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Started By
Message
it’s crazy how short golfers primes are compared to their career length
Posted on 3/13/24 at 9:13 am
Posted on 3/13/24 at 9:13 am
TLDR: Pro golfers peaks are shorter than you think
We think of pro golfers as playing forever, and while that’s true for their careers, their peaks are actually relatively short by comparison.
I started looking into this with the thought that Tigers peak was very short for an all-time great golfer, then when I started researching I realized that just isn’t true. Here are some examples
Arnold Palmer: played pro golf from 1954-2001 but won ALL of his majors between 1958-1970
Jack Nicklaus: played pro golf from 1961-2005. He probably had the longest peak, winning all his majors but the notable one in ‘86 between 1963-1980
Ben Hogan: played pro golf from 1930-1971 but won ALL his majors from 1946-1953
Tiger Woods: turned pro in 1996, still playing but won all his majors besides the 2019 Masters between 1997-2008
Those are some of the GOATS, if you go look at the more standard major winners, their career peaks are even shorter. It’s interesting in a game that you can play at a high level for so long, shows how hard of a sport it really is to dominate.
It also puts into perspective, I felt robbed of some of the greatness of Tiger Woods because of all of his personal issues. In reality his peak falls in line with most of the greats as far as length.
We think of pro golfers as playing forever, and while that’s true for their careers, their peaks are actually relatively short by comparison.
I started looking into this with the thought that Tigers peak was very short for an all-time great golfer, then when I started researching I realized that just isn’t true. Here are some examples
Arnold Palmer: played pro golf from 1954-2001 but won ALL of his majors between 1958-1970
Jack Nicklaus: played pro golf from 1961-2005. He probably had the longest peak, winning all his majors but the notable one in ‘86 between 1963-1980
Ben Hogan: played pro golf from 1930-1971 but won ALL his majors from 1946-1953
Tiger Woods: turned pro in 1996, still playing but won all his majors besides the 2019 Masters between 1997-2008
Those are some of the GOATS, if you go look at the more standard major winners, their career peaks are even shorter. It’s interesting in a game that you can play at a high level for so long, shows how hard of a sport it really is to dominate.
It also puts into perspective, I felt robbed of some of the greatness of Tiger Woods because of all of his personal issues. In reality his peak falls in line with most of the greats as far as length.
This post was edited on 3/13/24 at 9:14 am
15
Posted on 3/13/24 at 9:15 am to Tiger1242
quote:
It also puts into perspective, I felt robbed of some of the greatness of Tiger Woods because of all of his personal issues. In reality his peak falls in line with most of the greats as far as length
We were robbed. He wouldve broke the record without the injuries. I blame them more than the personal issues.
But your post does make me realize we may overestimate how much longer he could've kept it going, although that last masters win shows maybe he could've.
This post was edited on 3/13/24 at 9:18 am
Posted on 3/13/24 at 9:16 am to Tiger1242
Well, it does make sense, you probably have a peak between 25-35 unless of course you are Jack the GOAT.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 9:19 am to Corinthians420
quote:
We were robbed. He wouldve broke the record without the injuries. I blame them more than the personal issues.
I’ve always taken this opinion as a foregone conclusion. I’ve always assumed that he 100% would’ve broken the record without injuries and personal issues, but doing the research I’m seeing it wasn’t the foregone conclusion I thought that it was.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 9:23 am to Tiger1242
I truly think if you take out the personal issues, Tiger probably wins a major or 2 in the 2010-2013 range.
Tiger was no longer looked at as invincible with the personal issues along with his injuries.
But the injuries are no doubt what most killed his chances at catching Jack.
Tiger was no longer looked at as invincible with the personal issues along with his injuries.
But the injuries are no doubt what most killed his chances at catching Jack.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 9:26 am to Tiger1242
Those are pretty long primes.
Tiger easily would have gone strong for another 10 years if he hadn't destroyed his life and ruined his back with SEAL training.
Tiger easily would have gone strong for another 10 years if he hadn't destroyed his life and ruined his back with SEAL training.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 9:26 am to Tiger1242
I think his personal problems stemmed from the same things that made him so good as a golfer. So I kind of take them together as part of the same story.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 9:33 am to usc6158
quote:
Tiger easily would have gone strong for another 10 years if he hadn't destroyed his life and ruined his back with SEAL training.
I’m saying based on what I researched I’m no longer convinced this is the case
Posted on 3/13/24 at 9:43 am to Tiger1242
quote:
I’m saying based on what I researched I’m no longer convinced this is the case
The level of training Tiger was doing compared to Jack and Arnie was basically zero to one hundred. Both were blowing through a pack of cigs during a round early in their careers.
Couple that with likely HGH use and if Tiger could have held his personal life together, he would have kept rolling.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 9:46 am to usc6158
Maybe. It’s also possible that intense training made his peak greater but also shorter, he was pushing his body so hard maybe it was bound to give out early.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 9:48 am to Tiger1242
Flat Bellies have an advantage 
Posted on 3/13/24 at 10:00 am to Tiger1242
Are you assuming their career length is the same as the amount of time they would've otherwise qualified to play on the Tour (top 70 player)? Players can achieve lifetime exemption to non-invitation events if they have so many years on Tour and so many wins, and lifetime or up to a certain age exemption for certain invitationals and majors.
So the championship/total years ratio may be artificially lower. Do championships years to years as a top 70 player.
So the championship/total years ratio may be artificially lower. Do championships years to years as a top 70 player.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 10:15 am to Tiger1242
Phil isn’t recognized enough for how good of a career he has had. DJ needs 21 wins and Rory needs 22 wins to tie PhIl for career wins. Don’t see that happening.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 10:36 am to Tiger1242
For the golf experts, what effect if any did Tiger deciding to remake his swing during the peak of his dominance (maybe 2004, but that could be wrong) have on the total majors he won?
Posted on 3/13/24 at 11:14 am to Tiger1242
This is why Rory's window is shut.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 11:24 am to therick711
I think it had an impact but I also remember at the time he thought it was necessary because his back was giving out.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 11:51 am to Tiger1242
quote:
I think it had an impact but I also remember at the time he thought it was necessary because his back was giving out.
quote:
For the golf experts, what effect if any did Tiger deciding to remake his swing during the peak of his dominance (maybe 2004, but that could be wrong) have on the total majors he won?
And his original swing was tough on his knees as well. Physically he couldn't sustain his younger swing.
He rebuilt the swing with Hank Haney in 2004. in 2003 he was starting to feel the need to make a change. Won 5 tournaments but no majors. He only had one win in 2004 that year and probably gave up that year in the effort to rebuild the swing. He went on to win 7 majors and a bunch of other wins after the swing rebuild, so you'd have to consider giving up one season to follow it up with that much success had to be worth it.
This post was edited on 3/13/24 at 11:53 am
Posted on 3/13/24 at 12:02 pm to Tiger1242
My personal prime was a holiday long weekend about 10 years ago.
Posted on 3/13/24 at 12:33 pm to Tiger1242
quote:
Maybe. It’s also possible that intense training made his peak greater but also shorter, he was pushing his body so hard maybe it was bound to give out early.
All that EPO, test, and HGH catches up to you in other ways...
Posted on 3/13/24 at 12:43 pm to Jack Ruby
Nope. A 9 iron ended tiger woods career.
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