Tiger named the fittest of them all

Tiger Woods must have the most impressive resume of any college dropout since Bill Gates. And the accolades and honors don’t stop even when he’s not playing.

This week, as Woods rehabbed his knee in Florida, Men’s Fitness magazine named him the “Fittest Guy in America.” The award might not be on the level of a Masters title, but Woods did face some tough competition from the likes of Will Smith, Browns quarterback Brady Quinn, Phillies second baseman Chase Utley and someone called “Mark Steines.”

When you look at old photos, Woods’s transformation from a lanky college kid to his current superhero-in-disguise physique is even more impressive. Last year he gave an excellent interview to Men’s Fitness, where he described his fitness routine, which consists of stretching, weight training and distance running. (His trainer, however, would not reveal how much Woods can lift.)

Woods enhances his weight training with extensive core training (“I like doing situps, thoroughly enjoy them,” he says. “I think they’re fun. You have that lactic acid buildup and you can still go through it. I just enjoy the feeling of it.”) and running, including three-mile “speed” runs and “endurance” runs of up to seven miles. (“I just enjoy running; it’s fun to me,” says Woods. “Some people hate it. But I get a nice sense of calm in running. I just find it peaceful.”)

Those gym rats at Men’s Fitness clearly respect the world’s best player, but we’re not sure how much they respect golf. Here’s the first reason Men’s Fitness gives for selecting Woods: “Because he made us care about a sport we didn’t think was, well, a sport.”

Ouch!

(Photo: Robert Beck/SI)

Comments

[Michael Russing]

I stand by my comments. Yes 5 ladies, anytime...only a nitwit would give my 15 mins.

[EM]

Gentlemen, might I suggest you hit 500 golf balls a day for seven days in a row. Attempt to keep your swing speed over 110 mph if that is at all possible. I am certain it is isn't. Then post a report if you are able to do anything at all after your so called work out. I suspect most will looking for a therapist and an enormous amount of drugs to combat the pain.

Quite frankly, I do just that about every day over the summer, I will spend 5-6 hours practicing golf and after golf practice I typically go and run between 4-7 miles and lift weights some days. Obviously, I worked up to the level I am at, but come on hitting 10+ bags of golf balls and then maybe doing a "workout" isn't really that demanding. Perhaps, for an older person that isn't used to hitting any balls or doing any sort of fitness activity this could be very demanding and strenous but for the average Joe I just don't see what was described above being terribly difficult.

As far as Tiger goes his ability to hit lots of balls, walk the course etc. doesn't really impress me. What does however is the intensity, focus, and dififculty of his workouts and obviously his absurd golf skills. I would also be curious to know how MF defined "Fit" because while Tiger is obviously very strong and in very good "cardio" shape I don't see how he compares to say, Haile Gebrselassie. Simpl put Tiger isn't the strongest and nor is he the fastest.

[Rajpal Gurm]

OK guys and gals.....please stop arguing. Let's call his wife and ask her what she thinks.

[Leigh]

Being fit does not mean being a professional athlete...and vice-versa. Most athletes are "fit-for-purpose" and their fitness reflects that purpose. Football linemen are heavy, bicyclists look like T-Rex's - monster thighs, tiny arms, tennis players are big time fit, but use one arm to just hold tennis balls...

Tiger is fit - very fit - no doubt about it, and as high profile athletes go he's up there. Bottom-line is that the term "fit" doesn't imply professional athletics. In my neck of the woods you just have to wake up early in the morning and watch some dude running a marathon, after kayaking to Orcas Island and back, before getting on his bike to go to work in downtown Seattle - and that's just to keep in shape and feel good.

[Jarrad]

I would love to have the chance to hit 500 balls a day for 7 days and workout.

[Richard Burgett]

Gentlemen, might I suggest you hit 500 golfballs a day for seven days in a row. Attempt to keep your swing speed over 110 mph if that is at all possible. I am certain it is isn't. Then post a report if you are able to do anything at all after your so called work out. I suspect most will looking for a therapist and an enormous amount of drugs to combat the pain.

[cj]

i'm sure the people with the negative comments about tiger etc are swimmers, rowers, skiers themsleves...blah, blah, blah. yes tiger is fit, yes he is an athlete, and yes golf is a sport. just as some would say nascar is a sport. when they are driving 100 miles an hour and sweating. gotta be in shape for that! gotta be in shape to row, row, row your boat. when golfing you use all your muscles and your mind.
and honestly most single digit golfers would agree with tiger being named the fittest. they know the hard work that needs to be put into a great game. just as in other sports there are atheletes who look out of shape but can perform well enough to be a professional. GO TIGER!

