Bold statement about Tiger, LOL. If he isn’t very elite, who was? Second to Jack’s majors, but honestly, I don’t think anyone’s ever dominated professional golf like Tiger did in the '99-01 period. Byron, but everyone was off at war.
I have never seen anyone get in a group’s collective head and crush their spirits, the way I saw Tiger do it to the rest of his fields in that period. Maybe Jack was that way too, I dunno. It was like Larry Bird at the All-Star Game 3-point contest, “All right, who’s playing for second place?” Only Tiger did it for years.
Phil’s condition, AIUI, is treatable with some (hideously) expensive medicine. I have bad psoriasis, now psoriasis arthritis, too. With the monoclonal antibodies available, it’s extremely manageable. No doubt, he’s really improved his clubhead speed, and frankly, his focus, as he’s gotten older. It’s great to see.
Tiger’s, OTOH, if his leg is busted, at a certain point it’s not going to get any better. Nothing like Casey Martin, mind, but maybe enough that Tiger not only can’t be Tiger, he might not be able to meaningfully compete in majors. We’ll see. AIUI, Tiger was a range rat early too. His injury sounds bad enough that it might’ve taken all of his prodigious drive and will to even be able to walk again. Nevermind driving one’s body to strike a golf ball at a professional level.
I wish him well. Professional golf is better with him in it. Never met him, or Phil, now that I think about it.