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And He's Just Getting Started

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By MICK ELLIOTT | The Tampa Tribune

Published: January 29, 2008

When Tiger Woods gobbled up his 62nd career victory Sunday with a rout at the Buick Invitational in La Jolla, Calif., it moved him into a tie with the great Arnold Palmer for fourth place on the PGA Tour's all-time wins list.

Among the many words used to describe Woods' jet-like climb up golf's career measuring stick, "surprising" is not one of them.

That Woods would draw equal with Palmer in victories and then move past him has long appeared a forgone conclusion. Every bit as inevitable seems to be the future fall of Sam Snead's 82 career victories.

Like storm water rising, Woods' domination is steady and unrelenting.

Most of all, it has come to be accepted.

The only trouble with this thinking is that the acknowledged inevitability of future accomplishments leaves little room to appreciate the present.

Consider that Woods, who last month turned 32, is in his 12th full year on tour. Win No. 62 came in his 231st tournament appearance.

Palmer was 44 when winning his final PGA Tour event, the 1973 Bob Hope Classic. He was playing his 18th year on the PGA Tour, and it was his 473rd tournament.

While Woods was winning by eight shots Sunday at Torrey Pines, Palmer spent the day playing golf at his Bay Hill Club in Orlando and later issued a congratulating statement.

"I'm sure there are many, many more coming in the future," Palmer said. "There isn't any question about that."

Next for Woods to chase down is Ben Hogan with 64 titles. Jack Nicklaus is after that with 73. And finally there will be Snead's 82.

Since arriving on tour at the tail-end of the 1996 season, Woods has never gone winless. Eight times - including seven titles in 2007 - he has won at least five times in a season. Over the past three years, he is averaging seven wins a year.

"Hopefully my good years are still ahead of me," Woods said Sunday.

If so, Woods could break Snead's record by 35.

"Heck, he may double that," Palmer said of his 62-win mark. "I would not be surprised at all."

Palmer is among growing company.

Truth is golfers' mid-30s have long been considered the prime career years.

All 31 of Vijay Singh's career victories have come after he turned 30. Woody Austin did not qualify for the PGA Tour until he was 30.

"I'm still getting better," Woods said. "I still have holes in my game that I need to fix and need to improve on. I just think that what I've been working on, I'm headed in the right direction.

"You can always get better in everything. I didn't drive the ball particularly well this week. My iron play certainly can be better and I can putt better. My chipping was good this week. I had two chip-ins, which was nice. You've got to go back and fix it and work and continue to bust your butt to get better. If you're not getting better, you're getting worse, right?"

Reporter Mick Elliott can be

Reporter Mick Elliott can be reached at (813) 281-2534 or melliott@tampatrib.com.

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