For Tiger and Kobe, Winning is Becoming an Age-old Challenge

In May 2001, two athletes were embarking on legendary careers. Back then, 25-year-old Tiger Woods was just one month removed from capturing his historic fourth straight major championship victory. During that same month, 22-year-old Kobe Bryant was propelling the storied Los Angeles Lakers to their second straight championship while already drawing comparisons to Michael Jordan. After 19 combined major championship triumphs spanning over a decade, both athletes appeared to be unstoppable ageless wonders.

Fast forward to May 2011: Woods and Bryant are sitting home likely contemplating what remains of their legendary athletic careers.

Both athletes are on the shortlist of all-time sports winners. Woods has the second-most major championship victories of all-time (only behind Jack Nicklaus’s 18), and Bryant's five NBA Championships is only one fewer than Jordan's mark. But despite having achieved their feats so quickly, the two may be slowing down even quicker.

Since Woods crashed his SUV into a fire hydrant in November 2009, his career has similarly crashed. To compound his personal losses – from his wife and family to his public integrity – the winner of 71 career tournaments has not won period in 18 months … and counting. And while he has been hindered by personal issues, the former world No. 1-ranked golfer now has an ailing left knee – ailing enough that he had to withdraw from THE PLAYERS Championship on May 12 after just nine holes.

Considering that same knee has already undergone both minor and major surgeries, the 35-year-old Woods may struggle to play again this year (though he affirmed recently that he “will do all [he] can” to play in June’s U.S. Open).

For Bryant, playing has not been an issue. In fact, neither has winning. The Lakers entered the 2011 NBA playoffs seeking their third straight championship and Bryant’s second three-peat. But in a season filled with inconsistent play, and Bryant hampered by finger, knee and ankle injuries, the Lakers’ season ended abruptly in the second round of the playoffs.

Bryant concluded the regular season having averaged 25.3 points per game (his lowest since the 2003-2004 season) and 33.9 minutes per game (his lowest since the 1997-1998 season – when he was 19). Most notably, he averaged just 22.9 points per game in the playoffs, when he looked and played physically exhausted.  

Woods’s and Bryant’s physical exhaustion and breakdown makes sense considering they have been playing at the highest level of competition since before either could even drink legally. And it's worth noting their athletic impact. Woods redefined golf with his unparalleled work ethic and incredibly powerful swing – a swing so powerful that he’s had to alter it throughout his career to relieve the pressure on his front knee (the injured one). Bryant has been a high-flying, relentless player since he entered the league at age 18. Since then, he has averaged 36 minutes per game while playing over 1,100 regular season games; in the playoffs, he has played 39 minutes per game in a remarkable 208 contests.

While the two battle the countless miles on their physical engines, they also have to battle the age of their competition. Golf is full of young players who are just as fit and powerful as Woods, including Jason Day, Rickie Fowler, Rory McIlroy and Dustin Johnson. And in the NBA, the playoffs are currently headlined by superstars LeBron James, Kevin Durant and Derrick Rose – James being the oldest at just 26.

Although Woods and Bryant are older, the two respective sports legends they are chasing showed time may not be up yet. Nicklaus won six major championships after turning 35; Jordan won three NBA championships after turning 32.

History may show Woods and Bryant are not finished winning, but history also proves that age is eternally undefeated – and it is the one competitor Woods and Bryant never wanted to encounter.

Follow me on Twitter @MichaelKaplun.