Can Tiger Woods still catch Jack Nicklaus’ 18 major titles? Woods says he’s got a shot

Soon-to-be 44-year-old Tiger Woods hasn’t ruled out breaking one of golf’s most untouchable records just yet.

On Monday, Woods joined Golf Channel’s Morning Drive from this week’s Hero World Challenge to outline his goals for the 2020 season and beyond. When asked if he thought Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major titles was still on the table, Woods answered in the affirmative.

“I think it is. I think it is,” he said. “Obviously I have to do everything right like I did at Augusta and I have to have all of the pieces come together.”

Woods captured his 15th career major at the Masters in April. The win marked more than just the completion of an unthinkable recovery from spinal fusion surgery, but Woods’ first major championship victory in more than a decade.

Even more improbably, he engineered his victory at Augusta after beginning Sunday trailing on the leaderboard, a first for Woods in his major championship career.

“I was, what, 14-1 when either leading outright or tied for the lead going into Sunday (at a major)?” Woods said. “I finally broke that snide and came from behind. Who knows if I can come from behind (again)? I’ve done it different ways.”

Woods’ pursuit of the majors record was once thought to be little more than a formality. After his U.S. Open victory at Torrey Pines in 2008, he sat just four wins from Nicklaus’s record — and he was still only 33 years old.

A decade later, the clock continues to tick on the sport’s most transcendent player as he inches closer to 46, Nicklaus’ age at his final major triumph. But after climbing the major championship ladder in such improbable fashion in 2019, Woods, who tied Sam Snead’s record of 82 PGA Tour wins in October, is not ruling himself out.

“I’ve won tournaments in different ways and I finally have won a major and done that in different ways,” Woods said. “So, who knows what the future holds?”

To receive GOLF’s all-new newsletters, subscribe for free here.