The Golf Blog: Why Tiger Woods will not be “the best ever” if he fails to beat Jack Nicklaus’s major record
The Golf Blog says: The PGA Championship, the final major of the year, is next week at Kiawah Island. Tiger hasn’t won a major in 4 years, the longest drought of his career–by far. Although Tiger is still just about even with Jack’s pace , the pressure is mounting for Tiger to win another major. He’s stuck on 14 majors.
In 2010, we analyzed the numbers and concluded that Tiger Woods will still beat Jack’s record of 18 majors. Now, two years later, we aren’t as sure.
Let’s assume that Tiger doesn’t beat Jack’s record (either tie or fails to reach 18 majors). Will Tiger still be able to lay claim to the title of the Best Golfer Ever? No, we don’t believe so. Tiger himself has used the majors as the criterion by which he judges his success. From the start of his career–indeed, from the time he was a kid, he’s had one goal in mind: to beat Jack’s record of 18 majors. If he doesn’t, it’s simple: Jack Nicklaus will remain the greatest golfer ever. If Tiger tied 18 majors, then the title might have to go to both. But barring a tie, Tiger can only be considered the best golfer ever by reaching 19 or more majors–meaning 5 more majors. Tiger’s 36, so he does have some time. But the window is closing, quickly.
Tweet