Tiger eyes Nicklaus’ record
That was very clearly the message from Tiger Woods yesterday as he reflected on his victory in the US PGA at Southern Hills over the weekend.
His collection of major titles is now up to 13, five behind Nicklaus, and he is four years younger than the “Golden Bear” was when he reached that figure.
Moreover, and very importantly, there is no sign whatsoever that Tiger is losing his hunger for success.
When you have achieved all that Woods has done at the age of 31, there is always the possibility that he would seek new interests.
But Woods promises to be as active as ever, playing all the Fed-Ex Cup tournaments in the near future and obviously eyeing the Nicklaus target as his long term objective.
“When you first start your career, that figure of 18 is just such a long way away,” says Tiger. “And even though I’m at 13, it’s still a long way away. You can’t get it done in one year. It took Jack 20 years to get it done.
“And hopefully, health permitting and everything goes right and I keep improving, that I’ll one day surpass that.”
“Any time you’re mentioned in conversations with Bobby Jones (who also had 13 majors) and Jack Nicklaus, Walter Hagen, just in general it makes you understand that you’ve had a nice run in your career. And I could not ask for a better start to my career. I’ve exceeded my own expectations and I’m certainly not against that.”
You sensed that his victory at Southern Hills gave Woods special pleasure and satisfaction because of his failure to win a major earlier in the year. He was second at the Masters and again at the US Open and has four tournaments wins to his credit.
But this was the one he wanted more than any other.
“This has turned 2007 into a great year,” he enthused. “I felt like I’ve played well most of the year. And though I just didn’t quite get it done in the first two major championships, I was right there. This time I did get it done. But any time when you win a major championship in the year it’s always going to be a great year and this certainly is.”
He certainly didn’t have things all his own way on Sunday thanks to the courageous performances put up by Ernie Els and Woody Austin.
The South African really had him in his sight on and around the turn only to miss some crucial putts at the 9th and 11th while Austin hung in there impressively.
“I just kept telling myself, Ernie and Woody were making runs,” Woods explained. “But I still had the lead. And if I made pars they would have to come get me. And if they ever made a birdie on one of the holes to tie me, I can birdie the same hole and it was all square, I had the lead again. Even when I made that bogey at 14, I kept telling myself going to the next hole I need to bear down and get things done and place the ball correctly.”
Major number 13 is now his and he sees no reason why there won’t be more simply because he has the game and the experience to make it happen.
“Yeah, I think I am by far a better player than in, say, 2000,” he insists. “It’s just experience, understanding how to handle it and how to manage my game around the golf course. And I’ll say the same thing seven years from now because I’ll be more experienced then than I am now.”
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