Despite revelations of affairs so numerous that the words "sex addiction" have been used to describe it, Tiger Woods is, no doubt, the greatest pro golfer playing right now. According to AP members, Tiger Woods is also the athlete of the decade.
More than half of the ballots were returned after the events of Nov. 27th, when Tiger Woods crashed his car into a fire hydrant and then a tree, beginning a period of insights into his private life he likely thought would remain hidden forever.
Since then, sordid details of multiple affairs, including mistresses and prostitutes as well, have graced the front pages of mainstream media as well as tabloids. With so much negative publicity, small wonder that his popularity has crashed and sponsors have begun dropping him.
There is no denying his dominance in golf, however. In this decade, he won 64 times (globally), including 12 majors. He now trails all-time majors leader Jack Nicklaus by a scant 18 - 14. In that entire period, when leading going into the final round, he lost only one time. During the decade, he won 56 PGA Tour events. That number surpasses the career numbers of all but four of golf's greatest players.
The AP vote, like many of his tournament victories, was a runaway. He received 56 of the 142 votes cast by AP member editors. Second place was Lance Armstrong, six-time Tour de France winner in the decade, with with 33 votes. Third place was tennis' Roger Federer, who has won more Grand Slam singles titles than any other man, with 25 votes.
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