Wednesday, July 5, 2000
Woods takes aim at his idol
By Ed Sherman
Chicago Tribune
(KRT)
When it comes to Jack Nicklaus' records, Tiger Woods wants to
set the record straight. He did not have all of Nicklaus' records
posted on the wall of his room when he was growing up, contrary
to an enduring fable.
Woods noted only a few of Nicklaus' accomplishments: when he started
playing, when he first broke 80 and then 70, when he won his first
Ohio state amateur and when he played in his first U.S. Open.
“It only went until he was 21,” Woods said.
As for the rest of Nicklaus' records, Woods doesn't need to refer
to a wall or anything else — he knows them by heart.
Nicklaus has been and will continue to be Woods' motivation. Woods
wants to be known as the best ever. That road currently goes through
Nicklaus.
Nicklaus' benchmark is the 18 majors he won as a professional.
While Woods maintains he isn't obsessed with it, reaching Nicklaus'
mark is his goal.
“The important thing is to put yourself in position to take
advantage of the opportunities,” Woods said. “Jack did
that better than anyone.”
So far, Woods is keeping up with Nicklaus' pace. He and Nicklaus
each won three majors by the age of 24, but Woods holds the edge
in victories at 20-12. Woods got off to an earlier start, turning
pro at 19. Nicklaus was 21.
Nicklaus knows his record is a daunting challenge.
“Poor Tiger,” he said. “I mean, the first time
he wins a (major), it's `OK, Tiger, only (17) more to go.' Poor
kid has that sitting in front of him every day.”
Nicklaus, doesn't truly feel sorry for Woods. Indeed, comparing
his game in his prime with Woods' current game, Nicklaus faces
one of the rare times when he might come up a little short.
“He hits the ball farther than I did, but I think equipment
has something to do with that ... not much, though,” Nicklaus
said. “I think he manages his game well. I managed my game
well. I think he can play right to left or left to right. He probably
plays better right to left than I did.
“He's got a far better short game than I ever had. His short
game is phenomenal. He's got every shot around the green, and
I've never had that. He's a terrific putter, but I think I was
a good putter too.
“I had my stretches where I played well, where I never finished
out of the top 10. But in today's number of good players, I think
it's probably more astounding than my record was. He's done it
every time he's played.”
(c) 2000, Chicago Tribune.
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Distributed by Knight Ridder/Tribune Information Services.
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