You’ll hear people say that he doesn’t have the great opponents that Nicklaus had. The Golden Bear had to face Watson and Gary Player and Trevino and Palmer. Who’s Tiger had to beat? Phil Mickelson? Vijay Singh? Ernie Els?

It sounds good, but it’s a false argument. The players just named are incredibly good. If they didn’t have to play the greatest who ever played, they could well have the same major totals that Watson, Player, Palmer and Trevino have. There were no great pitchers when Babe Ruth was at bat. The same goes for Tiger Woods.

One final observation after this stunning exhibition of golf — 51 birdies for the week in 117 holes. It is this: Nick Faldo said he can’t imagine Tiger playing past the age of 45. Faldo’s an excellent analyst, but I think he’s wrong for one very simple reason: He wants every record it’s possible to have, and Nicklaus in 1986 became the oldest man to win a major when he won the Masters at the age of 46.

Where Faldo and others who predict early retirement for Tiger miss the boat is they’re thinking what they would do if they were Woods.

Tiger is going to want to beat that one, too, and if he’s healthy, you’ll see him out there at the age of 47 and beyond adding that record to his resume.

Then there’s Sam Snead’s record of being the oldest man to win a PGA Tour title. He did that when he won the Greater Greensboro Open in 1965 at the age of 52 years, 10 months and 8 days. If Tiger’s still standing, don’t be surprised if he tees it up somewhere when he’s 53, just to wipe old Sam’s name off the top of that list.

MOST PGA TOUR VICTORIES Player Wins 1. Sam Snead 82 2. Jack Nicklaus 73 3. Tiger Woods 71 4. Ben Hogan 64 5. Arnold Palmer 62 6. Byron Nelson 52

He’s third in all-time victories now with 63, one better than Arnold Palmer. He’s going after Snead’s record of 82. Hogan’s 64 will fall next. Then it’s Nicklaus’ 73 and in three or four years, Snead’s 82.

Can you say 25 majors and 120 career wins? It’s not impossible. Not for the greatest player ever, a player who’s still getting better.

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