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| KAPALUA, Hawaii - Four years later, the words of Jack Nicklaus resonate even louder. "If Tiger is going to pass my record, this is a big year for him in that regard," Nicklaus said at the start of 2010. Nicklaus was referring to his record 18 majors, and the major championship venues that favoured Woods - Augusta National, Pebble Beach and St. Andrews, all courses where he had won before. Woods never had a serious chance on the back nine of any major that year. His tally remains at 14. And that makes 2014 even bigger. Woods is facing another favourable menu of major championship sites. He already has won majors at Augusta, Royal Liverpool (British Open) and Valhalla (PGA Championship). The U.S. Open is at Pinehurst No. 2, were Woods was third in 1999 and runner-up in 2005. "Im trending in the right way," Woods said recently. "Ive finished third, second ... you get the picture, right? OK." A new year begins Friday at the Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, and while Woods is among PGA Tour winners who chose to sit this one out, his performance in the majors this year figures to be a major topic of conversation over the next eight months. "I always think that the Masters signals a lot with Tiger," NBC analyst Johnny Miller said during a conference call. "If he doesnt win the Masters, I think it gives a great, big Uh-oh, because that course is so perfect for his game. Ill leave it at that. But if he wants to get off on the right foot, I think he needs to get off at the Masters." Theres a big difference with Woods the last time he faced such a tantalizing rotation of majors. Nicklaus spoke of a "big year" when Woods was more of a mystery than ever. No one had seen Woods in more than a month going into 2010 and didnt even know where he was. His personal life at home, his mystique in golf and his appeal in the corporate world were crumbling in spectacular fashion. Now, he is No. 1 in the world. He won five times last year against some of the strongest fields. He won the Vardon Trophy for the ninth time, the PGA Tour money title for the 10th time and was voted PGA Tour player of the year for the 11th time. Still, there remains an uncertainty about Woods, mainly because he hasnt won a major since 2008 and he hasnt broken 70 on the weekend of any major since the 2011 Masters. Thats a startling statistic for a guy who has built a reputation as golfs greatest closer. "Its getting much harder for Tiger because guys are not wilting on him," Miller said. "So hes got a double whammy in that hes not able to close as well as he used to, and then the guys are more heroic against him like they never were before. ... Guys are saying, Yeah, youre Tiger Woods and youre the greatest ever, but now at your age, I can beat you. He needs to do it in the majors." Will familiar venues help? Not necessarily. Woods forever is linked with Augusta National because of his record score (270) and margin of victory (12 shots) in the 1997 Masters, his back-to-back wins (2001-02) and that magic moment with his chip on the 16th hole that led to his playoff win in 2005. But he has not added to his wardrobe of green jackets in eight years, his longest drought in any major. Who saw that coming? And while he is trending in the right direction at Pinehurst No. 2, the Donald Ross design has gone through a restoration project that eliminated rough and replaced it with sandy dunes, pine straw and wire grass. Woods won the 2006 British Open at Royal Liverpool when it was firm and fiery, a links that was more yellow than green because of a dry summer. Woods hit only one driver the entire week. It might not be the same course if England gets a wet summer — and yes, it does rain in England — and players see Hoylake green, lush and longer. Valhalla is where Woods made what he considers the biggest putt of his career, a 6-footer on the final hole for birdie to force a playoff that he won over Bob May in the PGA Championship. It gave Woods his third straight major in that amazing summer of 2000. If that seems like a long time ago, it was. Woods will not have seen Valhalla in 14 years when he returns this summer. The best gauge of Woods and his pursuit of Nicklaus is more about him than the course he is playing. More than St. Andrews or Pebble Beach, more than Hoylake or Valhalla, its best to consider Southern Hills. Thats the course that supposedly gave Woods fits because of its tight, bending, tree-lined fairways. Woods won the 2007 PGA Championship that year, proof that when hes on his game and in the right frame of mind, he can win any major on any course. More significant than where the majors are played in 2014 is the fact Woods turned 38 on Monday. By age alone, Woods has been ahead of Nicklaus pace in the majors since winning his seventh major in 2002 Masters at age 26. They are tied now. Nicklaus also had 14 majors when he turned 38, and then he added his 15th major that summer in the British Open. Thats what makes this a big year for Woods. