Let’s stop comparing Tiger, Jack

I’ve gone back and forth this week on whether to address the Tiger Woods incident.

At first, I thought it was too TMZ. Three things changed my mind.

First, the fact that there was literally NO alcohol in Woods’ system flabbergasted me.

Second, the Ohio Attorney General filed a lawsuit against drug manufacturers.

And third, this week happens to be Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial Tournament in Columbus.

Do they all go together?

Not necessarily.

But I’ll try to draw a line from one thought to the next.

First off, for anyone who’s watched the recently released “arrest / dashcam” video, is it hard to believe there was no alcohol involved in that?

For those who haven’t seen it — Tiger’s car was halfway outside the right lane of a street not far from his house in Jupiter, Fla. The wheels on one side of the car were flat. The car was running. And Tiger was asleep at the wheel.

When they got him out, he first thought he was in California. Later, couldn’t recite his ABCs or remember talking to the first officer.

I’m certainly not condoning it, but I could see alcohol affecting someone like that. The astonishing part to me in this case is that Tiger blew a 0.00 in the breathalyzer.

A 0.00.

Tiger literally couldn’t recite the ABCs and it all came from legally prescribed drugs. That amazes me.

The line to the second thought is easy to see as Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine filed a lawsuit this week against multiple drug manufacturers.

The stat I heard on the news today blew my mind just as much as the Tiger thought from above:

Ohioans last year took, on average, 68 prescription pills — including newborns, infants, and children. Sixty-eight pills for every single Ohioan?

Obviously I’m not a doctor. And I’m a huge fan of technological advancements in the medical community.

But I can’t watch that Tiger video, coupled with the stat of 68 prescription pills for every single man, woman and child in Ohio, and not think that we have a prescription drug problem in this country.

Tiger Woods may be the new face of the problem.

The line to the third thought is slightly harder to see. But I wanted to try to inject something positive and golf-oriented to the critical thoughts from above.

There have always been “the next Nicklaus” comments and comparisons between Nicklaus and Woods. For a multi-year stretch, I was a firm believer Tiger would be considered the greatest that ever lived.

And while I fully believe in having your day in court and don’t want to make a statement based on a pending outcome, let’s be clear about this: the comparisons between Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods need to officially end.

Tiger may have had a more dominant five-year stretch.

But then you have to look at the whole picture: Playing career; golf-related businesses; family man; reputation; trustworthiness; respect levels; philanthropy; lasting effect on the sport; etc.

To continue to compare these two men in any way moving forward is disrespectful to the greatest golfer who ever lived.

I hope Woods owns up to whatever demons he’s facing and becomes a positive asset in our country’s overall fight against drug addiction. I’ll root for that comeback all day long.

For the rest of us within the golf community, let’s appreciate the overall career of Jack Nicklaus.

He’s still building courses, starting businesses, and continuing to impact the long-term outlook of the sport more than anyone — current players included.

Here’s to you Mr. Nicklaus.

Jonah Karzmer is a former golf professional who writes a Sunday golf column for The Vindicator. In his spare time he sells commercial insurance and loves getting feedback on his weekly columns via email at Jonah@thekarzmerinsurance.com.