Woods drifting from record chase?

April 2, 2014: Tiger Woods is out of The Masters to be played at Augusta next week. The big question emerges after Tiger’s withdrawal from the Masters, where he has won four-time, is whether he is drifting far from his goal of beating Jack Nicklaus’s 18-Major record.

His back surgery on a pinched nerve this week requires 3-4 month rest for complete recovery. This may also mean that he may not be available for the Open Championships in July this summer.

Woods is out of his first Masters in 20 years, is a setback that could hurt his chances of breaking Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 major championships.

[highlight]As I’ve said many times, Sam and Jack reached their milestones over an entire career. I plan to have a lot of years left in mine, said Tiger [/highlight]

Nicklaus’ record is all that keeps Tiger playing. It’s not to win FedEx Cups or to break Sam Snead’s mark of 82 career PGA Tour wins or to amass more millions in earnings, it is just to beat Nicklaus’s record that keeps golf fan asking for more from Woods.

Woods is hopeful enough to bounce back and achieve what he has been striving for.

“It’s tough right now, but I’m absolutely optimistic about the future,” Woods said in a statement. “There are a couple [of] records by two outstanding individuals and players that I hope one day to break. As I’ve said many times, Sam and Jack reached their milestones over an entire career. I plan to have a lot of years left in mine.”

Golf experts had predicted this as a special year in the majors for Tiger — one that was sure to end his six-year winless drought in these events.

Woods had won six of his 14 majors on 2014’s major courses. Even with the incredible depth in the game, it was a good bet that Tiger was going to win on at least one of these courses.

Now nothing is certain about his season of majors.

Tiger, who completed 38 last December, may not find it easy to beat youngsters nearly half his age with a bad back. In addition to his back problem, there were the stress fractures and the reconstructive knee surgery in 2008. There was the neck injury in 2010. The Achilles injury in 2011. The elbow injury in 2013. And back spasms in 2013 and 2014.

What future holds for him, only time can tell.