How many majors will Tiger Woods win in 2014?

How many majors will Tiger Woods win in 2014?

By Michael Gales Mar 26, 2014

Tweet

With the 2014 golf major season about to start, Pinnacle Sports are offering odds on how many majors Tiger Woods will win this season? With a new injury, poor form and lack of recent major success, are Woods’ chances of winning a major in 2014 diminishing?

Is time running out for Tiger Woods to win another major?

While Tiger Woods – at the time of writing – is World No 1, you might want to think again before betting on the man to win a major in 2014, as there are a number of signs that the American may be in decline.

Woods is the second most decorated major winner in golf history with 14 titles to his name – Masters 4, U.S Open 3, Open Championship 3, PGA Championship 4 – but has failed to win in his last 18 attempts.

Personal matters were blamed for his lack of form at the end of 2009 and the following season, however it is now his age and more importantly injuries, which are the cause for concern. The bulging disc that forced Woods to withdraw during the final round of this year’s Honda Classic and which kept him out of the Arnold Palmer Invitational is apparently inoperable.

Despite going under the knife four times on his knee, back trouble could prove more problematic, Woods stated recently ” With the back, it’s a totally different deal. There are certain movements you just can’t do… It affects downswing, and follow through.”

If his fitness does hold up, his recent major form is still a cause for concern. Despite experts talking of Woods returning to his former glories as he eased to victories in high-quality fields at the WGC Cadillac Championship, the WGC Bridgestone Invitational and The Players in 2013, he failed in the majors.

Interestingly Woods has not broken 70 on the weekend of any major since the 2011 Masters, which is a worrying stat for any bettors thinking of backing him to win. In 2013 he endured his worst major weekend at the US Open with rounds of 76-74, and shot a final round of 74 in the hunt for the victory at the British Open.

In his 18 majors since his private life was exposed in 2009, Woods has finished inside the top five in six majors. It has been 70 months since his last major win – the longest drought of his career. Bettors must decide if this drought is weighing heavy on his mind?

What do the statistics suggest?

On average Woods has won a major every 5 attempts, and finishes inside the top five once every 2.25 tournaments. However his record has change since 2009 – obviously his win ratio is 0, while he finishes in the top five on average every 3 tournaments.

Odds of 1.446* are available for Woods’ major drought to continue – in 19 seasons of major golf, he has finished winless in 10 (52%) – while he can be backed at 3.560* to end his worst run without a major win and claim a title in 2014.

Backing Woods to complete a major double for the fourth time in his career is available at 12.500*, while a second hat-trick of majors is at 46.550* – Woods is only the second man to ever record three major wins in the same year (2000).

Aside from 2009, this has been the worst start to a season in his career.  He finished 25th at the WGC Doral where he scored a closing 78 – his worst final round in 18 seasons as a professional.

It is interesting to see the shift in odds for Woods to beat Jack Nicklaus’ 18 major titles. After Woods won his second major at the PGA Championship in 1999, he was at 26.000 and moved to 1.333 after winning four majors in a row in 2000-01, while he has now drifted to 7.000 with a number of major bookmakers. This dramatic shift highlights how the bookmakers believe Woods’ powers could be on the wane.

The challenge Woods faces is evident when you consider no golfer has won five majors after their 38th birthday in 60 years. Ben Hogan was the last to do so, but the standard of golf was nowhere near as good as in the modern era.

Given his ongoing injury battle, and inconsistent form in the majors, is Tiger Woods’ charge towards the Nicklaus’ record slowing? 2014 could prove pivotal for the legacy of Tiger. Depending which side of the argument you sit will determine whether or not you think Woods can win one or more major tournaments in 2014.

Woods’ record in majors before 2009

Major

Events

Wins

Top 5 Finish

Top 10 Finish

Missed Cut

Masters

14

4

8

10

0

U.S. Open

14

3

6

6

1

British Open

13

3

5

7

0

PGA Championship

11

4

6

7

0

Overall

52

14

25

30

1

 

Woods’ record in majors since 2009

Major

Events

Wins

Top 5 Finish

Top 10 Finish

Missed Cut

Masters

5

0

3

4

0

U.S. Open

4

0

1

2

0

British Open

4

0

1

2

1

PGA Championship

5

0

1

1

1

Overall

18

0

6

9

2

Click here to bet on Tiger Woods’ 2014 major props.

*Odds subject to change

If you have feedback, comments or questions regarding this article, please email the author or send us a tweet on Twitter.