GolfMagic builds the perfect golfer to beat Tiger Woods
The team at GolfMagic has teamed up to build the perfect golfer in an attempt to create a player who could beat Tiger Woods in his prime.
It's fair to say that Tiger Woods, in his prime, was almost the perfect golfer. He had everything: iron play, driving, putting, wedges and perhaps most importantly, mentality.
Now, the intriguing question arises. How would one go about constructing a golfer capable of challenging a prime Woods?
Well, the team at GolfMagic has stepped in to help out.
Equipment Editor Alex Lodge, Videographer Will Ward and Reviews Editor Johnny Percival have meticulously selected their perfect players, considering five different characteristics: driving, iron play, short game, putting and mentality.
Let's get into it.
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Equipment Editor Alex Lodge
Driving: Bryson DeChambeau
Alex's first pick is a thrilling one, as he's chosen one of the most powerful drivers to ever grace the PGA Tour.
DeChambeau's heroics with a driver in hand are well documented, and his power and long-hitting helped him claim his only major championship at the 2020 US Open.
The physics major has one of the more unconventional swings on the circuit, but boy, can he shift it off the tee.
Iron Play: Rory McIlroy
A pretty straightforward pick for Alex here, McIlroy has been the man to beat on the PGA Tour for what feels like a lifetime now, and his prodigious iron play has been a huge factor in that.
The Northern Irishman is a generational ball striker and has rightfully earned his spot in Alex's perfect player build.
McIlroy has won almost everything there is to win in the professional game. At his peak, when he won four majors in quick succession, he was close to unbeatable, barely putting a foot wrong with his irons.
Short Game: Jordan Spieth
An escape artist of the highest calibre, Jordan Spieth is capable of brilliance with a wedge in his hand.
His iconic recovery at the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits lives long in the memroy, but its one of many truly jaw dropping moments the American has produced around the greens in his glittering career.
Putting: Jordan Spieth
In his prime, Jordan Spieth was a putting machine. Whether it was 2 feet or 50 feet, he made them from everywhere.
During his peak, between 2015-2017, Spieth was prodigious with the flat stick in his hand, and while his form has dropped in recent years, Alex has opted to pick prime Spieth for argument's sake.
Mentality: Brooks Koepka
When you think of alpha male golfers, Brooks Koepka is right at the top of that list.
When it's time to play major championship golf, Koepka turns into a different beast, and with five to his name, his ability to focus when he needs to close out victory is close to unparalleled in the modern era.
Johnny Percival
Driving: Dustin Johnson
With the first pick in this draft it would have been easy to pick Rory McIlroy, but where's the fun in that.
Dustin Johnson in his prime was a monster off the tee. Not only was he long nut also pin point accurate. His gentle cut used to split fairways for fun, and when he was in his prime during the five year stretch from 2015-2020, there was barely anyone hitting it cleaner than him.
Iron Play: Scottie Scheffler
If you want to beat Tiger Woods, you've gotta have the next best thing in your armoury, and that is Scottie Scheffler's iron play.
The modest American has been virtually unstoppable on the PGA Tour this season, amassing four wins in his last five starts.
Despite his slightly wonky footwork, Scheffler is the premier ball striker on the PGA Tour, and his iron play has been close to faultless for almost two years now.
This was an easy pick.
Short Game: Seve Ballesteros
Ask any golf historian, and they will tell you Seve Ballesteros had magic in his hands when he needed to get up and down.
The greatest escape artist to grace the game, Seve had the delicate touch and creativity to seemingly navigate any situation he landed himself in.
Arguably the greatest short game player of all time, no list would be complete without an inclusion for the charismatic Spaniard.
Putting Bobby Locke
I'm going to be honest, Bobby Locke was far before my time, but if my father is to believed he was one of the best to ever grace the greens.
Brad Faxon also selected Locke in his top ten putters of all time, and he certainly knows what he's talking about.
This pick was for you Dad.
Mentality: Sir Nick Faldo
A mentality monster, Sir Nick Faldo was a serial winner and knew exactly how to get the job done, when he had the chance.
Three Masters wins and three Open Championship wins tells you everything you need to know about Faldo's grit and determination.
Will Ward
Driving: Rory McIlroy
There is a valid argument to be had, that Rory McIlroy is the greatest driver of a golf ball to ever live.
Athletic, long, accurate and consistent, the Northern Irishman has it all.
Considering his relatively small frame, McIlroy manages to create an incredible amount of power thanks to his flawless technique and athletic physique.
Iron Play: Collin Morikawa
Pin point accurate with his irons, Collin Morikawa is one of the most impressive ball strikers in the last five years.
Notoriously he has better accuracy with his six iron than most PGA Tour pros have with their pitching wedges.
That tells you everything you need to know about how devastating Morikawa's iron play can be.
Short Game: Phil Mickelson
Arguably the most flair short game player of all time, Phil the Thrill was and still is a magician with a wedge in his hand.
The controversial golfer has been box office success from day one, and a big part of his success is due to his incredible touch around the greens.
Putting: Jack Nicklaus
You simply don't win 18 major championships without being one of the best putters of all time. It's as simple as that.
Nicklaus had an unorthodox technique on the greens that you wouldn't teach now, but my word could he get the ball in the hole.
If we're going to beat Tiger, it will certainly help having arguably only player that's achieved more in the game of golf.
Mentality: Scottie Scheffler
Humble, focused, determined and seemingly unflappable, Scottie Scheffler has all of the mental characteristics of a true champion.
When his putter began to falter, Scheffler displayed the level of dedication and commitment needed to rise again, and boy has he risen.
In his current form, there's only one man who could probably beat him, and you know who that is, the man were trying to beat, Tiger Woods.
Johnny joined GolfMagic as Reviews Editor in 2023 having worked for Sports Impact for two years as Head of Social Media, working alongside prominent golf brands including Galvin Green, Motocaddy and Wilson.
