An age old discussion, new names...

No matter what the sport, no matter what the record, sports fans have the inane ability to try and compare athletes across the ages. Was Wayne Gretzky a better hockey player than Gordie Howe? Was Joe Montana a better quarterback than Terry Bradshaw? Was Pete Rose a purer hitter than Ty Cobb?

Today, the age old question has been arising again in the golf world. Is Tiger Woods better than Jack Nicklaus? Personally, I don’t think either this, or the previous questions, are truly a fair comparrison. Each player’s career spanned a different era.

Looking at Nickalus and Woods – decades separate their respective periods of dominence. Golf clubs, golf courses, training, even golf balls have all evolved. A direct comparrison simply cannot be made.

What can be done some argue, is to look at how the player compared to their peers. In other words, who was more dominent in their era?

With Tiger’s recent win at the Buick Open, he’s won his 50th PGA tournament. These days, PGA tour professionals are lucky enough to win half that many titles in their lifetime. Tiger is only 30 years of age.

When it comes to the big tournamnets, the “Major Championships”, Woods has won 11 thus far. In his career, Nicklaus won 18.

Will Woods eclipse that mark? If I were a betting man I’d say “yes”. Let’s not forget though, Nickalus finished 2nd in Majors a whopping 19 times.

The point I’m trying to make is that a TRUE comparrison can never truly be made. Both players will have impressive statistics at the end of the day. Both will show unparalled skill and remarkable poise to get there and both will be remembered as the domninent players of their day.

So instead of trying to compare them across the ages, let’s just look at what they have done yesterday, and are doing today. Their talent, and the history of the sport, demands no less.