The quest to break Jack Nicklaus’s record of 18 major championships has often been thought of as a driving force behind Tiger Wood’s professional playing career.
Back in 2008 when Woods won his 14th major at the U.S. Open at Torrey Pines, the goal seemed well within reach. But a series of personal and physical setbacks have left him winless at the major championships since then.
Fans and media have often attributed the number 19 to Woods’s goal for his career major tally — one more than the record set by Nicklaus. But according to an article penned by Woods’s former caddie, Steve Williams, Tiger believed he would win more than that.
“Back when we were working together we’d often have this conversation about how many majors he wanted to win,” Williams wrote. “I believed that when he got to the target he wanted he would rack the cue – it’s just that we were always unclear on what that number would be.
“Initially it was 20 and then he said one day, ‘No, Stevie, your favourite number is 21 and we’ll get to that’. I came back with: ‘No, you’re a great Michael Jordan fan, so why don’t we go for 23?’.”
Williams believes the 2019 major championship venues are a good fit for Woods. Augusta, Bethpage Black and Pebble Beach are all courses where Woods has won before. The only unknown is Royal Portrush, site of next year’s British Open, and the fourth and final major on the summer schedule.
