Both are incredibly gifted athletes, and the most dominant players in their sport in quite some time. Both are on a path for unparalleled achievement in their respective field, and could be anointed the 'best ever' before the end of their careers; I think, though, this begs the question of who is relatively more dominant. Some will say this is apples to oranges, but I think certain legitimate comparisons can be drawn.
Mark Philippoussis - 0 Grand Slams
Marat Safin - 2 Grand Slams
Andy Roddick (3) - 1 Grand Slam
Lleyton Hewitt - 2 Grand Slams
Andre Agassi - 8 Grand Slams
Marcos Baghdatis - 0 Grand Slams
Nadal (2) - 3 Grand Slams
Fernando González - 0 Grand Slams
Novak Đoković - 1 Grand Slam
Total number of major wins by opponents: 17
Woods:
Tom Kite - 1 Major
Sergio Garcia - 0 Majors
Ernie Els (2) - 3 Majors/ Miguel Ángel Jiménez - 0 Majors
Thomas Bjorn - 0 Majors
Bob May - 0 Majors
David Duval - 1 Major
Reteif Goosen - 2 Majors
Phil Mickelson - 3 Majors
Chris DiMarco (2) - 0 Majors
Colin Montgomerie - 0 Majors
Shaun Michael - 1 Major
Woody Austin - 0 Majors
Total number of major wins by Runner-Up: 10
Seems like an easy case, does it not? Tiger's Runners-Up only had 10 major wins, whilst Roger's had 17. Except for one issue - the amount of players in the field. At most Federer played 6 matches for his Grand Slams (at times he had a bye) against a total field of a maximum of 60 athletes; while Tiger, on the other hand, plays 4 rounds, regardless, against a field of up to 140 players.
Furthermore, if the top competition is in a particular tournament, he plays against them regardless. They play the same holes, in the same conditions, in real time. Federer, on the other hand, may play very low-ranked players and/or receive a bye into later rounds. If you were to examine the amount of major wins for the entire field for each (obviously make it relative based on total particpants), Tiger faces far tougher competition.
Next, is the issue of Career Grand Slams; Roger is yet to have one. Woods' first round of professional golf was in 1996. In 2001 he won the U.S. Open to hold all four major championships at the same time, no less at age 24. Roger Federer is 26.
The last point, which may be the most important, is the greater degree of relativity in golf vs. tennis. It is harder to compare Federer to a Macenroe, or Bjorg, or Sampras because of their competition; the fields in their day could have been greater or weaker as compared to Roger's. A 61 in golf however, is a 61. It is much easier to look at Tiger's scoring statistics relative to Palmer's and Nicklaus' scoring statistics and see his greatness.
When you examine Tiger's scoring stats., to Roger's, in relative fashion compared to the all-time greats, there is no question.
In my eye's there is no comparison. But, I am not a Tennis expert. Any alternate opinions?
Mark Philippoussis - 0 Grand Slams
Marat Safin - 2 Grand Slams
Andy Roddick (3) - 1 Grand Slam
Lleyton Hewitt - 2 Grand Slams
Andre Agassi - 8 Grand Slams
Marcos Baghdatis - 0 Grand Slams
Nadal (2) - 3 Grand Slams
Fernando González - 0 Grand Slams
Novak Đoković - 1 Grand Slam
Total number of major wins by opponents: 17
Woods:
Tom Kite - 1 Major
Sergio Garcia - 0 Majors
Ernie Els (2) - 3 Majors/ Miguel Ángel Jiménez - 0 Majors
Thomas Bjorn - 0 Majors
Bob May - 0 Majors
David Duval - 1 Major
Reteif Goosen - 2 Majors
Phil Mickelson - 3 Majors
Chris DiMarco (2) - 0 Majors
Colin Montgomerie - 0 Majors
Shaun Michael - 1 Major
Woody Austin - 0 Majors
Total number of major wins by Runner-Up: 10
Seems like an easy case, does it not? Tiger's Runners-Up only had 10 major wins, whilst Roger's had 17. Except for one issue - the amount of players in the field. At most Federer played 6 matches for his Grand Slams (at times he had a bye) against a total field of a maximum of 60 athletes; while Tiger, on the other hand, plays 4 rounds, regardless, against a field of up to 140 players.
Furthermore, if the top competition is in a particular tournament, he plays against them regardless. They play the same holes, in the same conditions, in real time. Federer, on the other hand, may play very low-ranked players and/or receive a bye into later rounds. If you were to examine the amount of major wins for the entire field for each (obviously make it relative based on total particpants), Tiger faces far tougher competition.
Next, is the issue of Career Grand Slams; Roger is yet to have one. Woods' first round of professional golf was in 1996. In 2001 he won the U.S. Open to hold all four major championships at the same time, no less at age 24. Roger Federer is 26.
The last point, which may be the most important, is the greater degree of relativity in golf vs. tennis. It is harder to compare Federer to a Macenroe, or Bjorg, or Sampras because of their competition; the fields in their day could have been greater or weaker as compared to Roger's. A 61 in golf however, is a 61. It is much easier to look at Tiger's scoring statistics relative to Palmer's and Nicklaus' scoring statistics and see his greatness.
When you examine Tiger's scoring stats., to Roger's, in relative fashion compared to the all-time greats, there is no question.
In my eye's there is no comparison. But, I am not a Tennis expert. Any alternate opinions?