Tiger Wood's chances to catch Jack probably dead
Ted Escobar
Sunday's final round of the PGA Championship is the most golf I've watched in a while, and it seemed eerily similar to the second round of the 2005 British Open.
Except for the cheers and adulation.
That Open was planned as Jack Nicklaus's farewell by Jack himself. It turned into the day Tiger Woods supplanted him as king of the sport.
While Jack was missing the cut at the 18th, despite a birdie, Tiger was teeing off on No. 1 as the leader and eventual winner. It was a sad, yet happy day for me. Jack had been my favorite. Now Tiger was.
Jack launched his story at about the same time I was discovering golf. He was winning the 1962 U.S. Open, and I was out in the pasture with some old hickory-shafted clubs and severely cut balata balls salvaged from a Sunnyside trash can.
From that moment on, I watched everything Jack did on TV. After each victory I practiced immediately, trying to emulate the Jack Nicklaus swing. I couldn't afford lessons.
I didn't do the same with Tiger. I couldn't. He was much younger. He was swinging free and easy, and I was struggling to get my body out of the way of my swing.
Sunday at the PGA was not planned as the day Tiger was replaced at the top, but it sure seemed like it. Northern Ireland's 23-year-old Rory McIlroy raced away to a final score of -13, leaving Tiger (-2) in the dust, as Tiger used to leave others.
McIlroy is the one with the loose, free-flowing young muscles now. Tiger still has a lot of that, but more and more he struggles to get his body out of the way of his swings.
Tiger's leg injuries have caught up to him. Soon age will. And he puts pressure we can't imagine on himself to catch Jack.
Tiger may never win another major championship. Certainly he will not top Nicklaus's record of 18, as he dreamed of doing. McIlroy and 10-15 other expert young guns won't let him.
If Tiger wins another major, it will be a surprise, like the Masters title Jack won in 1986. I was so sure Jack was finished at 17 majors that I didn't watch that day.
As I came in from a round of golf, I remembered the Masters and asked how it turned out. I was stunned to learn Jack had played the best Masters back nine of his career to win. I still wish I had witnessed that moment.
I hope Tiger wins that 15th. I hope he gets to plan his own farewell. He's probably the best player ever.
Jack had the better record in majors, but Tiger will finish with the most victories overall. I'm grateful I was able to watch both play in their prime.
And if Tiger goes on to 19 majors, I'll be happy to say I was wrong. Jack got his 18th at the age of 46, when his body was getting in the way of his swing.
Become a Subscriber!
You have read all of your free articles this month. Select a plan below to start your subscription today.
Already a subscriber? Login
