Tiger Woods: AT&T National Victory Must Be Followed Up by British Open Triumph

Jack Nicklaus is in Tiger Woods’ rearview mirror.

Well, at least he is if you believe the average PGA Tour win actually matters at this point in Tiger’s career.

Woods won the AT&T National on Sunday for his 74th PGA tournament triumph passing Jack for second on the all-time list only behind Sam Snead. But Snead isn’t the man that Tiger should be chasing, and he leapfrogged Nicklaus on the wrong list. While he’s recorded three victories since his world was turned upside down, until he wins a major, Woods will still have a massive monkey on his back.

His next opportunity to do so is in three weeks at the 2012 British Open. Like every other major tournament, Tiger has had plenty of success in The Open Championship, winning it three times. And like every other major tournament, he hasn’t won it in years.

And don’t believe for a second that because Woods won the AT&T National he’s back.

Tiger won at the Memorial in early June. The rare success triggered the media to peg him a heavy favorite going into the U.S. Open. What did Woods do with all eyes on him expecting nothing but a W?

He choked.

Before Tiger teed off at the first hole on Saturday, he was tied for the lead. Ten bogeys and a double bogey later, Woods was tied for 21st. And just like that, he had gone from being in position to win his first major since 2008 to marking another tally in a now frequently-used loss column.

Tiger will turn 37 years old in December. No matter what he believes, he’s running out of time to catch Nicklaus. Anyone that believes he can afford a few more letdowns lengthening his drought even further and then, all of a sudden, flip the switch and string together five major victories is out of their mind.

Woods needs a win now. If he fails to claim the British Open crown, his odds of ever eclipsing Nicklaus will shrink even further.

David Daniels is a featured columnist at Bleacher Report and a syndicated writer.

Follow @TheRealDDaniels