable careers? I think of Spieth as the American equivalent to Rory. I believe that comparison would be far more accurate.
joe doaks
Apr 16, 2014 at 1:01 pm
let’s just let the kid play
Elmo
Apr 16, 2014 at 12:32 pm
The seasons not over yet. This kid has two more years to do what Tiger technically did in his first. Tiger got to practice playing college golf and contending in US Amateurs. This was Speith’s first huge stage and contention. He has seven more majors to win at or before the age that Tiger did. We can all talk then.
ReadingComp
Apr 16, 2014 at 12:27 pm
Great article, Ben. I found it interesting to see Tiger’s and Jordan’s stats side-by-side. As good as Jordan is, it’s truly unbelievable what Tiger has accomplished.
Dan
Apr 16, 2014 at 9:56 am
So Sorry I even clicked on this rag of an article. Ben, you suffer from the same malady as the rest of the media…………Laziness!!!
Tiger’s play has been a non-story for years now, except that the media has gotten so lazy covering Tiger, I mean its not like any one reporter develops a story anymore. Its just being repeated by different media outlets.
I guess you couldnt find anything more interesting to do but “generate” a story.
“It seems logical, given Jordan Spieth’s near-miss at the Masters, to ask if the young Texan might be the heir apparent to Mr. Woods.”
I think you are the only person who has come to this conclusion and it shows how the media thinks: The sport itself is unimportant, having a personality to focus on is all that matters, is easy and self perpetuating.
You have made my do not read list along the idiot Montesanto
Dan
Apr 16, 2014 at 1:22 pm
Sorry Ben, this is the first place I’ve heard anyone compare Spieth to Woods and judging by the rest of the posts on this article no one else has either.
And oddly enough you don’t reference any of these “bold claims from seemingly every other outlet about the ascendancy of Mr Speith” in your article. In fact all I’ve heard is that “he’s young, he’s got a great swing, it’s a great start but has a long way to go”.
And as long as you’re going to pull the Tiger “card”, where is the comparison to Nicklaus’ or Palmer’s early career, or is Tiger Woods the only golfer that matters?
And of course we need to view Speith’s GIR and Fairways hit against Tiger’s in 97, but you dont mention that the course is 500 Yards longer than Woods played in ’97.
The sooner you guys realize the days of Tiger are coming to an end, the better it will be for the game. And if he doesn’t eclipse Jack’s 18 Majors then you should start comparing players to Nicklaus, and not Woods. Maybe you should start now
corey
Apr 16, 2014 at 2:23 pm
Dan, Ben made it perfectly clear that he was not down playing what greatness speith has shown. Ben even states how speith rookie season was 2 yrs before tigers, so that makes what speith has done even better when compared to what tiger did in his rookie season. but love or hate tiger the game of golf would not be where it is without him. all these young golfers that are going to carry the game say they all looked up to the same person when they were starting out; that person was tiger. tiger gave the game a new look and brought in these young guns. so love him or hate him you get the pleasure to watch history in the making every time he tees up; whether it is chasing the all time wins or chasing jacks majors. but it is without question, and you’d be smoking something if you deny it, that tiger will go down as one of the top golfers in history and there is the argument to be made as the greatest of all time.
loubdoobe
Apr 16, 2014 at 3:51 pm
The media in general does not know the meaning of “moderation”. I could take Tiger or leave Tiger, I enjoy seeing guys play at this level-they are awesome. I want to puke when Tiger is not even near the lead and announcers continue to fawn and show footage of Tiger–who cares!
Ron
Apr 16, 2014 at 9:31 am
We’ll see how he stacks up when we find out how many women he can handle at one time. Tiger has set the bar pretty high!
T
Apr 15, 2014 at 11:24 pm
nobody of any intelligence considered Jordan the new Tiger. He’s a fantastic young talent that surprised many with his performance last year especially considering his status. Remember, there were many who thought he was making a mistake turning pro at 19. Regardless, while most expected him to eventually be successful, what he continues to do is compete and contend and the win aside I think the Masters performance is his greatest achievement so far. I’m glad you recognized his even par final round was not a choke…those who do are wrong.
Tim Mooney
Apr 15, 2014 at 11:18 pm
Ben:
I think you may be looking in the wrong direction. I conjure up a vision of Palmer v. Nicklaus with your reference to McIlroy v. Speith. I think that this duo stands to do more for golf, combined, than we’ve seen in a couple of decades.
Most purists, I dare say, would love to see Tiger rise again, however, I believe that even more would relish in a rivalry of playing ability between the two ‘youngsters’, Just think what could happen over the next 15-20 years to the popularity of the game, should that rivalry come to fruition?
Eric
Apr 16, 2014 at 1:11 pm
Spieth vs Mcilroy, USA vs Europe, Nike vs UA! Tiger who? We will likely see it at the Ryder cup and it will start something big for golf. Could you imagine the money and advertising that Nike and UA would throw at such a campaign? UA has taken tremendous market share from Nike, especially in men under 40 and they own the youth boys segment. For the commenter that asked why it cannot be about the sport, the answer is simple. Professional sports are about the fans who allow the sport to be. If we don’t watch, there is no sport and we all like heros and villains. All this of course depends on Mcilroy remembering how to play the game and not becoming another Sergio.
Brandel Stumblee
Apr 15, 2014 at 11:09 pm
This article is garbage. What Jordan Spieth did was amazing. Even Nicklaus stumbled in his first major at cherry hills and went on to win a lot after learning how to win. The author of this garbage did get one thing right in that Spieth is not Woods, Tiger was on a couch like most of the world watching to see if Jordan could do it. Spieth will be a nice addition to the Ryder Cup team.
west
Apr 15, 2014 at 11:00 pm
I can’t believe I read this dribble…
SBoss
Apr 15, 2014 at 10:41 pm
Why does every really good young player have to be compared to Tiger Woods? It diminishes a great young talent who also happens to be a nice kid.
Why can’t Jordan Spieth just be…Jordan Spieth? What he’s done is less than one year is staggering and should be fully appreciated without the “but he’s not Tiger Woods” nonsense.
west
Apr 15, 2014 at 11:00 pm
Absolutely, spot on!
MHendon
Apr 15, 2014 at 11:08 pm
I couldn’t agree more and the one thing he has that Tiger has never show is a touch of humility.
Taylor
Apr 16, 2014 at 7:41 am
Really, still hung up on the cheating on his wife thing? Remember when he hugged his dad crying after winning the masters. Personal life aside, I think Tiger for golf did nothing wrong.
Mike
Apr 16, 2014 at 11:13 am
@Taylor – Who said anything about the “cheating on his wife thing”? He said ‘humility”, not “honor”.
loubdoobe
Apr 16, 2014 at 3:46 pm
….not to mention character and moral integrity.
paul
Apr 16, 2014 at 12:00 am
Greatness needs comparison to be great. And writers need articles to write for our entertainment and thought.
SBoss
Apr 16, 2014 at 8:20 am
Spieth is not great at this point. He may be great at some point in the future. So, comparing Spieth to Woods is misguided. It’s not comparing “great to great”.
Why diminish the early accomplishments of a good young player whose climbed the PGA Tour ladder in rapid fashion and almost won a Masters at 20 years old?
Dan
Apr 16, 2014 at 5:06 pm
Why? Because the golfing media is addicted to Tiger Woods. It makes it very easy for them to call attention to their story if they make about Tiger Woods.
Forsbrand
Apr 16, 2014 at 6:38 pm
Tiger is soooo yesterday ya!
leftright
Apr 16, 2014 at 8:42 pm
Speith could give Tiger one a side at the same age…no comparison. Read a damn history book for God’s sake.