For the second time this season, Tiger Woods won his final event prior to a major, this time with a ringing endorsement from Jack Nicklaus.
“I suspect [major win] No. 15 will come for Tiger Woods in about two weeks,” said Nicklaus. “If he drives the ball this way, and plays this way, I’m sure it will. And if not, it will surprise me greatly.”
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It will also be the 15th attempt for Woods to follow a tuneup victory with a major title. Here are the four times he won the major after winning the tuneup event (in golf, a .267 average isn’t bad). Note the first one:
2000 » Tuneup win: The Memorial; Major win: U.S. Open (Pebble Beach)
2001 » Tuneup: TPC at Sawgrass; Major win: The Masters
2006 » Tuneup: Buick Open; Major win: PGA Championship (Medinah)
2007 » Tuneup: Bridgestone Invitational (Firestone); Major win: PGA Championship (Southern Hills)
2009 » Tuneup: The Memorial; Major win: U.S. Open (Bethpage Black); Finish: ??
