How much would your opinion of Tiger change if . . .

KOBEcollector

if it was learned that Tiger had dabbled in PED's . . I was just watching the Golf Channel and they mentioned that before Tiger turned pro he said he resembled a 1- iron and now he's built more like a safety in the NFL.

Would we think of him in the same boat as Bonds, Mac and Sosa or is Golf a whole different animal ?

Does the PGA even have drug tests ?

perkdog

An even better question would be if the same people would want him to get shot in the head like they did Barry Bonds....

Barndog

I think PGA has started testing or will soon (maybe vitosomethingorother will sign in and clarify). If he was caught doing PEDs, I'd say Jack Nicklaus would stand as the greatest golfer ever. That title is Tiger's if he keeps up his current pace without PEDs

Tomi

I remember months ago hearing about drug testing in golf. Not sure if it's going to happen. I wouldn't care if he tested positive since I'm not a fan of golf, but just the name Tiger Woods would be a story no matter what the news is. Since he is one of the biggest athletes on the planet there would probably be some backlash since he is that much better than everyone else. But let's be realistic, golfers on the tour don't exactly look like athletes anyway so I'm sure many people would think that Tiger is on something. It's obviously a mental sport and PED's would probably help when playing a long day where you need some extra strength, but I think the mental aspect is the dominating aspect. The only sport that has a black eye from drugs is baseball since numbers in other sports don't mean as much as baseball numbers. I have seen him swell up over the last couple of years and it would be very interesting to know if it's true or not. In this day and age, I have a hard time believing what any athlete says.

TomGshotput

If he just dabbled in them I would be somewhat disappointed. We're not talking about a middle aged guy, making $50k who just wants to feel a few years younger. This is a guy who could be the greatest athlete and greatest sports figure of a generation. Either stay off them completely or use them fullest benefit possible

WinPitcher

Yeah that must have helped his short game....


Steve

lsutigers1973

Steroids would provide very little if any extra power to a golfer. Tiger's power (as is the same with any golfer) is from his hip rotation and swing mechanics not from his strength. Professional golfers also survive and thrive based on their short game which is solely based on finesse and has absolutely nothing to do with strength.

joestalin

you drive for show and putt for dough. The short game is much more important than anything you can do off the
tee. Sure 20 foot eagle shots are better than 20 foot birdie putts, but if you can't work it around the green
you won't win squat. That's what seperates the pros who can drive it 250+ from the weekend warriors who
can rip it 250+. There isn't much finesse in what Bonds was doing, hit it a long way and win. Golf is
different.

Kevin

lsutigers1973

I think hell just froze over. Kevin and I agree. He just worded it differently.

joestalin

<< <i>I think hell just froze over. Kevin and I agree. He just worded it differently. >>



It must of been my drive through Louisiana today! You close to Hammond?

Kevin

lsutigers1973

About 5 miles north of Hammond.

I just tend to defend golfers even if I knew they were roided up. I only eigh about 175 and I can drive a golf ball further than your average golfer. Has nothing to do with strength. Has everything to do with hip rotation and speed of release.

TomGshotput

Wasn't there a general consensus for a long time that steroids wouldn't help baseball players?

TomGshotput

<< <i>Has nothing to do with strength. Has everything to do with hip rotation and speed of release. >>



Wasn't it widely accepted that the guys winning the Long Drive competitions were using drugs?

Once the golfer knows how to put his body in the correct positions, shouldn't a greater cross section of muscle usually help the club move faster?

JackWESQ

Perhaps it is simply opposite sides of the same coin, but it appears to me that the majority of the responses here address whether PEDs would improve a golfer's game. In that regard, the answer appears to be no ... though TomGshotput seems to have doubts. As such, the responses appear to be RESULTS driven. But the original query was ...


<< <i>How much would your opinion of Tiger change if it was learned that Tiger had dabbled in PED's >>


My response would be that I would do a complete 180 degrees. Because it would likely mean that at some point, Tiger made the CONSCIOUS DECISION to use a PEDs and, depending on the substance, break the law. So then I pose these questions: Is cheating bad in a vacuum? Or is cheating bad only when positive results are derived? For me, cheating is bad in a vacuum as I focus on the decision to cheat, successful or otherwise.

/s/ JackWESQ

stevek

Maybe he's been using corked golf clubs.

jradke4

lets see, when he turned pro he was what 20?!?! so before that he was in his teens in HS and College. When he turned pro he had more time to train and work out in the gym and get older. PED's wont help your short game or putting where he is a wiz. yes he is a long hitter but always was even when he as a 1-iron.

to be honest the only thing that PED's did for Big Mac, other than ballon his head, was to let him play more games and recover faster. remember his rookie year he hit like 47 hrs. he could always hit the long ball but as he got older it was harder for him to recover from nagging injuries etc.

VitoCo1972

Vitosomethingorother here to chime in Barndog!

Here's my opinion...

I think there are guys on the Tour who take PED's, but it's frankly not all that beneficial in golf. The real problem in golf are Beta blockers. Those things help slow your heart rate and keep you from having your heart beat out of your chest when you're standing over 8 foot putts to win majors. Nicklaus never had the benefit of stuff like that. Now, sports psychologists can put you on legal and illegal supplements like that.

I've seen Tiger in person through the years. Would I even raise an eyebrow if he were revealed to have done steroids? Not at all. His physique is almost impossible to obtain by a regular gym-goer (even a 6-7 day/week regimen), but then again he has 3-4 trainers so who knows. If it came out that he had done steroids, I think the PGA Tour would be nearly ruined by sagging TV Ratings and casual-fan disinterest. I'd still love it, but i can't say the same for many. PGA Tour Commissioner Tim Finchem knows where his bread is buttered. You better believe Tiger never actually writes any of those checks for the "fines" they impose against him for swearing. And you should also be cautioned that even if he did test positive, it would be covered up without a second thought.

alpemomo

I have stated this before and will again

Steroids DO NOT make you bigger or stronger or faster, it allows you to recover faster so you can workout or practice more often and with more energy. So here's how steroids will help a golfer, baseball player, basketball player, cyclist or any other athelete.

For those who play golf, imagine if you can play 3 full games of golf and take a substance that will allow you to wake up the next morning feeling like you have had 3 days off and can put in another 3 games - will the added rounds, quick recoup and enhanced energy make you a better golfer? Sure wouldnt hurt.... specially id the other guy is only playing 2 games every 3 days

Same for anything other sport - bottom line, if PEDs didnt work they would not use them. As competitive as Tiger is (or any other athelete) do you believe he isn't??