BYRON NELSON’S 11 STRAIGHT WINS IN 1945

Tiger gave it a good go, managing seven straight wins in 2006/2007, but Byron Nelson’s record will surely never be beaten. In 1945, the American won 18 times on the PGA Tour – another record – which included 11 straight between March and August. In medal events, his scoring average was 68.33, and of the 112 rounds he played, he was under par on 93 occasions. He entered 30 events and finished in the top five 28 times.

Woods had a habit of stringing victories together, recording seven ‘ Ws’ on the bounce in 2006/2007 and another six consecutively in 1999/ 2000. It’s not the norm. In fact, it’s three years since a player won three in a row – that honour belonging to Dustin Johnson. Before that, in 2014, Mcilroy recorded a hat-trick – but these are rare feats.

Today’s fields are stronger, as is the depth of talent. Even so, ‘Mr Golf’s’ perfect 11 shouldn’t be dismissed on grounds of lesser competition. There was Ben Hogan – who won 13 times in the 1946 season – and also the great Sam Snead, who racked up eight victories in 1938 and 11 in 1950. Jackie Burke Jr – who won four times in a row in 1952 – once put it like this: “I don’t care if he was playing against orangutans, winning 11 straight is amazing.”

At the Memphis Invitational, the run came to an end, although Nelson returned to winning ways at his very next event, finishing ten clear.

Woods winning Major number 15 at Augusta last season – his first for 11 years – has reopened the debate on whether he could pass Nicklaus’ total of 18. It wouldn’t be a shock if Woods managed to match Nicklaus with a sixth Masters title, but at the age of 44 – and up against a young generation who show no fear – the odds of adding four more Major Championships are stacked against him.

If, as seems likely, Woods comes up short, one of golf’s longest-running debates will fall silent. Scroll down the list of players with the most Major wins and of those still playing and under the age of 40, you’ll find Rory Mcilroy and Brooks Koepka on four, and Jordan Spieth on three. Mcilroy was once part of the Major record conversation, but finds himself on a six-year drought. By comparison, between 1962 and 1980, Nicklaus never went more than two seasons without winning a Major, including the 1978 Open (below).

“If, as looks likely, Woods comes up short, one of golf’s longest- running debates will fall silent”