In an interview with GQ Magazine, Dwayne Wade told the magazine he considers himself the GOAT, or Greatest Of All Time. This led to headlines from the media about how Dwayne is now the GOAT. Tiger Woods fired back, telling GQ that he’s not the GOAT, and that he thinks he’s the greatest golfer of all time.
Over the last few weeks, Tiger Woods has been getting a lot of flak from some of his peers for his comments about the Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade. A few weeks ago, when speaking to an ESPN reporter, Woods said, “I’m not the GOAT.” Many thought he was referring to himself as the Greatest of All Time, but as it turns out, he was just referring to Wade.
When the Miami Heat’s Dwyane Wade spoke out about how he believed that Tiger Woods was the greatest golfer of all-time, Tiger Woods thought that maybe he had just had too much to drink.
Tiger Woods is generally considered to be the best golfer of all time, but don’t tell him that.
Woods totally shut down NBA star Dwyane Wade during a February golf session, which was captured in a recent miniseries episode, when he dubbed the 15-time major champion the GOAT.
What a lesson in humility.
Tiger Woods’ golf résumé is worthy of a GOAT.
In today’s sports, the GOAT argument is overdone and over-debated. For whatever reason, there must always be a definite athlete branded as the best of all time in each discipline.
What is the issue? Comparing sportsmen from various periods is just impossible. For example, in golf, Jack Nicklaus won 18 major championships using 3-woods constructed entirely of wood. Professional golfers nowadays can hit their bespoke stainless steel 3-woods 300 yards. Who knows how many majors Nicklaus would have won if he had played during this period, with his exquisite touch on the greens and his will to win.
Nonetheless, in golf, the GOAT argument usually centers around Woods, Nicklaus, and Sam Snead.
If you’re a Tiger fan, you’ll point out that he has 82 PGA Tour wins, tied with Sam Snead for the most all-time. Perhaps you’ll highlight his 15 major titles, which are second to to Nicklaus’ 18. Or the fact that he is the only golfer in history to have won four major championships in a row.
Throughout his peak, Woods was unstoppable. From 1998 through 2005, he made 142 straight cuts on the PGA Tour, breaking Byron Nelson’s previous record of 113. During that time, he also won 40 Tour tournaments.
Woods isn’t insane enough to claim he’s the best golfer of all time, but he won’t go that far.
Dwyane Wade’s GOAT label is shut down by Woods.
At the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Alonzo Mourning, Tiger Woods, and Dwyane Wade attend Tiger Jam 2009. | Lester Cohen/WireImage/Getty Images
Woods and Wade got together in February for an episode of Golf Digest’s miniseries A Round with Tiger: Celebrity Lessons at Rolling Hills Country Club in California. Wade questions Woods about the GOAT argument in golf in this week’s episode, which was published this week.
Tiger, it’s fair to say, doesn’t believe he’s quite there yet.
“Are you bothered when people refer to you as the GOAT?” Wade posed for the camera.
With a laugh, Woods said, “I’m not the GOAT.”
“All right, there we go. “All right, let’s get started,” Wade said. “Some will exclaim, ‘The GOAT!’ ‘The All-Time Greatest!’ And you’ll respond, ‘Well, I’m not because of…,’ because you’ve got your reasons.”
“No, I haven’t arrived yet.”
“Can you tell me why you’re there?” When are you going to finish?”
“I’m not finished!” exclaims the narrator.
“So you’re only the GOAT after you’re finished?”
Woods said, “I’m not done.”
“However, you can’t be the GOAT when you’re still on the field?”
“I’m not done,” he said emphatically.
I’ve got your message.
Tiger was involved in a vehicle accident the day following his discussion with Wade.
Woods continued to emphasize during his discussion with Wade that he still had a long way to go in his golf career. Unfortunately, the future Hall of Famer flipped his SUV over the side of the road the next day and broke his leg.
Woods’ rehabilitation has lasted five months, with a rod keeping his right leg in place and pins and screws supporting his ankle. He has a long way to go before he can even consider returning to the PGA Tour, but dismiss him at your peril.
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