We feel privileged to be witnesses to two of the greatest living athletes in that special realm known as individual sports. Two who are particularly noteworthy for their fierce competitiveness, truly extraordinary talents, record-setting accomplishments, and grace in both victory and defeat.

Tiger Woods had a huge and unexpected milestone yesterday, winning his 80th PGA tournament after well over five years of physical ailments that had left him scarcely able to stand or walk. His career book had been closed by the pundits. But he has opened that book again, after a fourth back operation and a long period of rehab culminating in a determined return to golf. He is a humbler and cagier golfer now, no longer outdriving his opponents but meticulously matching his body’s capabilities to the golf course to great effect. He was ranked twentieth on this year’s PGA list before yesterday’s victory. He is certain to rise higher now. What he does next will be his own decision, not that of his naysayers. Even his current total of fourteen major tournament wins will not necessarily stand.

Lewis Hamilton, still in his early(ish) thirties already owns the top spot in the critical category of pole positions won in Formula 1 Grand Prix racing. Like Tiger entering Day 4 with a lead, Hamilton excels at winning from the pole. His career record to date includes four world championships (leading in 2018 for a fifth), He also holds records for the all-time most career points (2,891), the most wins at different circuits (26), the all-time most pole positions (79) and the most grand slams in a season (3). (A grand slam is a race in which one driver wins the pole and the race and also registers the fastest lap in the race.) If he wins a fifth Formula 1 championship Hamilton will tie the legendary Juan Fangio (now second on the all time list), who won his fifth title in 1957. Hamilton presently has 69 Grand Prix wins, second on the all time list to Michael Schumacher (retired).

Hamilton’s next pole will be No. 80 and his next win will be No. 70. In his prime now, Hamilton has a very good chance to surpass Schumacher’s total of 91 wins and add more championships to his resume. Already, though, he is regarded by many as possibly the greatest F1 driver in history. His win last week in Singapore was, typically, presaged by an astounding drive for the pole that inspired race announcers to call his Mercedes and its driver, “The Silver Arrow with the Golden Touch.” Then came the race. (NOTE: F1 Management won’t share its videos outside YouTube. Even ESPN is under their Eurothumb. This is an energetic amateur vid, bootleg for sure.)

My wife follows both their careers like the hawk she is. They are magnetic to crowds as well as world records. Both are primary drivers (pun intended) of the television ratings for their sport. Tiger’s history in this regard is well known and was confirmed anew by the PGA Championship Tournament. Before the rise to dominance of Lewis Hamilton, Formula 1 was only an occasional blip on U.S. TV screens. Now, the ESPN complex of stations covers entire race weekends, including Practices 1, 2, and 3, Qualifying for the Pole Position, and the race itself. It’s a new age for a long-lived and incredibly dramatic sport. And it should be a new age as well for sports fans in America. Hamilton always has great things to say about us and our country.