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LONDON: Tiger Woods has been backed to break Jack Nicklaus鈥� record of 18 Majors by none other than the golfing great himself.
Woods ended a five-year winless run on Sunday, claiming victory in the Tour Championship to usher in emotional and frenzied scenes at the East Lake Golf Club. This time last year, after a fourth back operation, it was widely assumed his time as a top-class golfer was over. But this year has seen him hit those predictions into the long rough as he has found form and fun on the fairways once again.
And fresh off Woods鈥� first 鈥淲鈥� since 2013 Nicklaus predicted more titles for Tiger, not least in respect of the American鈥檚 charge to try to overhaul the all-time great鈥檚 record of 18 Majors.
Woods has been stuck on 14 Majors since 2008, and it has been generally accepted that having looked all but certain to reach Nicklaus鈥� mark, Woods鈥� personal and injury problems would mean he would not get close to the 78-year-old鈥檚 mark.
鈥淢aybe Tiger鈥檚 got another 40 Majors to play. Out of 40 majors can he win five of them?鈥� Nicklaus, known as the Golden Bear, said.
鈥淗e鈥檚 playing well enough. It depends how much he wants to work at it, how interested he is, and long he wants to make a commitment to do that.
鈥淲ith today鈥檚 equipment, and the way the guys take care of themselves, I think they could play well into their 50s.
鈥淚鈥檓 proud of him. He鈥檚 worked very hard to get his golf game back. He even worked really hard to get the five inches between his head thinking the right way again.鈥�
For now all thoughts of getting back on the Major-winning trail will doubtless be put to the back of Woods鈥� mind, with the Ryder Cup starting on Friday. Ahead of the biennial battle against Europe, Woods revealed how much the Tour Championship win meant.
鈥淚 was having a hard time not crying on the last hole,鈥� Woods said, his voice choking at times. 鈥淚 just can鈥檛 believe I pulled this off.
鈥淚t hasn鈥檛 been so easy the last couple of years. It鈥檚 hard to believe I was able to do it again.
鈥�(This win) is certainly up there with obviously all the Major championships I鈥檝e won,鈥� Woods added.
鈥淚 just didn鈥檛 know whether this would ever happen again. It means a lot. It really does.鈥�
Phil Mickelson, once Woods鈥� arch-rival, led the tributes to his Ryder Cup teammate.
鈥淗e鈥檚 played such good golf all year that it is just not surprising,鈥� he said.
鈥淭iger鈥檚 played so well on a very difficult golf course and we almost kind of expected it.
鈥淲e never doubted he would not win again, not from what I鈥檝e seen (with the way) he鈥檚 been swinging the club.
鈥淚t was just a matter of time.鈥