Woods’s Major-less Streak Continues
Tiger Woods started the week at Oak Hill admitting that major No 15 is proving to be the hardest one of all to win. And so it continued, as despite another commanding performance in winning his eighth WGC-Bridgestone Invitational the previous week, Woods finished his tilt a distant 14 strokes behind champion Jason Dufner.
Woods didn’t break par in any round and his failure to win a major this year, extending his streak to eighteen since winning the 2008 US Open, was underlined by the ignominy of finishing his final round before the leaders had teed off.
Even his final day red shirt featured large slabs of grey, as if synonymous with his fortunes.
"It’s more frustrating not being in it,” said Woods, “I put four good rounds together last week, unfortunately it wasn't this week."
Woods has put together plenty of magnificent rounds together this year in regular events, winning five times and emphatically reclaiming the world No 1 ranking. He entered every major as the favourite with his game appearing razor sharp, only to fall short on each occasion.
His charge at Augusta was marred by a triple bogey at the 15th during round two after his pitch caromed off the flag back into the pond fronting the green. From there, he narrowly avoided disqualification and was instead penalised two strokes for dropping his ball in the wrong position.
Despite this, he still tied for fourth behind Adam Scott, followed that with a distant tie for 32nd at the US Open and tied for sixth at Muirfield.
"I was close in two of them," said Woods. "I was right there and certainly had a chance to win the Masters and the British this year. The other two, I just didn’t hit it good enough. Just the way it goes."
Woods will actually break a Jack Nicklaus major record when he tees up at Augusta next year – but not the one he is chasing. The time since Woods’ last major will edge to within two months of six years by next April. From his first major title in 1962 until his last in 1986 at age 46, Nicklaus never had to wait that length of time between victories.
Woods will turn 38 on 30 December.
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