Tiger Woods – World Domination – a living legend.

Yesterday Tiger Woods knocked in a 20 ft putt on the 72nd hole of 2008 Dubai Desert Classic to win the tournament by one stroke from Martin Kaymer – and I'll hazzard a guess that there are a lot of European Tour Players happy that he does not travel that much. Two for two wins in 08 – are we going to see a phenomenal year from Tiger Woods? His 2007 year was a great career for most high ranking tour players – 8 wins 3 seconds 13 top 10s – but a special Tiger year – a grand slam – all four majors in one year? He has already done the "Tiger Slam" holding all fours at once – 2000 US Open to the 2001 US Masters – 4 majors in a row. Since 2006 Tiger was won 17 tournaments and he rarely plays more than 17 or 18 a year so he is one 50% win streaking! The world number one sits on 5 in a row since winning the last three of the 2007 he competed in. It seems right at this moment Tiger has gone on to another level, if that is possible. His mind set right now is that he is there to win and no one will stop him – even if it is only by one stroke. Jack Nicklaus mentioned that Tiger may struggle when he has a child but it seems to have had the reverse effect – he has only got better since the birth of Samantha last year.

 Tiger woods' to date 2008 – 11 years

PGA TOUR Events Played Finish
Cuts Made 1st 2nd 3rd Top 10 Top 25
Career Totals 231 217 62 23 17 145 191

Jack Nicklaus's career on the PGA tour – 29 years

PGA TOUR Events Played Finish
Cuts Made 1st 2nd 3rd Top 10 Top 25
Career Totals 594 506 73 58 34 286 389

At this point if Tiger Woods plays 594 tournaments as Jack Nicklaus did he is on schedule to win 147 tournaments on the PGA Tour alone, but to be fair to Nicklaus this does not take into account "fall off" – the twilight years. Tiger Woods has played on the Tour for 11 years so far and won 62 times, the same as Arnold Palmer. Jack Nicklaus won 73 times in 29 years so, by statistics anyway, TW is well on the way of doubling, yes doubling, Nicklaus's win total if he remains in good health. Nicklaus had reported back trouble and all though he won three majors in his 40s he a had a relatively disappointing 40-50 age stretch. Golfers today like Vijay Singh have won more tournaments in their 40s, the Fijian amassing 19 victories since passing the milestone. Tiger could win even more tournaments in his 40s ! Modern day mind set that 40 is not old, diets, fitness and equipment have helped to spur this 'winning way' the forty plus age bracket.

Tiger Woods' last 2 years on the PGA tour.

2007

01/28/2007 Buick Invitational 1
02/25/2007 WGC-Accenture Match Play T9
03/18/2007 Arnold Palmer Invt'l T22
03/25/2007 WGC-CA Championship 1
04/08/2007 Masters Tournament T2
05/06/2007 Wachovia Championship 1
05/13/2007 THE PLAYERS Championship T37
06/03/2007 the Memorial Tournament T15
06/17/2007 U.S. Open Championship T2
07/08/2007 AT&T National T6
07/22/2007 British Open Championship T12
08/05/2007 WGC-Bridgestone Invit'l 1
08/12/2007 PGA Championship 1
09/03/2007 Deutsche Bank Champ T2
09/09/2007 BMW Championship 1
09/16/2007 THE TOUR Championship 1
12/16/2007 (*) Target World Challenge 1
2006

01/29/2006 Buick Invitational 1
02/19/2006 Nissan Open WD
02/26/2006 WGC-Accenture Match Play T9
03/05/2006 Ford Championship @ Doral 1
03/19/2006 Bay Hill Invitational T20
03/26/2006 THE PLAYERS Championship T22
04/09/2006 Masters Tournament T3
06/18/2006 U.S. Open Championship Cut
07/09/2006 Cialis Western Open T2
07/23/2006 British Open Championship 1
08/06/2006 Buick Open 1
08/20/2006 PGA Championship 1
08/27/2006 WGC-Bridgestone Invit'l 1
09/04/2006 Deutsche Bank Champ 1
10/01/2006 WGC-American Express 1
12/17/2006 (*) Target World Challenge 1

Tiger Woods is a living legend, many of us missed the legends of the game as television was not around (I refer to replays that is!) or not as good as it is today so continue to enjoy this phenomenal golf has it unfolds.

Happy golfing,
Russell
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