polsongrizz
April 12th, 2005, 10:54 PM
A comparison of Woods and Nicklaus in the majors
By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer
April 12, 2005
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) -- Perceptions of Tiger Woods can change quickly when he's wearing a green jacket.
After he won the 2002 U.S. Open for his eighth major, Golf Digest asked readers on its Web site if they thought he would break Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 majors, and 73 percent said yes. The same question was posed two years later -- with Woods still stuck on eight majors -- and 71 percent said no.
This week, the online survey by Golf Digest asked how many times he would win the Masters. Nearly 70 percent said either seven or eight green jackets.
If nothing else, winning the Masters allows conversations to resume about his quest to reach 18 majors. Woods now has nine majors at age 29, trailing only Nicklaus and Walter Hagen (11), tied with Ben Hogan and Gary Player.
Woods remains ahead of schedule.
He has won nine of his first 33 majors as a pro. Nicklaus had won seven at that point.
Woods twice has gone 10 majors without winning, while Nicklaus' longest drought at this stage in his career was 12 majors, from the '67 U.S. Open to the '70 British Open at St. Andrews.
But if Woods wants to keep pace, the next five years will be crucial. Nicklaus won seven of the next 22 majors after ending his dry spell, including multiple-major seasons in 1972 and 1975.
Nicklaus says he wasn't aware of Bobby Jones' record of 13 majors (including six amateur titles) until the Golden Bear won his 10th. Woods was not aware he was halfway to Nicklaus' mark after winning the Masters.
``I haven't thought about it -- that's the first time,'' he said. ``I guess I am halfway. A long way to go.''
By DOUG FERGUSON, AP Golf Writer
April 12, 2005
AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) -- Perceptions of Tiger Woods can change quickly when he's wearing a green jacket.
After he won the 2002 U.S. Open for his eighth major, Golf Digest asked readers on its Web site if they thought he would break Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 majors, and 73 percent said yes. The same question was posed two years later -- with Woods still stuck on eight majors -- and 71 percent said no.
This week, the online survey by Golf Digest asked how many times he would win the Masters. Nearly 70 percent said either seven or eight green jackets.
If nothing else, winning the Masters allows conversations to resume about his quest to reach 18 majors. Woods now has nine majors at age 29, trailing only Nicklaus and Walter Hagen (11), tied with Ben Hogan and Gary Player.
Woods remains ahead of schedule.
He has won nine of his first 33 majors as a pro. Nicklaus had won seven at that point.
Woods twice has gone 10 majors without winning, while Nicklaus' longest drought at this stage in his career was 12 majors, from the '67 U.S. Open to the '70 British Open at St. Andrews.
But if Woods wants to keep pace, the next five years will be crucial. Nicklaus won seven of the next 22 majors after ending his dry spell, including multiple-major seasons in 1972 and 1975.
Nicklaus says he wasn't aware of Bobby Jones' record of 13 majors (including six amateur titles) until the Golden Bear won his 10th. Woods was not aware he was halfway to Nicklaus' mark after winning the Masters.
``I haven't thought about it -- that's the first time,'' he said. ``I guess I am halfway. A long way to go.''