Most things in life are relative, even Tiger Woods. Take, for example, the voices of some sections of the golf gallery who believe Woods’ best days are behind him given his knee surgery last year and the fact that he has gone three tournaments on the US PGA Tour without victory, including the US Masters.
Since winning the Arnold Palmer Invitational at the end of March, Woods finished tied for sixth at the Masters, fourth at Quail Hollow and eighth at The Players Championship. For any other player, that would be quite a decent comeback from a procedure as complicated and career-threatening as ACL surgery.
Yet, for Woods, it appears the numbers fail to impress. Not so for Jack Nicklaus, the man whose benchmark Woods has targeted and who believes the world number one is well on track to breaking his record of 18 majors.
In a recent interview with the UK’s Sky Sports, Nicklaus was quoted as saying Woods, who has 14 majors, can surpass his record, though there are plenty of youngsters ready to challenge him at every turn. Nicklaus said:
“Tiger is probably not back at this point. He’s still winning or getting real close, but he’s not playing his best. When he gets to his best he’s going to be tough again because he’s a great player. I think he probably will (break my record). His work ethic is good enough and he’s young enough. He certainly should pass that.â€
Woods’ last major title was the 2008 US Open at Torrey Pines, immediately after which he stopped playing to fix his knee. He made his comeback this year and his next major target is, once again, the US Open next month.
Nicklaus suggested that players such as Northern Ireland’s Rory McIlroy and American Anthony Kim are among the youth squad who are most likely to challenge Woods.
Woods himself has identified teenager McIlroy as the golfer who is best equipped to one day replace him as world number one.
Meanwhile, speaking of Woods and relative, the 18-year-old niece of Tiger, Cheyenne Woods, is set to make her LPGA debut at the Wegmans tournament in Pittsford, New York in June.
Cheyenne, who is a freshman at Wake Forest, is the daughter of Earl Woods Jr, the son of Tiger’s father, Earl, from a previous marriage.
She received a sponsor invitation to play in the LPGA event, having been named Arizona High School Golfer of the Year in 2007.
I agree with Jack, Tiger is a long way from being done. He still has the best mental game in the business. I was at the U.S. Open on Monday for the playoff and even with a bad knee physically he was still very strong. Every time I watch Tiger play it feels like I am watching greatness.