Lay off Tiger’s rivals - Faxon

Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player may have 34 major titles between them, but they are wrong to criticise Tiger Woods’ main rivals.

That was the view expressed today by American Brad Faxon on the eve of his appearance in the Barclays Scottish Open at Loch Lomond.

Golf’s three most successful players of the 1960s and 1970s have each commented recently about the failure of anybody to mount a lasting challenge to Woods so far.

The world number one has won seven of the last 11 majors - all of them from the front - and at the Open at Muirfield next week will be trying to achieve the third leg of an unprecedented Grand Slam.

But as he prepares for that in Ireland, over in Scotland Faxon spoke out in defence of the likes of Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els and David Duval.

A player director of the US Tour and vice-president of the PGA of America, Faxon prefaced his remarks by saying: ‘‘I guess if I am going to come into a press centre and say something controversial, then here it comes.’’

The 40-year-old, winner of over $10m in his career and a member of the 1995 and 1997 Ryder Cup teams, then stated: ‘‘I laugh at these guys like Player, Nicklaus and Palmer that say we don’t have enough players that are stepping up to Tiger.

‘‘I think that is ridiculous. I think if Tiger was playing when those guys were playing Jack wouldn’t have 18 majors and Arnold and Gary wouldn’t have as many as they do (seven and nine respectively).

‘‘He is better than anyone who has ever played and for them to think that the competition now is not so good is absolutely ridiculous because in every sport we have tremendous improvements in skill, athleticism, techniques, mental concentration. Everything is better.

‘‘It is more difficult to win on any tour now because of the amount of people who can compete. Where it used to be that you could pick a handful of guys every week that could play and win. Now you can pick 50 guys that can win.

‘‘For Tiger to be so much more dominant now is way more impressive than somebody who was that dominant then. So I laugh at those guys.

‘‘I am not taking away anything they have done. What they did was spectacular and is spectacular and I mean that. But the level of competition now is better.

‘‘I think there is some jealousy as a matter of fact. Their records are going to be broken.

‘‘I think it is disrespectful to the Ernie Els, Phil Mickelsons and David Duvals when they say they are not good enough.

‘‘There is an element of intimidation about Tiger and I’m sure there was when Jack was around. But when Jack was winning all his tournaments he wasn’t complaining that technology was too good and we should rein back the ball.

‘‘That would have been a lot more valid then than now when he is sixty-something years old and not competitive out here.’’

Nicklaus described Woods’ victory at the Masters in April as ‘‘a piece of cake’’ as all his main challengers fell away on the last day.

‘‘He didn’t do anything the last nine holes except stay out of harm’s way. They (the others) were worried about somebody else instead of worrying about themselves.’’

Els has admitted that it is easy to ‘‘get kind of sucked into’’ Woods’ game plan, while, after playing the final round of the US Open with Woods last month, Sergio Garcia said: ‘‘It doesn’t get much better than this. He’s unbelievable. He’s able to do whatever it takes.’’