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NBA officials ruled the court unplayable in the Bucks final exhibition
game on Oct. 25 because players were slipping, and the game was
cancelled midway through the first period.KAPALUA, Hawaii - Four years
later, the words of Jack Nicklaus resonate even louder.
"If Tiger is going to pass my record, this is a big year for him in that
regard," Nicklaus said at the start of 2010.
Nicklaus was referring to his record 18 majors, and the major
championship venues that favoured Woods - Augusta National, Pebble Beach
and St. Andrews, all courses where he had won before. Woods never had a
serious chance on the back nine of any major that year. His tally
remains at 14.
And that makes 2014 even bigger.
Woods is facing another favourable menu of major championship sites. He
already has won majors at Augusta, Royal Liverpool (British Open) and
Valhalla (PGA Championship). The U.S. Open is at Pinehurst No. 2, were
Woods was third in 1999 and runner-up in 2005.
"Im trending in the right way," Woods said recently. "Ive finished
third, second ... you get the picture, right? OK."
A new year begins Friday at the Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, and
while Woods is among PGA Tour winners who chose to sit this one out, his
performance in the majors this year figures to be a major topic of
conversation over the next eight months.
"I always think that the Masters signals a lot with Tiger," NBC analyst
Johnny Miller said during a conference call. "If he doesnt win the
Masters, I think it gives a great, big Uh-oh, because that course is so
perfect for his game. Ill leave it at that. But if he wants to get off
on the right foot, I think he needs to get off at the Masters."
Theres a big difference with Woods the last time he faced such a
tantalizing rotation of majors.
Nicklaus spoke of a "big year" when Woods was more of a mystery than
ever. No one had seen Woods in more than a month going into 2010 and
didnt even know where he was. His personal life at home, his mystique in
golf and his appeal in the corporate world were crumbling in
spectacular fashion.
Now, he is No. 1 in the world. He won five times last year against some
of the strongest fields. He won the Vardon Trophy for the ninth time,
the PGA Tour money title for the 10th time and was voted PGA Tour player
of the year for the 11th time.
Still, there remains an uncertainty about Woods, mainly because he hasnt
won a major since 2008 and he hasnt broken 70 on the weekend of any
major since the 2011 Masters. Thats a startling statistic for a guy who
has built a reputation as golfs greatest closer.
"Its getting much harder for Tiger because guys are not wilting on him,"
Miller said. &qquot;So hes got a double whammy in that hes not able
to close as well as he used to, and then the guys are more heroic
against him like they never were before. Julius Peppers Packers Jersey. ... Guys are saying, Yeah, youre Tiger Woods and youre the greatest
ever, but now at your age, I can beat you. He needs to do it in the
majors."
Will familiar venues help?
Not necessarily.
Woods forever is linked with Augusta National because of his record
score (270) and margin of victory (12 shots) in the 1997 Masters, his
back-to-back wins (2001-02) and that magic moment with his chip on the
16th hole that led to his playoff win in 2005. But he has not added to
his wardrobe of green jackets in eight years, his longest drought in any
major. Who saw that coming?
And while he is trending in the right direction at Pinehurst No. 2, the
Donald Ross design has gone through a restoration project that
eliminated rough and replaced it with sandy dunes, pine straw and wire
grass.
Woods won the 2006 British Open at Royal Liverpool when it was firm and
fiery, a links that was more yellow than green because of a dry summer.
Woods hit only one driver the entire week. It might not be the same
course if England gets a wet summer — and yes, it does rain in England —
and players see Hoylake green, lush and longer.
Valhalla is where Woods made what he considers the biggest putt of his
career, a 6-footer on the final hole for birdie to force a playoff that
he won over Bob May in the PGA Championship. It gave Woods his third
straight major in that amazing summer of 2000.
If that seems like a long time ago, it was. Woods will not have seen
Valhalla in 14 years when he returns this summer.
The best gauge of Woods and his pursuit of Nicklaus is more about him
than the course he is playing. More than St. Andrews or Pebble Beach,
more than Hoylake or Valhalla, its best to consider Southern Hills.
Thats the course that supposedly gave Woods fits because of its tight,
bending, tree-lined fairways. Woods won the 2007 PGA Championship that
year, proof that when hes on his game and in the right frame of mind, he
can win any major on any course.
More significant than where the majors are played in 2014 is the fact
Woods turned 38 on Monday.
By age alone, Woods has been ahead of Nicklaus pace in the majors since
winning his seventh major in 2002 Masters at age 26. They are tied now.
Nicklaus also had 14 majors when he turned 38, and then he added his
15th major that summer in the British Open.
Thats what makes this a big year for Woods.
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