BECKHAM IS MORE GLOBAL THAN ME - WOODS

BECKHAM IS MORE GLOBAL THAN ME - WOODS



Tiger Woods, seen by many as the most recognisable sportsman in the world and perhaps the most influential, does not see himself as such. The world No 1 golfer hands that accolade to David Beckham. “I don’t see how, as far as world athletes are concerned, Beckham didn’t beat me,” Woods said yesterday on the eve of the US PGA Championship in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he is the defending champion.

The American was commenting after publication of a poll by ESPN, the US sports television network, in which 32 athletes were pitted against one another in a popularity poll voted on by viewers. Woods was the winner and the runner-up was LeBron James, of the NBA’s Cleveland Cavaliers. Beckham went out in the first round, defeated by LaDainian Tomlinson, the running back for the NFL’s San Diego Chargers.

“As far as global figures are concerned, he [Beckham] is probably far more global than I am,” Woods said of the former Manchester United and Real Madrid midfield player who joined the Los Angeles Galaxy last month but has yet to make his full debut for the club.

“You know, golf is not truly played all around the world like soccer or football is. I think the whole ‘Who’s Now’ [poll] was just about in America. If it had gone globally, it would probably have been different.”