Tiger Woods -vs- Roger Federer. Who is better at their sport and which sport is more difficult?

Question

Here is another one where there is no "Correct" answer. I am very much interested in your opinions however.

Both are at the top of their game. Is Tiger a more dominant golfer than Federer is a dominant Tennis player? Is it easier to return a 130mph+ serve than it is to hit a 6 Iron out of a bunker over water to a small green?

Again, I don't believe that there is a right or wrong answer. I am however interested in your opinions.

Thanks.

Answer 1

Tiger Woods is the better athlete and more dominate at his sport than Federer. Why?

Because every time that Tiger Woods plays in a major golf tournament/event, his is competing against a field of approx. 150 guys who all have the ability and realistic expectation of winning without it being an upset.

However, Tiger Woods continues to dominate the field of golf even when he has an "off" day. People always have the expectation that Tiger Woods will win regardless of how many strokes back he may be in a particular tournament and they have not been wrong. Woods actually has fulfilled that expectation several times by turning in outstanding performances on his second and third day to win the trophy/tournament.

Federer however may compete against other men on the USTA tour, but out of the hundreds that enter, everyone knows that realistically only the top 10 or 20 players actually have a shot to win. Therefore the others are really not a threat and Federer usually does not have to watch video tape of the 50th, 60th, 70th seed and prepare a defense for them.

Not to mention that Federer is really dominate on hard-court surfaces but not really on grass or clay. Therefore, while I agree that Federer is a good player I do not think that he possess the same dominance of his sport as Tiger Woods does with golf.

Another point to keep in mind is that they actually had to change the majority of golf courses "Tiger Proof" them by making the courses more difficult because when they were unchanged Tiger Woods was dominating the field with his long distance shots and was leaving his closest competitors behind in his ability.

"Tiger Proofing" is something they still continue to do to this day and that still hasn't stopped Woods from continuing to win the majority of tournaments. USTA on the other hand has never had to change the tennis court or playing surface because Roger Federer is so superior that he cannot be reckoned with or is considered unbeatable.

Remember: Nadal, Roddick and others have beaten Federer in the past and that expectation is not unrealistic. With golf, Phil Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, Vijay Singh, and others get very nervous when Tiger Woods still has an outside chance of winning and it affects their play mentally and physically, which is not the same for the opponents of Federer. They actually believe they can beat him and they succeed.

Therefore, I believe that Tiger Woods is the most dominate. The proof is that he won the ESPN WHO'S NOW Ultimate Sports Star by being voted the most dominate athlete by easily defeating Lebron James in the championship once again in the final matchup of the year by a fan vote of 65.1 percent to 34.9 percent. I agree that the fans have spoken.

Be realistic, Tiger Woods may have admitted that Roger Federer is the more dominate athlete but what's he supposed to do? An announcer sticks a microphone in your face during and interview and asks you if you think you or the other guy is better. If he answers that he is, he looks arrogant, conceited, and like he expects to always win which will anger the fans, sponsors, and his fellow competitors. On the other hand, if he says that Federer is better he looks humble and like an unconceited team player.

However, the results indicate different but I agree that pro tennis atheletes have to be in good shape. However, being in good shape did not gaurantee Anna Kournikova or James Blake a championship did it? Not to mention that if Tiger were to take off his shirt I'm sure he's in much better shape thank Mickelson, Sergio Garcia, and any other golfer on the circuit not to mention the average citizen, so the argumen that he's fat and out of shape doesn't hold up. He may or may not be in as good a shape as most tennis players but he certainly isn't fat and out of shape.

Answer 2

I think tennis requires more athletic ability. I base that more or less on the fact that people in their 40's can compete with the world's best on the golf course. Tennis players are usually out of the mix in their early 30's.

I would rate Tiger and Roger as pretty close, relatively speaking. Woods has a great chance to be the best ever, who is probably Nicklaus at the moment. (You could make a case for Bobby Jones, but it's almost a different game back then.) Federer has a few more majors to catch Sampras, although I would argue that Rod Laver -- who missed several years of Slam events because of the silly pro/amateur debate -- is the real competition.

Answer 3

First of all, tennis players are world class athletes. Golfers I would not consider athletes. Who is better at their sport? Without a doubt it is Roger Federer. Look at the facts. Roger won 11 majors in 4 years, it took Tiger like 10 years to win that many majors.

Answer 4

I go with Tiger. He's already up there with the all time greats, Federrer, young as he is, has more to prove to join the league of tennis greats. Also the current level of competition in golf is superior to tennis. But I have to agree that tennis is the tougher game to play. And tennis players have shorter carreers compared to golfers who can still swing when they are old and grey.

Answer 5

tiger woods is better at his sport because he has no competition he plays against fat people no offence. and is tennis the more difficult because actually move, sweat and get tired have u ever seen golf player get tired only when there is when temp gets hotter and they complain about it wah wah golf is a crap sport. you have to be in excellent physical shape to last 5 sets
tennis much better than golf

Answer 6

roger is better in my opinion but tennis is harder to play than golf, but golf you have to concentrate alot more

Answer 7

Roger is better, even Tiger admitted that.

Answer 8

roger, n tennis is alot more difficult.