Tiger has Back Surgery, the Nicklaus Window is Closing

[KurtBevacqua]

So Tiger is pretty much out for the rest of the year. This got me to look at the numbers and compare Tiger to the Bear. Tiger needs four more majors wins to tie Nicklaus. Tiger won't play in another major until he is at least 39.

Jack Nicklaus won three majors after turning 40. Only six different players over 40 have ever won a major. Kinda gives you a feel for just how enduring Nicklaus' greatness really was.

Tiger hasn't won a major since he was aged 32. He won all 14 of his majors in his first 12 years on the tour. Now that is some serious dominance. Nicklaus had a run where he won 12 majors in 11 years, but Nicklaus also only had nine majors by the time he was 32, five behind Tiger. But where it gets interesting to me is the fact at the same age Tiger has effectively ended dominating the majors, Nicklaus was only half done. His other nine majors came after 32. My takeaways: Tiger was dominant for those first 12 years in a way nobody has ever been dominant in golf, but Nicklaus was great for a really, really long time.

Maybe this surgery cures all that ails Tiger and he can be even greater than Nicklaus was at the same age, but he hasn't been as good as Nicklaus for some seven years now. I'd love to see the kind of drama a real run at the record would bring, but I don't think it will happen.

Tiger Woods withdraws from 2014 Masters after back surgery - GOLF.com

[cephasjames]

I think Tiger's chance of beating Nicklaus crashed into the tree with him and his car. He hasn't really recovered since then. In fact he's been fairly bi-polar golf-wise since then. Seems the karma he believes in is kicking his butt over his arrogance. I don't think he'll beat Jack. I think we're going to continue to see the shell of a golfer that is now Tiger (comparatively) struggle and fail (comparatively) through the remaining years of his career.

[rudel.dietrich]

Sounds strange, but I wonder if Tiger has simply played too many rounds?
He started when he was 3, had an obsessive father who played him 36 holes a day for six days a week and he trained obsessively lifting small weights for hours a day.
We talk about running backs who burn out their bodies by too many carries and basketball players who put too many minutes on their knees and ankles, I wonder if Tigers body was naturally injury susceptible and by his early 30s it was simply over abused.

[Lukas Berger]

Originally Posted by rudel.dietrich

Sounds strange, but I wonder if Tiger has simply played too many rounds?
He started when he was 3, had an obsessive father who played him 36 holes a day for six days a week and he trained obsessively lifting small weights for hours a day.
We talk about running backs who burn out their bodies by too many carries and basketball players who put too many minutes on their knees and ankles, I wonder if Tigers body was naturally injury susceptible and by his early 30s it was simply over abused.

I agree.

This is a much more likely explanation for his recent lack of dominance than the accident and divorce. Lots of top athletes have gone through similar messes in their personal lives that didn't really affect their play. Injuries, overwork and burnout have done in many more athletes than non drug related personal problems have.

[cephasjames]

I don't discount the idea that his body is breaking down physically, not do I think it's 100% off the course stuff that's getting to him. But his slide downward has really come since the accident (which was a result if his admitted arrogance and infidelity). I'm sure the accident didn't help him physically. My wife is still recovering from a minor accident 7 years ago. Why could Tiger be suffering similarly?

[Rasmuth]

that window is closed. golfers don't improve in their 40's....well few do...that european guy Jiminez seemed too...but it just doesn't happen.