Wood’s “I can still beat Jack’s record”

Defiant Tiger insists he’s not a spent force in golf’s major championships

Major ambition: Tiger Woods says he can still eclipse Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 win in golf’s majors

Despite his weekend blow-up at the US Open, Tiger Woods insists that he can still beat Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major championships – and takes confidence from knowing that the ‘Golden Bear’ lost more than he won.

Woods, who has now gone more than four years since winning the last of his 14 majors, shared the 36-hole lead in the season’s second major at the Olympic Club a fortnight ago. However, he wilted badly over the weekend and ultimately finished in a tie for 21st.

That prompted some people to speculate that the former world No.1 will never beat Nicklaus’ record. Woods, however, thinks otherwise.

“I’ve won major championships but I haven’t done it since ’08,” said the 36-year-old ahead of the AT&T National at Congressional this week. “We all go through periods where that doesn’t happen. Some periods are entire careers. But I think I understand how to win major championships.

“The key is just giving yourself chances. That’s the key, giving yourself opportunities on the back nine on Sunday each and every time. That’s one of the reasons why Jack was so good at it. He won 18, but if you think about it, he finished second 19 times, so he was there.

“You’re not going to win them all, but if you’re there a lot, chances are you’re going to win your share.”

Woods was also honest enough to admit that he has taken his eye off certain parts of his game as he works on ingraining the new swing he has built over the past couple of years with coach Sean Foley.

He said: “I would say certainly my short game has been something that has taken a hit, and it did the same thing when I was working with Butch and the same thing when I was working with Hank.

“During that period of time, my short game went down, and it’s because I was working on my full game. Eventually I get to a point where the full game becomes very natural feeling and I can repeat it day after day, and I can dedicate most of my time to my short game again.”

Woods’ previously peerless putting stroke has also come in for some criticism but, despite his struggles, he is adamant he has no plans to follow the lead of several of the game’s other big names – Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els amongst them – by converting to a long putter.

“I’ve tried it, and my stroke is infinitely worse,” he revealed. “It’s just not good. I like the flow of my stroke. I like how I putt. Putting with anchoring or even different configurations of a standard grip, my stroke doesn’t flow at all. I think I’ve done all right with mine, and I think I’m going to stick with it.”

Bryce Ritchie is the Editor of bunkered and, in addition to leading on content and strategy, oversees all aspects of the brand. The first full-time journalist employed by bunkered, he joined the company in 2001 and has been editor since 2009. A member of Balfron Golfing Society, he currently plays off nine and once got a lesson from Justin Thomas’ dad.

Editor of bunkered