It seems like each week on The Back Nine Radio Show on 101.1 ESPN, the guys discuss whether or not Tiger Woods is truly "back" to the Tiger of old. Let's just end that debate now, as Tiger will never return to the person we saw in 2000. He's older, he's more experienced with both good and bad memories, and his body can't do everything it could 12 years ago.
This week we learned about Tiger passing Jack Nicklaus on the all-time wins list, trailing only Sam Snead on the all-time wins list on the PGA Tour. Tiger Woods may not be the player he once was, but he's closer to the Tiger of old than anyone else in professional golf.
Woods has now won 3 times this year on the PGA Tour and if you count his win at Sherwood in December, he's won 4 times in the past 7 months. He's won 3 out of his last 7 starts, winning at Bay Hill (Arnold's event), Memorial (Jack's event) and now the AT&T (his event). Absent the regular PGA tour stop at Quail Hollow and Players Championship, Tiger has captured victories in 3 of the Tour's top non-major championship venues.
Statistically, Tiger is now leading the FedExCup Points Standings and PGA Tour Money list. He's ranked 4th in the Official World Ranking. Let's take a look at a few other Tiger stats in 2012:
Driving Distance - 34th
Driving Accuracy Percentage - 46th
Strokes Gained Putting - 14th
Scoring Average - 1st
Total Driving - 5th
All-Around Ranking - 9th
Par 3 Birdie or Better Leaders - 1st
Putting from 20-25' - 1st
Putting from 5-10' - 7th
Proximity to the Hole - 34' 7" - 16th
What's next for Tiger Woods? Simply, it's to win a 15th major championship and continue his pursuit of Jack Nicklaus' record 18 major championships won. But before he resumes his pursuit of Jack's major total, he'll be in action this week at Greenbrier where he'll be favored to win for a 4th time this season on the PGA Tour.