[David in NYC]

I notice that not one person who disagrees with Tiger's being named "Fittest guy in America" has anything remotely resembling a factual reason for their disagreement.

And, along with the usual "golf is not a sport" crap, we have such "brilliant" insights as:
-- "Tiger blew his knee out playing golf" (so effing what?)
-- "John Daly plays golf too" (again, SFW?)
-- "Camillo Villegas is fitter" (Huh? Based on what evidence?)
-- "Men's Fitness is a gay porn mag" (now, that's just truly stupid -- and even if it's true, again, SFW?)

And then there's my favorite, from some nitwit named Michael Russing, who claims "There are 5 ladies at my gym that could crush him in fitness standards."

Hey, Michael, just because all the women at your gym (assuming you actually exercise at all) could beat you to a bloody pulp doesn't mean that they are fitter than Tiger Woods.

I know several 6-year-olds who could kick your butt at any IQ-related competition (based on your idiotic comment), but that doesn't make them smarter than Einstein.

[Shorty51]

Let's see, basketball is a sport where a tall guy can run up and down a court and get a ball through a basket--these guys must be fit. Sounds more like a particular skill to me than fitness. Must not be a sport.

Baseball. A player only has to be able to run, hit, throw or catch a baseball, not necessarily all of those. Must not be a sport.

Football, an assortment of odd, and often otherwise worthless body types with an equally odd assortment of skills. Must not be a sport.

I used to bike and marathon, but couldn't do much else. Was very fit, but not uniform bodywide. Guess they aren't sports, either.

Fit guys (and women) in any or all of the above...CERTAINLY!!!

[Michael Russing]

There are 5 ladies at my gym that could crush him in fitness standards. I can only hope that Tiger thinks that Men's Fitness is as stupid as the rest of us do.

[Charles RICHARDSON]

I THINK WHAT, TIGER HAS DON FOR GOLF IS A, AGREAT THING BY GETTING IN SHAPE AN PLAYING IN TOP FORM EVERTIME, ALSO BEING A GREAT EXAMPLE FOR THOSE GYM RATS WHO ONLY GO IN THERE AN LIFT WEIGHT AND GET IN EVERYBODY WAY.TIGER,RUNS AND DO EVERYTHING WRIGHT.THAT IS WHY HE IS IN GREAT SHAPE AND CUT UP SO,WELL WELL,YOU ,MIRROR RATS.FROM FITNESS ,MAGIZINE SHOULD BE GLAD. HE IS ON FRONT PAGE OF YOUR MAGIZINE.THANKS FOR LETTING ME COMMENT ON THIS.ARTICLE

[mateo]

Walk 18 four days in a row- you will be fried. You will throw away many, many shots. To call Tiger fitter than cyclists, swimmers, and elite UFC is only true when you factor in his mind- he is actually a biathlete.

It would show a lot more if the lads still played 36 in a day.

[Sandy Bartlett]

You guys make me laugh, bunch of fat wanabbe couch potatoes who couldnt break 90 on the local course, rippin on Tiger. BTW, The AP has voted Tiger male athlete of the year 3 times. The only other athlete to gain that distinction is Michael Jordan. Who plays golf with Tiger. Wanna guess who wins?

[greg jackson]

If you really want to understand Tigers level of fitness read some of the quotes from the non-golf coaches at Stanford when he was attending school there. Comments like pound for pound he is the strongest athlete that have have seen go through the school. And that was before he got the level of training and the resources he has now

[Jack]

for all you criticizing about golf not being a sport or how it is so easy. 1. why dont you join The Tour 2. What the hell are you doing on golf.com?

[mdhessex]

Men's Fitness is a joke...everyone knows that. It's basically a soft porn magazine for gay men.

[john brown]

why does every one suck up to t woods, even the news cast do,

[tgsevers81]

First, the question of qolf being a sport is relative to what it's being compared to. Compared to football, basketball or baseball, golf is definitely not a sport. Now compared to poker, golf is without a doubt a sport. I golf, I don't consider it a sport but rather highly practiced skill. Tiger being the fittest guy in America is laughable. He might not even be the fittest guy in golf...i.e. Camillo Vallegas! Mens Fitness: "Gee if we name Tiger, the most recognizable international figure, as the fittest person do you think we can sell a few extras magazines this month?"

