Talk about an overreaction. Never in the history of sports has an athlete been so quickly tossed aside, for the second time mind you. Before it was the "Tiger slump" in 2003-2004 from which he recovered to win 4 of the next 8 majors! Now, suddenly, Phil is magically better than Tiger even though he has less than 1/3 the number of majors? In the past 10 majors Tiger has 2 wins, one of which was essentially on 1 leg and he didn't play in 2, while Phil has just one. Need we bring up Tiger also came back from reconstructive knee surgery last year to win the Fed Ex Cup as well? Are we even having this discussion after Tiger wins the US Open at Pebble Beach, where Tiger set the record for winning margin in a major, and the Open Championship at St. Andrews, where Tiger set the record for score in relation to par in a major? This is an absurd question to even ask. It's like asking in 1995 if Michael Jordan had been surpassed as the greatest basketball player on the planet because he had been away from the sport. Get over it people and quit being Tiger haters!

I couldn't agree with reggie the 'voice of reason' more!!! Amen!

I didn't know so many people were so perfect in this world with such low self asteem that the only way they can make themselves feel better is too put others down. And hey why not go after the greatest player on the planet?

those who are so quick to judge should take a good look in the mirror at themselves. Not all people are put together the same way. One has not walked in his shoes and therefore has no right to judge. He had the courage and determination to achieve such greatness and I would hope people don't

just put that aside so easily. Give the man a break, he gave up his childhood to attain his fame. Isn't that enough? he gave more than many to the game of golf and to all the players and fans and interest has grown because of him.

quit using him as a punching bag, and have a little empathy for once. You should be ashamed of yourselfs for going after him with such spite and vigor.

Phil can never be a Tiger and Tiger will never be a Phil. Personally I wouldn't want him to. I like him the way he is with imperfections like the rest of us.

Jordan is not the greatest ever player in basketball. You can't compare players when different eras have different rules and medical supervision is so far more advanced.

Thank you - I could not have said that any better. Thank you for bring back to memory Tiger's accomplishments. It is a shame that people have such short memories and always seem more than ready to throw someone under the bus. Phil Mickelson is only better than Tiger in "his own mind" don't get me wrong, Phil is a good golfer and has great skills with his short game, the master of the flop shot, creative around the greens with his wedges, however where Phil continues to beat himself is the small space between his ears; he struggles with the ability to think; he beats himself time and time again. Tiger is probably the greatest golfer that I will ever see in my lifetime - but make no mistake about it, there is a new crop of young golfers coming out now that Phil will have a hard time beating even without Tiger in the field. Not a Phil hater, he is just not the #1 golfer in my book because he has not earned the spot. Thank you.

The question was "Who's the No. 1 golfer NOW" not the rest of this year, or next year or whatever. Tiger may not be down forever, but who can question that as of right now he's not the player he wants to be?

Since last January, Tiger has won 7 times (6 pga, 1 Australia) and a number of close calls... Phil has won about 5 times with less top 5's/10's than TW. Give tiger a break...he'll get it together. I'm happy for Phil, but he never has or will be as consistent. I do admit that he's on a roll right now, but that'll come to an end soon.

obviously you are not a golf fan. phil has played poorly this season. until he won his first master in the most recent part of his career, he was the 'greatess player to have never won a major'. yes, the monkey is off his back, but consistent? give me a break. consistent is holding the number one spot during the majority of his professional status.

the masters was our first glimsp of the winning phil this year. i just love the revisionist, they always try and align themselves with whomever is the current "winner". hardly anyone picked phil to win the masters. in fact, i don't recall him being in the converstation.

phil is phil and will never be tiger woods. no more than tiger will ever be jack. nor jack, ben. they are all excellent golfers with faults and gifts in their own right. the best? right now, jack. but we'll have to wait and see at the end of tigers career if that remains true.

there is an OTHER vote, sheeesh

An Olympic sport, at that.

Did you even watch the Quail Hollow tournament? If you did and can still claim Tiger should be ranked higher than Phil, you're either blind or not rational.

Somebody's got a man crush !!!!!!

Why the name calling? Phil M. seems to be a nice man. Just because you dont have a lick of talent and "no balls" doesnt mean you have to be ugly to others!

Amen again, it totally amazes me that now people want to somehow equate a persons character with their ability to play the game of golf or use it to somehow elevate that person to a standing that they do not deserve. Tiger is human, he made a huge mistake, does he not deserve the chance to redeem himself, what in heavens name does his off the course affairs have with his natural ability to play the game of golf. People should learn how to separate the two. No matter what he did off the course will never make Phil a better player than Tiger. Phil should be more concerned with the new younger breed coming up the ranks - namely Rory.