LONDON: Tiger Woods has been backed to break Jack Nicklaus’ 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’ first “W” since 2013 Nicklaus predicted more titles for Tiger, not least in respect of the American’s charge to try to overhaul the all-time great’s 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’ mark, Woods’ personal and injury problems would mean he would not get close to the 78-year-old’s mark.
“Maybe Tiger’s got another 40 Majors to play. Out of 40 majors can he win five of them?” Nicklaus, known as the Golden Bear, said.
“He’s 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.
“With today’s equipment, and the way the guys take care of themselves, I think they could play well into their 50s.
“I’m proud of him. He’s 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.”
For now all thoughts of getting back on the Major-winning trail will doubtless be put to the back of Woods’ mind, with the Ryder Cup starting on Friday. Ahead of the biennial battle against Europe, Woods revealed how much the Tour Championship win meant.
“I was having a hard time not crying on the last hole,” Woods said, his voice choking at times. “I just can’t believe I pulled this off.
“It hasn’t been so easy the last couple of years. It’s hard to believe I was able to do it again.
“(This win) is certainly up there with obviously all the Major championships I’ve won,” Woods added.
“I just didn’t know whether this would ever happen again. It means a lot. It really does.”
Phil Mickelson, once Woods’ arch-rival, led the tributes to his Ryder Cup teammate.
“He’s played such good golf all year that it is just not surprising,” he said.
“Tiger’s played so well on a very difficult golf course and we almost kind of expected it.
“We never doubted he would not win again, not from what I’ve seen (with the way) he’s been swinging the club.
“It was just a matter of time.”
Jack Nicklaus backs Tiger Woods to overhaul his Major record
Jack Nicklaus backs Tiger Woods to overhaul his Major record
Gulf Giants start DP World ILT20 Season 4 with 6-wicket victory over MI Emirates
- Nissanka’s 81 and Omarzai’s all-round display trump Pollard’s half-century
DUBAI: The Gulf Giants began their DP World ILT20 Season 4 campaign with a clinical six-wicket victory against the MI Emirates on Thursday.
A swashbuckling knock of 81 runs in 42 balls from Pathum Nissanka and an all-round performance from Azmatullah Omarzai proved decisive for the Giants, who broke a six-match losing streak at the Dubai International Stadium
Apart from a 78-run partnership between Nicholas Pooran (46 off 39) and half-centurion Kieron Pollard (50 off 33), the Giants were potent with the ball. Omarzai and Nuwan Thushara led with two-wicket hauls each while, in contrast, four out of five bowlers for the MI Emirates conceded at more than 10 runs an over.
In the second innings, Chris Woakes gave the Giants an early jolt with the wickets of Rahmanullah Gurbaz (6 off 3) and Gerhard Erasmus (1 off 5). Pathum Nissanka and Moeen Ali (26 off 21) steadied the ship, taking the Giants to 67 until Moeen Ali was run out.
Opening the innings, Nissanka scored briskly after a watchful start. He crossed the 50-run mark in 30 balls on the back of three fours and two sixes.
Soon after, Omarzai (39* off 16) tore into Rashid Khan, hammering a four and three sixes in a devastating 23-run over that seized control for the Giants. Nissanka extended the damage with three boundaries and a six off Chris Woakes before his dismissal in the 15th over.
Omarzai remained unbeaten as the Giants reached their target in 14.4 overs.
Asked to bat first, MI Emirates limped to 36/3 inside the powerplay courtesy of the Giants’ pace attack. Nuwan Thushara snapped up Mohammed Waseem (1 off 2) and Jonny Bairstow (11 off 13) with both batters caught and bowled. Meanwhile, Azmatullah Omarzai cleaned up Tom Banton (6 off 8) in the third over.
Runs were hard to come by as Nicholas Pooran and Tajinder Singh (15 off 19) looked to rebuild. The pair put up a stand of 27 runs before Moeen Ali outfoxed Tajinder to leave the MI Emirates at 58/4 in 10 overs.
The innings needed impetus, and Pollard provided it in the 13th over, launching three consecutive sixes off Tabraiz Shamsi. Pooran joined the assault with a 14-run plunder off Haider Razzaq, as the duo raced to a 50-run partnership in just 36 balls. In a bid to hit his third six of the night, Pooran fell to Razzaq in the 18th over to make it 141/5.
Kieron Pollard was dismissed in the final over by Omarzai. But Romario Shepherd (18* off 6) and Rashid Khan (6* off 1) did well to help the MI Emirates post 163/6.
On the Gulf Giants’ victory, stand-in captain, Moeen Ali said: “It’s a great performance. The toss was huge. We bowled very well in the first 10 overs. They have three players who can take it away, and we held them back nicely, and then Nissanka and Omarzai were incredible. Nissanka is a brilliant player. He is one of the best in the world. He is very calm, doesn’t say much, but packs a punch. Omarzai gave us the momentum to finish the game by taking on Rashid Khan.”
MI Emirates captain Kieron Pollard said: “Losing three wickets in the powerplay, and having to rebuild, we were short in the first innings. The ball was moving around quite a bit in the first 10 overs, and we couldn’t finish it off as well as we wanted. We just need to be better in terms of execution.”