[tgsevers81]

First, the question of qolf being a sport is relative to what it's being compared to. Compared to football, basketball or baseball, golf is definitely not a sport. Now compared to poker, golf is without a doubt a sport. I golf, I don't consider it a sport but rather highly practiced skill. Tiger being the fittest guy in America is laughable. He might not even be the fittest guy in golf...i.e. Camillo Vallegas! Mens Fitness: "Gee if we name Tiger, the most recognizable international figure, as the fittest person do you think we can sell a few extras magazines this month?"

[Eric]

I'd be willing to believe that Tiger's abilities can exceed golf, but obviously that's his focus.

What I don't understand is where is Lance Armstrong? Guy can do marathon biking and running. Is this a "fit" competition, or a "huge" competition?

Lastly, Brady Quinn?? Give me a break...of course he looks great, all he ever does is lift since, ya know, he never gets in the games. There's your marketing right there, that guy is overrated in every sense of the word.

[Kevin]

Tiger winning the title of fittest is obviously a marketing scheme. I can buy it if he was named fittest golfer, but thats about it. Anyway, bottom line, Tigers sells magazine. Unfortunately, it doesn't help Men's Fitness' credibility.

[Gustavo Millan]

Toda mi vida practiqué football, que es muy desgastante por que se trata de un deporte de contacto y choque. Pero desde que comencé a jugar al golf, les puedo asegurar que es mucho más agotador, no sólo desde el punto de vista físico, sino sobre todo desde el mental. Pero lo que nos enamora del golf a todos lo que lo practicamos, es que no hay trampas ni dudas.

[Shorty51]

I forgot to mention.
I have seen Tiger at a distance of less than 6 feet.
He IS one fit dude!

[Shorty51]

Did the article say that he needed to be fit just to play golf? Or, did it say that he was just the fittest?
It seems to me that there is a mental part to every sport.
Why do we have poker on TV?

[mike]

Carry a bag??????????? Pro golfers.....especially Tiger, never caries a bag. He is still in far better shape than anyoe posting here. Get up close to him on the tee box when he belts a 350 yard drive. I mean right behind him! Your opinion will change. You would break your back in half if you tried it. That dude is in shape!

[Zach Morris]

hahahahhah are you serious? Any "sport" where a fat guy such as John Daly can be good at is clearly not a sport. How hard is it to carry a golf bag?

Uhh...John Daly isn't good. He hasn't been for the past decade. Tiger Woods has made golfers to train and ultimately become athletes to stay in the game.

Golf isn't a sport? Try generating 100-120 mph swing speeds at least 144 times over a 1-4 day span with mathematic precision. Then carry 10 lbs for 4 miles during that same timeframe. In 70-90 weather, or 50-70 with windspeeds between 10 and 30 miles per hour.

People who say golf isn't a sport are too weak in strength and mind to play it.

[W. E. King]

What a joke!

Shows what Men's Fitness knows. Fitter than world class swimmers, runners, cross country skiers and rowers?

Give me a break!

[W. E. King]

What a joke!

Shows what Men's Fitness knows. Fitter than world class swimmers, runners, cross country skiers and rowers?

Give me a break!

[AC Slater]

"Go out and play 18 holes (carrying your golf bag) on a 90 degree day and then make up your mind as to whether golf is a sport or not. Could be the most demanding mental/physical sport there is (to play well, that is)."

hahahahhah are you serious? Any "sport" where a fat guy such as John Daly can be good at is clearly not a sport. How hard is it to carry a golf bag?

[AC]

Go out and play 18 holes (carrying your golf bag) on a 90 degree day and then make up your mind as to whether golf is a sport or not. Could be the most demanding mental/physical sport there is (to play well, that is).

[michael]

Tiger the most fit? I don't think so. Please....

[t.h.]

yeah. "Ouch!" i'm pretty sure that's what tiger thinks every morning when he wakes up in his $40 million dollar jupiter home, looks into elin's eyes, and goes, jeez, i'm only 32 years old, the greatest golfer in history, make OVER $100 million a year, married a gorgeous UNDERSWEAR model and am world famous. "Ouch! sucks that some 'reporter' at men's fitness thinks i'm not an athlete."

[rick]

The guy blew out his knee playing golf. Give me a break

[Ron Biggins]

Can anyone tell me why golf is not a sport?

[emmanuel]

Are you guys serious? The fittest man in America?,or fitter that other golfers. For a (sport???) where you spend 90 per cent walking. Nobody in their right mind can believe this.

[MaxCat]

The folks at Men's Fitness are just another old club in the garage bag when it comes to thinking golf is not a real sport.
You know that club, the one with the hickory handle and worn out clubhead. Oh yeah and the one nobody plays with anymore.