KIAWAH ISLAND, S.C. — Tiger Woods must not have heard the question correctly, no surprise considering all the thunder disrupting whatever was spoken into a microphone.
Is it harder for you to win a major than it was 10 years ago?
"Well, I haven't won one, so probably," Woods said Tuesday.
Maybe he heard four years. Or perhaps those four seem like 10.
Whatever the case, Woods perked up when the question was repeated.
"Oh, 10 years ago?" he said. "Yeah, there's more players with a chance now. The fields are so much deeper than they used to be."
This week's PGA Championship marks Woods' 14th major start since he last won one. And though injuries, a swing overhaul and a change in domestic status have intervened over the last two years, the end of this year's major cycle finds him both encouraged and disappointed.
"It's been a pretty good year," he said.
On one hand, Woods' three victories are more than anyone else on the PGA Tour has. He leads the money list and FedEx Cup points list. He's back to No. 2 in the world rankings, with a chance to reclaim the top spot this week. He's the only American to lock up a Ryder Cup berth.
"When you're talking of Tiger, it doesn't matter where you go, you think he's a factor starting the week," Adam Scott said.
But as Woods reiterated last week, a major takes it to a different level.
"Winning golf tournaments makes it successful, but winning a major makes it a great year," he said at Firestone. "You can go from having a so-so year to winning one major, and all of a sudden it's a great year."
Woods has had a couple of sniffs this season. He led after two rounds of the U.S. Open, the first time since 2009 he had been on top at a major, but weekend struggles left him tied for 21st. At the British Open three weeks ago, a tie for third was his best finish in that same span.
Take away the triple bogey he made after finding one of Royal Lytham's dastardly bunkers, and he would have been a shot behind winner Ernie Els.
"I'm pleased at the way I was able to play at certain parts of it," Woods said, "and obviously disappointed that I did not win. I've played in three major championships this year, and I didn't win any of them.
"Things have progressed — but still, not winning a major championship doesn't feel very good."
This marks the ninth time since turning pro that Woods comes to the year's final major without a Grand Slam trophy already on his shelf. He avoided the shutout in 1999 and 2007 and nearly did in 2009 before Y.E. Yang chased him down.
That was 10 major starts ago. Fields indeed are deeper, with young guns Keegan Bradley, Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson taking three of the last four majors. Scott could have made it four straight if he had parred one of his last four holes at Royal Lytham.
And while the debate continues on whether the clock is running down on Woods' pursuit of Jack Nicklaus' gold standard of 18 major titles, he's preaching patience.
"I figure it's going to take a career," Woods said. "Jack didn't finish his (collection) until he was 46. So if you go by that timetable, I've got 10 more years. Forty more majors is a lot; I've got plenty of time."
It wouldn't hurt, though, to get that first one knocked out. It's a long wait until the Masters.
jshain@tribune.com
Twitter @JeffShain
Is it harder for you to win a major than it was 10 years ago?
"Well, I haven't won one, so probably," Woods said Tuesday.
Maybe he heard four years. Or perhaps those four seem like 10.
Whatever the case, Woods perked up when the question was repeated.
"Oh, 10 years ago?" he said. "Yeah, there's more players with a chance now. The fields are so much deeper than they used to be."
This week's PGA Championship marks Woods' 14th major start since he last won one. And though injuries, a swing overhaul and a change in domestic status have intervened over the last two years, the end of this year's major cycle finds him both encouraged and disappointed.
"It's been a pretty good year," he said.
On one hand, Woods' three victories are more than anyone else on the PGA Tour has. He leads the money list and FedEx Cup points list. He's back to No. 2 in the world rankings, with a chance to reclaim the top spot this week. He's the only American to lock up a Ryder Cup berth.
"When you're talking of Tiger, it doesn't matter where you go, you think he's a factor starting the week," Adam Scott said.
But as Woods reiterated last week, a major takes it to a different level.
"Winning golf tournaments makes it successful, but winning a major makes it a great year," he said at Firestone. "You can go from having a so-so year to winning one major, and all of a sudden it's a great year."
Woods has had a couple of sniffs this season. He led after two rounds of the U.S. Open, the first time since 2009 he had been on top at a major, but weekend struggles left him tied for 21st. At the British Open three weeks ago, a tie for third was his best finish in that same span.
Take away the triple bogey he made after finding one of Royal Lytham's dastardly bunkers, and he would have been a shot behind winner Ernie Els.
"I'm pleased at the way I was able to play at certain parts of it," Woods said, "and obviously disappointed that I did not win. I've played in three major championships this year, and I didn't win any of them.
"Things have progressed — but still, not winning a major championship doesn't feel very good."
This marks the ninth time since turning pro that Woods comes to the year's final major without a Grand Slam trophy already on his shelf. He avoided the shutout in 1999 and 2007 and nearly did in 2009 before Y.E. Yang chased him down.
That was 10 major starts ago. Fields indeed are deeper, with young guns Keegan Bradley, Bubba Watson and Webb Simpson taking three of the last four majors. Scott could have made it four straight if he had parred one of his last four holes at Royal Lytham.
And while the debate continues on whether the clock is running down on Woods' pursuit of Jack Nicklaus' gold standard of 18 major titles, he's preaching patience.
"I figure it's going to take a career," Woods said. "Jack didn't finish his (collection) until he was 46. So if you go by that timetable, I've got 10 more years. Forty more majors is a lot; I've got plenty of time."
It wouldn't hurt, though, to get that first one knocked out. It's a long wait until the Masters.
jshain@tribune.com
Twitter @JeffShain
