Tiger Woods is on his way to breaking Jack Nicklaus' major championship victory record of 18. Do I think he will do it? Yes. Did I always think he would do it? No. But Tigers' tenacity, passion, drive and commitment have changed my mind. He is one of the most impressive competitors I've ever witnessed play any sport. He lives to win, he loves to compete and he is focused on breaking Jack's record.
Will he stop at 19 once he gets there? I doubt it. He will keep pushing and working until he squeezes every last drop of determination out of himself and his game. He could win 28 majors or he could win 19. If I were a betting man, I'd say he'll end up closer to the former.
Tiger is that special kind of athlete who will not accept anything less than his best...and you know how difficult it is in golf to be perfect. It just can't be done. Tiger knows that, accepts that and thrives on that. He knows that a great recovery shot can break the spirit of your competitior and go along way to insuring a victory.
His knowledge of the "inner game" is as strong as his knowledge of swing mechanics. While you can never completely "own" your swing on a daily basis, you can control and master your inner thoughts and develop that inner toughness he shows day after day.
If it sounds like I'm a big fan of Tiger, that 's because I am. He impressed me as a teenager, a college player and continues to impress me as a professional. He is now spreading his wings outside the game with the Tiger Woods Foundation as he works very hard to give back to those less fortunate. He is following in the footsteps of great champions like Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, Byron Nelson, Gary Player and Nancy Lopez in giving back to society as much as society and the game has given to them.
Even though he skipped the 2007 Barclays Classic, the first week of the new FedEx playoff system, look for Tiger to play well these next three weeks in hopes of winning this inaugural FedEx Cup. But rest assured that if he doesn't win for some reason, it won't be for lack of trying and it won't deter him from his goal of winning major championships. After all, Winning the FedEx Cup won't "deliver" that to him.
That chase resumes next April in Augusta.
At least, that's my take...what's yours?
August 30, 2007 - You hit the nail on the head with your Tiger essay, Peter. I get asked all the time how many majors I see him winning, and my answer is 25. I also think he'll exceed 100 TOUR victories. Both of those marks would set the bar at impossible heights, like Byron's 11 in a row and Dimaggio's 56-game hitting streak.
Your co-author, Jack Sheehan