Golf

» Alan L. Hammond - Tiger is most intimidating?

Let me put it this way, Mark. Golf is more mental than physical (which didn't leave much hope for me from the beginning). For pro golfers, or anyone playing comptetitively, each shot is like trying to make the game tying free throw with no time on the clock. They're not just playing the course.

Imagine that feeling with the added pressure of Tiger Woods competing against you. You know he never falls out of contention once he's in it, in fact, he usually charges on instead of treading water like Nicklaus, great as he was, usually did. If you trail him, you have to make no mistakes. You'll feel an urgency to take chances you usually wouldn't; the first of those that go wrong usually kills a guys chances, although it shouldn't.

The same thing goes if you are ahead of Tiger. I've watched players competing against him for years. He even gets to guys like Singh. In the 2002 Masters (I think), they all, Singh, Goosen, Mickelson, Els, Garcia, tripped all over themselves. I think it was Goosen who just handed the tournament to him.

I remember the first time I played in a tight, competitive situation. Suddenly, I was aware of every movement I was making. Nothing felt natural. When you're in a zone, things come together and just happen. That's where Tiger is. He's put everybody else stumbling around in the other category.

I think Jordan just outplayed everybody and made his teammates do the same. He was undoubtedly the ultimate clutch player. I never saw his competitors cringe, though.

So, Tiger is most intimidating (without the question mark).