Woods Has Nicklaus' Record In Sight

August 12, 2007

By Phillip Howley

Tulsa , Okla. - It's stating the obvious at this point. It no longer seems like an "if" but a "when." Five majors now separate Tiger Woods from the record of 18 professional majors won by Jack Nicklaus.

If he stays healthy, Woods will catch and pass Nicklaus. It's only a question of when.

Woods won his 13th major on Sunday, capturing the PGA Championship at Southern Hills Country Club. Lucky No. 13 came at age 31 in his 44th major start as a pro. It is Woods' fourth PGA crown and the second time he has won the tournament in consecutive years. No one else has done that, at least not since the championship went from match play to stroke play in 1958.

Jack Nicklaus won his 13th major at the Masters in 1975. He was 35 years old at the time and making his 53rd professional major start. Nicklaus would win five PGAs before he was done. He went on to win his 14th major a few months later at the 1975 PGA. He did not win his 15th major until the 1978 British Open.

One never knows, of course, but it is easy to project Woods might have his 15th major before the 2008 British Open rolls around. The three-time U.S. Amateur winner - and winner of eight USGA championships - already has four green jackets. He will come to Augusta next spring, as he has come every year since he shattered the tournament scoring records 10 years ago, as the prohibitive favorite.

And when the 108th U.S. Open arrives at Torrey Pines Golf Club on June 9-15 in San Diego , Calif., regardless of what happens at Augusta National, Woods will be the hands-down pick to win his third national championship. He already has four victories in 11 Buick Invitational starts at Torrey Pines. In short, he owns the place.

To that end, look a little further ahead. The 2009 U.S. Open is at , where Woods was the only player under par and won his second U.S. Open in 2002.

The 2010 U.S. Open is at Pebble Beach Golf Links, where Woods demolished scoring records while winning the 2000 U.S. Open. He finished at 19 under par and won by eight strokes. A month later in 2010, the British Open will be at St. Andrews. Woods has won the last two Open Championships held at Old Tom's place.

In boxing, it is said you have to knock out the reigning champion if you want his belt. Until Woods actually catches Nicklaus, such reservations are appropriate. But when you look at what he's done, and where he's been and where he's headed next in the majors, it's hard to imagine Woods won't catch and pass Nicklaus in a full sprint.

Not that there aren't chinks in TW's armor, things that still separate two historical players. Woods is now 13 for 13 when he has at least a share of the lead after 54 holes of a major. But he is 0 for 31 without the Sunday lead as a pro, 0 for 37 overall.

Nicklaus came from behind on Sunday to win eight of his 18 majors. He led outright or shared the lead after three rounds of a major 12 times in his career, 10 of which he closed with a victory. At the 1971 Masters, Nicklaus shared the 54-hole lead with Charles Coody and wound up tied for second.  At the 1977 British Open, he was tied with Tom Watson and finished second after the two staged their famous Sunday "Duel in the Sun." Watson carded a 65; Nicklaus settled for a 66.

Perhaps Woods' come-from-behind majors are still ahead of him. One thing is for certain, the hottest player in the world won the hottest tournament in the history of the majors at Southern Hills this week.

And something tells us there is more where the first 13 came from.

PhillipHowley is a freelance writer whose work has appeared on various USGA championship sites.