BARCELONA -- Eddie Jordan, who gave Michael Schumacher his Formula One start a decade ago, has hailed the German as a genius and compared his standing in the sport to the golfing dominance of Tiger Woods.

The Irishman dismissed suggestions Schumacher's dominance in F1 was bad for racing.

"People are saying Michael is making it boring but we are seeing here a genius at work," he said. "He is a treasure and a star. It's no different to what Tiger Woods is doing."

"You have one outstanding star who is controlling the sport ... that cannot be the blame of the participant. You are talking about a different class of person."

Woods triumphed at The Masters in Augusta, Ga., earlier this month, for the seventh major championship of his career, with a dominant three-stroke win. Woods was defending champion in the event, having won last year to become the first professional to hold all four majors at one time.

Schumacher, a four-time world champion who has won the title the past two years with Ferrari, has won three out of four races this season and led teammate Rubens Barrichello to a 1-2 finish at Imola this month.

The German won last year's title with four races to spare and has now amassed more wins -- 56 -- than any other driver in the history of the sport.