^ Yes, he's an athlete...so is John Daly, maybe not by a lot of people's definition of what the quintessential athlete is, but regardless, they are athletes. And I assume by you not recognizing them as athletes you are basing that opinion on golf not being a physically chalenging sport, and them not having the attributes that a professional in a physical contact sport like football would have.
But even when you look at the greatest athletes in their respective sports, was it their physical attributes that made them so great...?
Was Mike the tallest, quickest, highest leaping, fastest hands having, basketball player to ever play in the NBA...?
Was Jerry Rice the biggest, strongest, fastest, most agile player to ever play in the NFL...?
Was Ali the biggest, strongest, fastest, most agile, brute to ever step into a ring...?
My point being that even in these phyically challenging sports, it was more mental toughness, and determination, than physical talent that took these people where no one else had before them.