What Brandel Chamblee Just Said About Tiger Woods After Rory McIlroy’s Latest Win
Tiger Woods and Sam Snead are now officially tied with 82 PGA Tour wins each, but Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee argues that Woods should be recognized as the sole leader in terms of wins. The tie between Woods and Snead was solidified at the Zozo Championship in October 2019, a remarkable achievement for Woods…
Tiger Woods and Sam Snead are now officially tied with 82 PGA Tour wins each, but Golf Channel analyst Brandel Chamblee argues that Woods should be recognized as the sole leader in terms of wins.
The tie between Woods and Snead was solidified at the Zozo Championship in October 2019, a remarkable achievement for Woods occurring 54 years after Snead set the initial benchmark with his win at the Greater Greensboro Open.
Controversy surrounds Snead’s win count, with fluctuations over time, while Woods’ tally has consistently grown since his professional debut in 1996.
Chamblee’s contention isn’t solely about the total number of wins but rather the nature of those victories. He emphasizes that all of Woods’ wins, whether Major championships or regular PGA Tour events, were achieved individually, setting him apart in golf history.
Chamblee highlights that Snead’s record includes five team victories, leaving him with 77 solo triumphs compared to Woods’ 82 individual wins.
The debate sparked on social media when Rory McIlroy’s recent victory alongside Shane Lowry at the 2024 Zurich Classic of New Orleans brought his PGA Tour win count to 25. Gary Williams speculated if Woods, a close friend of McIlroy, would tease him about achieving the milestone as part of a duo.
Chamblee chimed in, suggesting that team wins should be categorized separately from individual wins, making a case for Woods’ supremacy.
Supporters of Chamblee’s argument point out instances where other golf legends such as Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Byron Nelson, and Ben Hogan also secured team victories alongside their individual successes.
While some argue that a win is a win, many agree with Chamblee’s assertion that individual triumphs should hold more weight when determining the most successful PGA Tour player.
McIlroy and Lowry celebrated their Zurich Classic victory with a spirited rendition of Journey’s “Don’t Stop Believin'” on stage, indicating their intention to defend their title next year. But could a potential partnership between McIlroy and Woods in the future settle the debate once and for all?