When I first started to read your post, I was thinking that you would end with saying that this proves that golfers are athletes, and instead you did the opposite. If anything guys like Watson and Couples competing step-for-step with golfers like Tiger and Mickelson is simply further proof that they are great athletes well into their middle-age years. Golf takes an incredible amount of balance, strength, hand-eye coordination, endurance, etc. All qualities of being a good athlete. Playing (and walking for that matter) 72 holes of golf in a 4 day period, under immense pressure from the first tee-shot to the last putt is a very grueling task, and the guys that are on Tour these days are doing so very impressively. We're not talking about some 37 year old insurance agent with a beer gut shooting 90 at a local golf course with his buddies. I'll listen to arguments about Nascar drivers not being athletes, but professional golfers most certainly are. These guys are special, and they are athletes. Go Freddy Couples! Should be a great weekend.