Jordan Spieth Breaking Records Won't Topple Tiger Woods Legacy #golf

"Tiger Woods changed the Game, Spieth plays it."

Golf fans desperately searching for the next Tiger Woods, here he is - Jordan Spieth! Or is he...?

While one of the greatest golfers to have ever played the game is now ruminating that the 'sun is setting on his career', the other, Spieth, is eagerly contemplating his future.

At twenty-two years old, Spieth is not only a multi-millionaire, but he's also already a record breaker, earning more than Tiger Woods in one season. Jordan has now regained the title of number-one golfer in the world, he's won two majors in one season (The Masters and the U.S. Open) and almost clinched the remaining major tournaments. He is also the youngest golfer to win five events in one season.

But, is Jordan Spieth ever going to topple the legacy of the former World's Number One?

There are so many Tiger Woods devotees on social media that, after reading through some of the comments on the "Golf Nothing More" group to which I post, I have to say that it will take a major shift in mindset as much as very hard work from the young Spieth to change the hearts and minds of fans.

The question on the group page was, "Is Spieth a Better Golfer at Twenty-Two than Tiger Woods?"

Comments included:
David White, "Tiger never missed any cuts." which speaks to Woods' incredible golf ability at such a young age.
Steve Wesson, "Tiger changed the game - Spieth plays it. I love them both but I would take a young Woods over Spieth."

Tiger Woods did change golf and introduced the game to a whole new era of people that wouldn't know a hybrid from a wood. He got kids involved in the game just by being so far above the rest that people tuned in just to see him perform...and he was GOOD...the BEST that had played in a very long time.

I would have to agree that, at twenty-two, Tiger Woods still had the upper hand versus the young Spieth but, at the rate of growth of the current World's Number One Golfer, does Spieth have a chance to, one day, have his name on the lips of golf fans as the one who surpassed Tiger Woods' records?

Looking forward to a new year, the next question might be, "How is Jordan Spieth going to top his award-winning season in 2016?"

Spieth would have to win, at the very least, the other two majors that he closed in on this past year - The British Open and the PGA Championship - in order to have the elusive Grand Slam in his back pocket. He would have to win several larger tournaments that include a top-name field and do it easily, as Tiger Woods usually did in pressure-cooker situations.

We cannot predict the future nor can we write Tiger Woods out of the history books yet, but, as Jim Nantz mentioned during coverage of the Masters, "Win or lose, you just got a good look at a young man who’s going to be a big part of the future of this sport".

Isn't that Tiger Woods' trophy?

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photo: TheBigLead.com, The Onion

LPGA Tour bottling Evian as major magic potion?

Golf commissioner Mike Whan recently announced the Evian Masters as the official "fifth major" on the LPGA Tour but, before being awarded "Championship status", a few changes needed to be made.


Unaware that the Evian Masters was already considered a major event on the Ladies European Tour schedule with, perhaps, many more fans (and even Tour players, see below) equally unaware, @LETgolf tweeted, and posted a blog, to confirm status on their Tour first:


"The Evian Masters presented by Société Générale, which is already a major on the Ladies European Tour schedule, will become a major championship on the LPGA from 2013 and will be renamed: ‘The Evian’."


In order for the Evian Masters to be "worthy" of major status and of becoming the new "Dinah" on the LPGA Tour, this is what is said will happen:

1. Name Change to "The Evian Championship"
2. Golf course redesign including the "Fantastic Finish" where fans can watch the final four holes from an amphitheater setting
3. Date Change for flow and so it doesn't interfere with the Women's British Open
Hmmm, perhaps a new crystal Evian bottle as the trophy? Will the ladies be encouraged to learn french?

LET golfers, however, believe that this event already has the Kraft Nabisco "fun factor".

Laura Davies, back-to-back Evian Masters winner in 1995 and 1996, described the tournament as “one of the best events of the year on and off the course.”

Lee-Anne Pace, 2010 LET Henderson Money List leader said: “It seems like it is the ’fun’ unofficial major of the year. People are more relaxed and the atmosphere is great.”

Unofficial? Didn't the LET say the Evian Masters was an "official" major event on their schedule?


Mike Whan stated that the schedule inclusion will give the LPGA something that it has been missing for quite some time, "major media, major fan appeal, a major field..."

"The Evian will be a tournament, a location, and an atmosphere that young women will strive to be part of for the next few decades," Whan continued.

Major disagreement! So far, weekend play only will be viewable on network TV, as are the other majors currently on the schedule; the field is already superior and the championship purse already matches with the U.S. Women's Open winnings.


The idea of a fifth major has come under fire by some and has been welcomed by others. Twitter responses, always short and to the point are always the most telling. Here are a few comments based upon hearing the news of a fifth major.

European Tour golfer Francesco Molinari's thumbs moved quickly after hearing the LPGA's plans: "What's all the noise about ladies fifth major? We have five, too. Everybody knows the Italian Open is the fifth major."

@USPuttingTour tweeted, "Quick. What are the other 4?"

In stark contrast, @crossgolfusa tweeted, "Like it. Golf should rest on tradition but not be constrained by it."

Ideas for an Asian major event, perhaps the HSBC Women's Championship, are also under consideration as the LPGA Tour is now dominated with top-level golfers from Japan to China: Ai Miyazato won the 2011 Evian Masters and Yani Tseng currently holds the number one spot on the LPGA money list.

Six majors? It could happen but would it help or hurt the LPGA Tour?

Senior Travel Editor of Golf Digest and Golf World, Matt Ginella, reflects my personal sentiments in a recent tweet:

"For a tour without a lot of tournaments, they sure have a lot of majors."

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