Wanted: A True Challenger for Tiger

Come we now to the end of the 6th full year of Tiger Woods and while he didn't win at the Top 30’s final money grab at the Tour Championship, this much is sure: There is as yet no one to challenge his primacy. When he stormed on the scene in 1996, we heard prognostications that told of a veritable floodgate of talent that would come to the game in his wake. From no less than Curtis Strange we heard the vaguely racist prediction that Tiger would bring bunches of "guys 6'7" and 6'8" tall that would hit it nine miles." Instead of cheering Tiger and his challenger and heir apparent, we are left to hope for Ty Tryon to make another cut and for Charles Howell III to win for a second time.

We have heard how much Tiger needs a foil, and know in our hearts that we need one as well. With each major his legend grows, but what of his motivation? Can the near promise of a couple majors a year keep his interest when he knows that there is really no competition? Perhaps it is time to admit that He, the true challenger to Tiger, just isn't coming anytime soon.

Tiger would then become golf's answer to Larry Holmes: A champion in search of a worthy opponent. A man living his life and playing his game while the literati wonder how he would have faired against players of similar mettle to the greats of the past. Note that I didn't say the skills of the greats of the past. Like it or not, Palmer's win at Cherry Hills was great because of the number of majors the men that he beat owned (or would own, in the case of Nicklaus) as much as his own play. He was seen to have faced true greatness and triumphed. Tiger has yet to do the same, though through no fault of his own.

What seems certain is that the men who comprise Tiger's supporting cast & who we thought might challenge him have not and will not: Duval, Mickelson, Leonard et al may enjoy lovely trips to their banks but there will be no greatness to their careers. I will be endlessly happy if I am wrong about this, by the way. In fact, perhaps the most interesting effect will be to see these Old Young Lions surpassed by the New Young Lions so aptly represented by the likes of Howell and others just now arriving at the party.

With this in mind, I present my 2002 State of the Tiger Challengers Report Card:

1) Sergio Garcia: By far the most accomplished of the Tiger chasers, Sergio has done by the age of 22 what Colin Montgomerie hasn't been able to do by the age of 39, that being win on the PGA Tour. While he failed to seriously challenge Tiger at the US Open at Bethpage, I am among a minority who felt that he performed admirably, probably better than Tiger would have at the same age and playing overseas. The world is holding Sergio to a very high standard (Seve) and it is yet to be determined if he can handle the pressure over the years. Still he has overcome an unconventional swing, the curse of the re-grips and yet he endures.

Finally, the Euro Love Fest at the Ryder Cup may have been good for Sergio's sense of belonging, but could have hampered his development as a true Tiger Beater. He has recently announced that he will spend more of 2003 on the European Tour than jousting with Tiger here in the US. This is the same mistake that led to the stunted career of both Monty and his fallen protégé, Lee Westwood. Sergio should become Woods’ shadow, matching his schedule to Tiger’s event for event, and learn to beat him.

2) Charles Howell III: This guy is very hard to ignore. He seems mature yet hungry, confident yet willing to learn. It's hard to find many weaknesses in his game. His first tour win cam as much from his deft short game as his prodigious length. Had he been able to catch and overtake Singh at the Tour Championship, it may have been just the sort of confidence builder that would have put him over the top. To nitpick, Howell has a somewhat forced and mechanical looking swing. This makes me wonder whether he may have to endure the sort of total swing overhaul that Tiger did. While such a project might delay his progress, there's no betting against this one.

3) Matt Kuchar: After winning at the Honda earlier this year, this former amateur champion had a quiet year but still finished in the top 50 in earnings. In his favor is a putting stroke to die for and the nerves to make them when it counts. Also, he is a man who truly chose his career after finishing his education at Georgia Tech and getting a real job, if only briefly. This would appear to have granted him a certain confidence and bearing that some of the younger and less thoughtful may have a hard time beating.

4) Aaron Baddeley: Along with Howell, this guy's a Leadbetter disciple. You can talk all you want about Butch Harmon, but it was Leadbetter who guided Faldo, Price & Norman through their glory years and now Si Re Pak. Leadbetter can pick 'em and Baddeley would appear to be a bigger, stronger, more complete and possibly tougher version of Howell. He's got some of the Norman-Aussie swagger and the game to match. By the way, has anyone noticed that Baddeley was born in New Hampshire? To my mind that would make him eligible for the US Ryder Cup team and we could certainly use him when the time comes.
5) Luke Donald: Something of a dark horse, Donald survived the tour and got a 54 hole win to cap off the year. 2003 will be the real test for him: Can he win again? Can he contend week in and week out? His swing is solid and mature, as is his manner. The question remains whether he can go toe to toe with Mr. Woods. Many have tried.

6) Justin Rose: The future poster boy for the fact that winning in Europe means little in the US. I have nothing against this kid, but in my book he did it with mirrors and against Euros to boot. If Rose were to spend a whole year on the US tour he have a hard time staying in the top 125 and making cuts. The European Tour is his only hope. Another Monty in the making.

7) The Rapidly Aging Also-Rans: Jim Furyk. The next Brad Faxon. A very rich man ($2.2 million in 2002) but rarely a winner. He is living proof that in this new millennium, placing high on the money list doesn't make a great player. He seems able to look Tiger in the eye for brief periods, but can't maintain his intensity. Justin Leonard. Has anyone else noticed that Justin's workout efforts haven't changed the look or shape of his body at all? He's the next Cory Pavin and a man slipping further into the rearview mirror every minute. Stuart Appleby. A player with lots of strength and game, but just how much does he want to win? Ernie Els. If he could ever do anything to convince himself or anyone else that he thinks that he is as good as Tiger he may actually become as good as Tiger. For all of his three majors, he’s still a player looking to duck the champ if at all possible.

Phil Mickelson. Quite the opposite of Els, to me. I believe that Phil thinks he's better than Tiger and is surprised when he doesn't beat him more often. It is disappointing to see Phil looking so out of shape, making the same silly mistakes when the chips are down, and never simply admitting that he has a lot of work to do if he's going to catch Tiger. David Duval. Watching Duval play, looking at his loose swing, ragged short game and profoundly strong grip, it's really easy to imagine that he may never recapture the days of his British Open and his 59 at the Hope. This is a player who only found new inspiration after losing the Ryder Cup. He is wasting years as if he has a bunch of them left, but that is the worst way to think in the era of the Tiger.

So, all that we can do is look to 2003 with hope for the game and best wishes for the players. Tiger's greatness is without question. We are only left to wonder if there ever will be The One who can challenge him, and make it all the stuff of legend.