Tiger Woods 2006 Golf Game...Baseball, Football and Hockey too?

What if Tiger Woods took up a sport other than golf as a child? Where would he stack up against other great athletes of today? This is the premise of an article I read on PGATour.com which pits Woods’ recent milestone of fifty tour wins and career achievements up against other greats in the world of sports.

Although the story compares Woods’ record to that of Roger Clemens, Reggie Jackson, Charles Barkley and Wayne Gretzky, there is no consideration for the possibility that if Tiger decided to chuck it all in right now and become a hoop star, would he be equally as successful?

One of the ways to look at this query would be to consider those who have attempted to foray into different professional sports and their ultimate levels of success.

For example, let’s begin with the legendary Dave Winfield who, although not a professional golfer, is quite good I hear. But would the former Yankee slugger and Blue Jays World Series ring wearer be able to contend on the golf course if given the same tutelage as Woods was given by his dad?

Winfield was successful at three different sports; baseball, football and basketball, so it is quite possible that he could have made his mark on the greens as well.

Bronco legend John Elway was drafted by the Yankees, so he was good enough to make it to the pros and it is understood that with the proper training, could have been a great golfer. He is not only a member at Castle Pines and Cherry Hills CC but also maintains a two handicap!

Deion Sanders was not only a fabulous pro football player but had TWO professional careers at the same time! While playing for the Falcons, I understand that he was flown by helicopter to a World Series game where he was a member of the Atlanta Braves team.

The list of those who have excelled at more than one sport is great and I have no doubt that Tiger Woods could be a well-established hockey player (if he can skate well…just look at Mike Weir) or an equally top-level stock car driver if and when he decides that golf no longer holds any mystery for him.

In my opinion, Tiger Woods still has many more stats to crush and until he does he should stay right where he is, at the top of the heap in professional golf. There are way too many Playstation games out there anyway.