Lorne Rubenstein | |
Major quest's for Tiger and Roger Federer
March 22nd, 2006
 Photo: © David Cannon/Getty Images |
Tennis star Roger Federer walked with Tiger Woods on the final nine holes of Woods Wednesday practice round. |
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Ah, Gary Player. It's impossible not to listen when he speaks. And boy, does he speak. Does he declaim. Does he get into it. Is he an oracle? Over the top? A man of deep experience to whom one should pay attention?
He's all of these, and the 71-year-old fitness fanatic-and that's a compliment-got into all sorts of subjects recently during a Champions Tour stop. Only a few members of the media were in the room when he spoke, but he put on quite a show for those of us who were there.
His comments about Tiger Woods vis a vis Roger Federer were particularly
interesting, especially when one considers this is the week of the WGC-CA
Championship in which Woods is playing in Miami, Florida and Federer is
playing in the Sony Ericsson Open down the road in Key Biscayne. Federer and
Woods are becoming increasingly close friends who watch each other play and
discuss each other's methods. Federer was in the gallery during Woods'
practice round Wednesday. Meanwhile, Woods said he'll watch Federer's match
on Saturday evening. The athletes are dominating their respective sports.
Federer has won 10 majors, while Woods, of course, has won 12 majors.
"A very interesting thing is happening in tennis and golf at the moment," Player said. "Tiger and Federer, from what I've read, are having this [competition] to see who can win the most majors."
Photo: © Clive Brunskill/Getty Images | | Woods and his wife Elin where on hand for Federer's U.S. Open win last September in New York. |
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That's true. Woods and Federer have become close pals. Woods first met Federer during the U.S. Open in September, and watched him win. Federer watched Woods during the Dubai Desert Classic a few weeks ago, which he lost. They remind one another of the number of majors each has won; Woods is particularly adept at sticking the needle to Federer, and reminding him that he's two majors behind.
But what's more difficult, to win a major in tennis or in golf? Player is probably biased on the subject, but he made his views clear. The timbre of his voice strengthened as he spoke. He got into the subject.
"Firstly, I think to win a major in golf is twice as tough as it is in tennis," Player, who won every major along his way to accumulating nine of them, said. "Tiger tees off, he has 156 guys [to beat]. (Actually, 155 in most tournaments, although not the Masters, with a far smaller field; but you get his point). Federer's got to win six matches. (He had to win seven to take the U.S. Open).
Photo: © David Cannon/Getty Images | | Gary Player brings up an interesting point, which sport is easier to win a major or a tournament on, Golf or Tennis? |
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"Now, when Federer plays and it's hot, it's hot for the other guy," Player continued. "Windy, it's windy for the other guy. But when Tiger tees off, he tees off in the morning, it's raining, the wind's blowing. Comes one o'clock, Ernie Els tees off, there's no wind, there's no rain, it's perfect conditions. So it is a lot tougher to win a major as a golfer than as a tennis player."
At that point a writer pointed out that she normally covers tennis. She wondered about the relative demands that golf and tennis make on the body. Player relished the question. It was as if she was throwing meat to a lion. He ate it up.
"Who do you think is the greater athlete?" Player asked. "Do you think any tennis player is a greater athlete than Tiger? Tiger would beat any tennis player in a workout in the gym. He would make them look like Mickey Mouse. Tiger is an animal in the gym."
Photo: © Harry How/Getty Images | | Gary Player feels that Golf is much more demanding to win a major or a tournament over Tennis. |
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Player emphasized the "animal" bit. He growled when he spoke the word, although, as always, he was careful not to humiliate the inquiring reporter. He's sensitive that way. Still, there was no mistaking his admiration for Woods' fitness. He pretty well brushed off any idea that Federer was anywhere near as fit as Woods. He scoffed at the notion.
Player was asked if he's seen Woods work out. After all, Player spends plenty of time in the gym.
"I've seen him do a few things, and it's frightening," Player answered. "Tiger Woods is a phenomenon. He's a phenomenon in the gym. I'll tell you what I saw him do. I was in Dubai five days ago and he was playing in the afternoon. I was over there designing golf courses. I was in the gym. I turned around and he had two 25 pound weights."
Player then went into some sort of pantomime while trying to show exactly what Woods was doing with the weights. It wasn't so much the weight Woods was lifting, because 25 pounds aren't much. It was more what he was doing with them, and, Player said, that he was working with them before playing that afternoon.
"This is his warmup," Player said. His point was that Woods was being an animal in the gym before he would play a competitive round, and that he had no problem preparing that way. He was fit enough to handle the stress on his body."
Player couldn't help but mention that he himself would beat most 40-year-olds in the world in a fitness contest. "No question about that," he said. "But Tiger's in a league of his own."
By then Player had long taken over the room. He was putting on a show. This was better than any Johnny Carson monologue (for readers old enough to remember Carson; for younger readers, try Jay Leno or David Letterman). Player moved into his belief that 7' golfers are around the corner, and that the USGA has a "massive headache" coming because its rules prohibit clubs longer than 48". To demonstrate his point, Player stood on a chair and bent down as if he were holding a club.
"This is how they're going to be," he demonstrated as he bent over and asked whether the USGA would expect the 7-footer to play from that hunched-over position. "Is that going to happen? They have to think about that."
Player went on. But what lingered the most, what resonated the most, was his
comment that Woods in the gym is an animal. The animal's at Doral this week,
and he's the overwhelming favourite, just as Federer is favored in Key
Biscayne. Player said Woods is a "phenomenon," and that he is. Is the
phenomenon up to the task of winning his third in a row at Doral? Put it
this way: Would you bet against him?
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