Who is Jason Belmonte, the “Tiger Woods of bowling” ?

Australian bowler Jason Belmonte is often labeled as the Tiger Woods of bowling. The world number has had a similar career path like the golf great thus justifying the tag.

Who is Jason Belmonte, the “Tiger Woods of bowling” ?

Jason Belmonte (L) and Tiger Woods (R) [Pic Credit: WSJ/The Athletic]

In the world of sports, many individuals have left a great mark on others. Their everlasting legacy is talked down for generations. Several players are also used to compare other greats. When it comes to golf, Tiger Woods, is the greatest of all time for many. One athlete whose name is rising in recent times and is being labeled as the “Tiger Woods of bowling” is Jason Belmonte.

Belmonte is regarded as the greatest bowler of all time. The Australian-born athlete has dominated his sport like no one else and sits on top of the bowling ranking charts. While many have questioned and criticized his two-hand technique, the 39-year-old has forever changed the landscape of the bowling industry. While he did suffer a slip recently in April, his achievements have made him a modern-day great.

He took up this sport at the tender age of two as his parents owned a bowling alley. He recalls using two hands to throw the ball as it was too heavy. This soon became his technique. Some bowling purists have slammed him for his style of play. Using two hands and no thumb provides the ball with more spin which they claim gives him an unfair advantage.

However, the Professional Bowling Association (PBA) has time and again backed him. “He’s exactly like Tiger Woods. The domination, the difference, the electricity, the controversy,” PBA commissioner Tom Clark once said about him. Another reason Belmonte is constantly compared to Woods is their statistics. Both have recorded similar stats during their respective career on their path toward greatness.

Related: Major championship winner Collin Morikawa UNEARTHS ‘hate’ after British Open comment, sparks fury over tournament name

Jason Belmonte and Tiger Woods: Two individuals who changed the landscape of their sport forever

Belmonte and Woods
Jason Belmonte (L) and Tiger Woods (R) [Pic Credit: Twitter/Golfweek-USA Today]

Jason Belmonte and Tiger Woods have both established themselves as one of the greats in their field. To achieve this level of greatness, both had to overcome the critics and the hardships. On their path to success, the sporting duo have collected 15 major championships each. While Belmont has won 31 championships in his career, he is among one of the eight bowlers to achieve 30 wins.

Meanwhile, Woods has dominated the sport since his debut. His victory at the 1997 Masters is considered by many as the greatest win. He is one of the five players to achieve a grand slam (winning all four majors). Any athlete reaches superstardom when an award gets named after him. For his historic performance and winning the four majors between 2000-2001, Woods completed the “Tiger Slam“.

Belmonte’s most recent triumph came at the PBA Tournament of Champions. He defeated E.J. Tackett by a score of 246-179 to claim his 15th major title. This was also his fourth victory at this event. Whereas for Woods, his last major triumph came back in 2019 when he won the Masters at Augusta National to claim his fifth green jacket. Following his accident in 2021, the golf great has constantly been sidelined with injuries. It is likely that he will not play any tournaments this year now.

In case you missed it:

How much will each golfer win at The Open Championship 2023? Prize money breakdown and where to watch

Did former US President Donald Trump cheat while playing golf with GOAT Tiger Woods?