This Week at WorldGolf.com: Feb. 1, 2007

Who's the real top dog? Woods and Federer need a way to decide who is the best

It can be lonely at the top, as we're currently witnessing with Tiger Woods and Swiss tennis star Roger Federer. Both are simply steamrolling through their sports. Woods has won seven PGA events in a row. Federer didn't lose a single set at the Australian Open this past weekend en route to his 10th major at the age of 25.

Federer, on his way to becoming tennis' most dominant player ever, has aced and volleyed through the ranks to become the world's third most popular "Fed" behind "FedEx" and Britney ex Kevin Federline. Tiger lands somewhere between Santa Claus and Ronald McDonald.

With no true rivals of their own, Tiger and "R-Fed" text each other once they've triumphed in their respective parts of the globe. They also hang with each other. Woods unpatriotically supported Federer in primo box seats against Andy Roddick at the U.S. Open in New York just prior to the Ryder Cup last year. Federer tagged along with Woods at a golf tournament in China.

So as long as the fields remain demoralized and the media-appointed Number Two's Phil Mickelson and Andy Roddick throw jabs a kangaroo would scoff at, we are left no choice but to square these two "Kings of the Country Club" against each other.

Woods trumps Federer in a few categories. The most glaring is that he's won all four majors, while Federer inexplicably can't win on clay at the French Open. Tiger is also so dominant, he can keep winning streaks alive despite losing on multiple occasions. He pronounced the streak dead last fall. This week however, we're simply clarifying what a "streak" is, and he's won seven in a row.

That being said, versus the field in a major, I would put my money on Federer, not Woods. There are too many variables in golf that could potentially haunt Woods. You can get lucky/unlucky in golf more than tennis. I think tennis relies on pure athleticism and talent more. You can't get a "fried egg" or a bad bounce like in golf.

But until someone challenges them in their respective fields, the only interesting way to compare the two would be on American Gladiators. In that case, my money is on Woods. Are Turbo or Gemini still around?

As always, WorldGolf.com welcomes your comments.

Miami's toughest golf
courses will have you
shaking on the first tee

Every golfer knows about the dreaded Blue Monster at the Doral Golf Resort. This amazing course has been hosting PGA Tour events for more than 40 years, and has a well-deserved reputation for being as challenging a course as you'll play. Still, the beautiful city of Miami has plenty of other golf courses with frightening slope ratings and ridiculous challenges.

Also: Super Bowl means golf in Miami

Golf For Beginners podcast:
Tiger Woods has knee surgery
and doesn't miss a step

Barry and Stacy Solomon take a look at Tiger Woods' victory at the Buick Invitational, while Barry relate his own knee surgery to Tiger's. Also, the pair review the G-Clip 4-in-1 mini golf tool, an innovative product from Fine Tune golf. It's versatility on the course should make golfers more excited about fixing ball marks on the green.

Also: Latest "Golf Tips are for Monkeys" podcast

Kristen Williams: LPGA takes
the lead in steroid testing

On the PGA or LPGA Tours where big purses are on the line, golfers keep getting stronger and equipment keeps getting longer, is there temptation on the Tours to seek out a little pharmaceutical assistance? Will players be tempted to cheat? The LPGA want to make sure that they won't.

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