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PITTSFORD, N.Y. — With the year’s final major championship upon us with the PGA Championship at Oak Hill this week, rate Tiger Woods’ 2013 season: Good year or great?
This is a burning question facing Woods. In a year when no other player has won more than two tournaments, he has won five. But because none of those was a major championship, exactly how successful his 2013 has been is in question for many people.
When you win 14 majors in your first 11 years as a professional, this becomes your rarified-air plight. You become a prisoner of your own greatness. This is what Woods has become.
We are to the point that no win short of a major championship is considered an accomplishment for Woods. We practically yawned through his eighth career win at Bridgestone last week — despite the fact it featured that sizzling 61 on Friday and ended in a seven-stroke margin of victory.
It has gotten to the point when you wonder if any other Woods win counts for anything. Doral? Bridgestone? Bay Hill? Well, he’s won on those courses so many times, so what? That’s become the blasé reaction to what has been an historic, remarkable run.
The standard Woods has set — rather publicly — is based on major championships and his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18.
So in many ways, Woods unwittingly brought this on himself — by winning so many majors so quickly and by being so open about how his pursuit of Nicklaus dates back to boyhood with a poster of the Golden Bear pasted to his wall as a reminder.
The PGA of America’s marketing slogan for the PGA Championship is “Glory’s last shot.’’
This week’s 95th PGA at Oak Hill represents Woods’ last shot of 2013 to win his 15th career major and end a drought that will head toward six years if he does not take home the chalice Sunday night.
So, if Woods does not win the PGA, what are we to think of his year — even if it ends with five wins?
To not deem it a great year is a disservice to Woods — even if you happen to not be a fan of his. Five wins on the PGA Tour is a career for a very good player and more than most players ever come close to.
So perspective is in order.
Woods’ win at Bridgestone was the 79th of his career, leaving him three PGA Tour wins short of tying Sam Snead’s all-time record.
That record, which Woods likely will break before the end of the 2014 season, should be viewed with at least a similar reverence to Nicklaus’ majors record, because it is a measure of consistency over an incredibly long period of time.
But wins in majors often are the defining line between a great season and a good one.
“I think winning one major championship automatically means you had a great year,” Woods said yesterday. “Even if you miss the cut in every tournament you play in, you win one [major], you’re part of history.
“This year, for me, I think it’s been a great year so far for me, winning five times, and you look at the quality of tournaments I’ve won, a Players and two World Golf Championships in there, that’s pretty good.’’
Asked if he does not win the PGA, if he would still consider 2013 “great,’’ Woods said, “Yeah, I think so. We have four more big events after this and a lot of things can happen. But I’m focused on this week and trying to win this one.’’
Woods’ chase for that 15th major has become the toughest one for him to win.
“It kind of seems that way,’’ he said. “It’s been the longest spell that I’ve had since I hadn’t won a major championship. I’ve had, certainly, my share of chances to win. I’ve had my opportunities there on the back nine on those — probably half of those Sundays for the last five years where I’ve had a chance, and just haven’t won it.
“The key is to keep giving myself chances, and eventually I’ll start getting them.’’
We shall see. In the meantime, Woods fan or not, you should appreciate his continuing greatness if he keeps winning non-major tournaments and overtakes Snead.