[Photo: Andy Lyons\/Getty Images]<\/p>\n
Tiger Woods is the same age as me, which is where all comparisons between us end. It means, however, that I have lived and worked throughout the entire \u2018Tiger Era\u2019 that either ended circa-2019 or still continues in some fashion to this day, depending on your viewpoint.<\/p>\n
RELATED: Take your game to the next level, like Scottie Scheffler<\/a><\/p>\n During the period when Tiger dominated the sport, a few contenders to his throne emerged, each with differing degrees of impact and longevity. David Duval was perhaps the first and even removed the world No.1 mantle from Woods. But Duval collected just a single major during his attempted overthrow and quickly disappeared from the battlefield.<\/p>\n Vijay Singh arguably authored the strongest rivalry. The towering Fijian blossomed most prolifically in 2004, at precisely the time of one of Woods\u2019 rare dips in form (he won just once all season and \u2018plummeted\u2019 to fourth on the PGA Tour moneylist). Singh brought a combination of talent, drive and an insatiable work ethic that was a level up from most challengers to Woods\u2019 empire.<\/p>\n RELATED: Scottie Scheffler is poised to knock off Tiger Woods for this amazing career money milestone<\/a><\/p>\n I always felt Ernie Els was the one who could stick it to Tiger with the greatest effect. I recall a conversation with the late, great Jack Newton in the early 2000s when he opined the same way. And on paper, Els probably did challenge Woods more than any other player. But in doing so, he also suffered the deepest wounds. When you come so close so many times only to fall short, it leaves a scar. Woods even famously quipped to caddie Steve Williams ahead of one final-round pairing with Els, \u201cIf we can break him just one more time, he might go away,\u201d or words to that effect.<\/p>\n Phil Mickelson was perhaps the only other genuine threat. The pair offered such a study in contrasts, but Phil gave Tiger too much of a head start on the majors front and never assumed world No.1. He lasted the longest, sure, but rarely squeezed past his fellow Californian when it mattered most.<\/p>\n RELATED: How Scottie Scheffler got so good<\/a><\/p>\n Since that foursome, Rory McIlroy, Brooks Koepka and Scottie Scheffler have been the only names with enough clout to be considered contenders, although the latter two have enjoyed far shorter overlaps with Woods\u2019 playing career. (That is a salient point in these discussions now, as this exercise moves further towards being a post-Tiger conversation.)<\/p>\n Dustin Johnson, Jordan Spieth and even our own Adam Scott and Jason Day have made it to No.1 in the world, but without the sustained dominance of Tiger and the primary contenders.<\/p>\n McIlroy\u2019s late majors push (to reach six), along with Koepka\u2019s five and Scheffler\u2019s four have seen them as the only players to push past the three-majors barrier that Spieth and Padraig Harrington reached.<\/p>\n Most PGA Tour wins, last 5 seasons<\/p>\n Scottie Scheffler, 21 \u2014 Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) August 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n Most consecutive multi-win seasons, PGA Tour last 40 years:<\/p>\n Phil Mickelson, 6, 2004-09 \u2014 Justin Ray (@JustinRayGolf) August 16, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n “Majors and minors”<\/p>\n Since the @PGATour<\/a> started the elevated events (minors) in 2023, here’s a list of players that have multiple wins across majors and “minors”.<\/p>\n 15: Scheffler (4 majors, 11 minors)<\/p>\n 5: McIlroy (2 majors, 3 minors)<\/p>\n 4: Hovland (0 majors, 4 minors)
Rory McIlroy, 11
Viktor Hovland, 6
Xander Schauffele, 6<\/p>\n
Tiger Woods, 5, 1999-03
Tiger Woods, 5, 2005-09
Scottie Scheffler, 5, 2022-26<\/p>\n
4: Wyndham (2\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/Oufj8pUrz6<\/a><\/p>\n