Chasing Jack’s record again
Peter: Don’t count out Tiger Woods
Whether Tiger Woods will win another major championship no longer seems worth asking. That he will looks almost inevitable after his play at the PGA Championship and British Open.
So let’s ask the more interesting, if slightly premature, question: Can Tiger eclipse Jack Nicklaus’ all-time record for major championships?
A decade ago, after all, Woods won the 2008 U.S. Open for his 14th major, pulling within four of Nicklaus’ record of 18. But then his personal life unraveled, and back problems only deep- ened his on-course struggles.
For several years, the idea of Woods matching Nicklaus’ record, much less eclipsing it, seemed unthinkable.
No longer. Barring injury or unforeseen circumstances, the quest will resume in April at the Masters, when Woods will tee it up at one of his favorite courses at age 43. Too old? Hardly. He looks fitter than many players 10, even 15 years younger than he is.
History offers hope. Lee Trevino won the PGA Championship in
1984 at age 44. Raymond Floyd won the U.S. Open at 43 in
1986, and Hale Irwin won it in 1990 at 45. And let’s not forget that in 1986, Nicklaus won the Masters at 46.
The oldest golfer to win a major was Julius Boros, who at 48 won the 1968 PGA Championship. For the purpose of this exercise, let’s use that as a baseline and say Woods will be capable of winning a major at 48, which will give him six seasons to chase the record. If he plays the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship every year, Woods will have an additional 24 chances. Tying Nicklaus would require a winning percentage of 16.7 percent in that stretch. Beating Nicklaus’ record would require a winning percentage of 20.8 percent. Tough? Absolutely. Doable? The question finally is worth asking again.