In race vs. history, Tiger is winning

The toughest competition for Tiger Woods has always been history.

What captured the public’s attention when Woods won the first of his 15 majors, the 1997 Masters, was whether he could match or beat the 18 majors won by Jack Nicklaus, long considered the gold standard in golf. That remains the ultimate target.

Until then, he landed a big one in Japan.

Woods was coming off a twomonth break that began with a fifth surgery on his left knee, this one to repair minor cartilage damage. He opened his new season with three straight bogeys, and then followed with 27 birdies to win the Zozo Championship by three shots. It was his 82nd career victory, tying the record Sam Snead established in 1965, 10 years before Woods was born.

That’s three victories in 13 months, and no indication it will be the last one.

“The ball-striking exhibition I’ve seen the last two days is a joke,” said U.S. Open champion Gary Woodland, who played the final two rounds with Woods on a rain-soaked course northeast of Tokyo. “I don’t see him stopping anytime soon. Eighty-two is pretty special. I think there’s a lot more in store.”

Expect plenty of debate until Woods makes it 83 and has the record to himself.

Snead always argued he won more than 82 times during his seemingly ageless career that stretched across three decades. He also has team events, like the Inverness Four-Ball Invitational, counted among his official tally.

The PGA of America ran tournament golf in Snead’s time and