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . LOUIS -- Cincinnati scratched pitcher Mat Latos from an injury rehabilitation start due to right elbow irritation and placed reliever Trevor Bell on the 15-day disabled list with an aching right elbow. Cheap Jerseys From China . Lin averaged 27.3 points and 8.3 assists while leading the Knicks to a 4-0 record. The undrafted Harvard graduates 109 points are the most by an NBA player in his first four starts since the 1976-77 season, and he became the first player in NBA history to tally at least 20 points and seven assists in each of his first four starts. http://www.nflwholesalejerseymart.com/. 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When it comes to the struggling New York Knicks, Derek Fisher might be running out of ways to motivate them… so hes resorting to stating the obvious.COLUMBUS, Ohio - Ohio State held its homecoming over the weekend when it named its king and queen.But the real homecoming for basketball fans was Monday night when The King came back to Columbus with the Cleveland Cavaliers.LeBron James received a thunderous ovation during the pregame introductions from the sellout crowd of 19,049 in Value City Arena on the OSU campus and the Cavaliers went on to defeat the Chicago Bulls 107-98.The excitement was there from the time we walked in the building, he said. It was a school night; we had a lot of kids, a lot of college kids here. That shows the support there is. The least we can do is try and put on a show.The two Eastern Conference rivals did and it was the dueling guards who stole the spotlight from James.Kyrie Irving led the Cavaliers with 20 of his 28 points coming in the second half while Derrick Rose continues to show hes well on his way back from a torn medial meniscus in his right knee that caused him to miss last seasons playoffs.He had 30 points in 24 minutes of play and said he liked the challenge of playing the Cavaliers.Im used to playing with very good people and very good talent, he said. Thats all theyve got on that team, is talent. You know when you play against them; you know youve got to come out here and ball.Irving took control in the third quarter when he scored nine points during an 11-0 run for a 75-65 lead in his second game back from an ankle injury.James had 18 points in 31 minutes before exiting to a standing ovation with 6:29 to play and the Cavaliers ahead 92-81.The ballyhooed trio of James, Irving and Kevin Love (nine points, 13 rebounds) played together for only the second time in six games.What I reallly liked obviously tonight is we had Kevin, Kyrie and LeBron on the court at the same time Cleveland coach David Blatt said.dddddddddddd We got a fair view of that. I thought it went fairly well.Centre Anderson Varejao added 22 points for the Cavaliers.Were not the Big 3, James said. Were a team.TIP-INSIrving missed three games while recovering from a right ankle sprain. He played 38 minutes Monday after going 29 minutes Friday against the Dallas Mavericks ... Despite never attending college, James has an affinity for Ohio State and the school has given him a locker in the Buckeyes mens basketball locker room. ... Bulls forward Joakim Noah was the target of boos throughout the game. He helped the Florida Gators win NCAA championships in 2006 and 07, the latter by defeating Ohio State 84-75 in the title gameUP NEXTThe Cavaliers complete exhibition play Wednesday at the Memphis GrizzliesChicago plays its final preseason game Friday vs. Minnesota in St. Louis.THUMBS DOWNChicago coach Tom Thibodeau said starting guard Jimmy Butler, who did not play Monday, will have an MRI Tuesday on his sprained left thumb. Butler left the game Sunday after 11 minutes vs. the Charlotte Hornets. The Bulls are at 14 players, one below the maximum for the regular season.TAKE A SEATJames played his fifth preseason game Monday and is not expected to play Wednesday. I want my guys coming in healthy and happy and if LeBron needs to sit another game, hell sit another game, Blatt said. Thats the priority.QUOTESAs a basketball person, its great to see him back. He means something to this league. Its good for the NBA. I dont know if its good for us — Blatt on the return from injury of Rose. cheap nfl jerseys authentic jerseys nfl wholesale wholesale jerseys cheap jerseys wholesale jerseys ' ' ' |
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posted on: 11/10/2015 02:54:54 AM
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