KAPALUA, Hawaii - Four years later, the words of Jack Nicklaus resonate even louder. "If Tiger is going to pass my record, this is a big year for him in that regard," Nicklaus said at the start of 2010. Nicklaus was referring to his record 18 majors, and the major championship venues that favoured Woods - Augusta National, Pebble Beach and St. Andrews, all courses where he had won before. Woods never had a serious chance on the back nine of any major that year. His tally remains at 14. And that makes 2014 even bigger. Woods is facing another favourable menu of major championship sites. He already has won majors at Augusta, Royal Liverpool (British Open) and Valhalla (PGA Championship). The U.S. Open is at Pinehurst No. 2, were Woods was third in 1999 and runner-up in 2005. "Im trending in the right way," Woods said recently. "Ive finished third, second ... you get the picture, right? OK." A new year begins Friday at the Tournament of Champions at Kapalua, and while Woods is among PGA Tour winners who chose to sit this one out, his performance in the majors this year figures to be a major topic of conversation over the next eight months. "I always think that the Masters signals a lot with Tiger," NBC analyst Johnny Miller said during a conference call. "If he doesnt win the Masters, I think it gives a great, big Uh-oh, because that course is so perfect for his game. Ill leave it at that. But if he wants to get off on the right foot, I think he needs to get off at the Masters." Theres a big difference with Woods the last time he faced such a tantalizing rotation of majors. Nicklaus spoke of a "big year" when Woods was more of a mystery than ever. No one had seen Woods in more than a month going into 2010 and didnt even know where he was. His personal life at home, his mystique in golf and his appeal in the corporate world were crumbling in spectacular fashion. Now, he is No. 1 in the world. He won five times last year against some of the strongest fields. He won the Vardon Trophy for the ninth time, the PGA Tour money title for the 10th time and was voted PGA Tour player of the year for the 11th time. Still, there remains an uncertainty about Woods, mainly because he hasnt won a major since 2008 and he hasnt broken 70 on the weekend of any major since the 2011 Masters. Thats a startling statistic for a guy who has built a reputation as golfs greatest closer. "Its getting much harder for Tiger because guys are not wilting on him," Miller said. "So hes got a double whammy in that hes not able to close as well as he used to, and then the guys are more heroic against him like they never were before. ... Guys are saying, Yeah, youre Tiger Woods and youre the greatest ever, but now at your age, I can beat you. He needs to do it in the majors." Will familiar venues help? Not necessarily. Woods forever is linked with Augusta National because of his record score (270) and margin of victory (12 shots) in the 1997 Masters, his back-to-back wins (2001-02) and that magic moment with his chip on the 16th hole that led to his playoff win in 2005. But he has not added to his wardrobe of green jackets in eight years, his longest drought in any major. Who saw that coming? And while he is trending in the right direction at Pinehurst No. 2, the Donald Ross design has gone through a restoration project that eliminated rough and replaced it with sandy dunes, pine straw and wire grass. Woods won the 2006 British Open at Royal Liverpool when it was firm and fiery, a links that was more yellow than green because of a dry summer. Woods hit only one driver the entire week. It might not be the same course if England gets a wet summer — and yes, it does rain in England — and players see Hoylake green, lush and longer. Valhalla is where Woods made what he considers the biggest putt of his career, a 6-footer on the final hole for birdie to force a playoff that he won over Bob May in the PGA Championship. It gave Woods his third straight major in that amazing summer of 2000. If that seems like a long time ago, it was. Woods will not have seen Valhalla in 14 years when he returns this summer. The best gauge of Woods and his pursuit of Nicklaus is more about him than the course he is playing. More than St. Andrews or Pebble Beach, more than Hoylake or Valhalla, its best to consider Southern Hills. Thats the course that supposedly gave Woods fits because of its tight, bending, tree-lined fairways. Woods won the 2007 PGA Championship that year, proof that when hes on his game and in the right frame of mind, he can win any major on any course. More significant than where the majors are played in 2014 is the fact Woods turned 38 on Monday. By age alone, Woods has been ahead of Nicklaus pace in the majors since winning his seventh major in 2002 Masters at age 26. They are tied now. Nicklaus also had 14 majors when he turned 38, and then he added his 15th major that summer in the British Open. Thats what makes this a big year for Woods. NMD Cheap Canada . Hamels threw seven sharp innings to earn his 100th career victory, Domonic Brown had a career-best five RBIs and the Philadelphia Phillies beat the Cincinnati Reds 12-1 on Saturday night to end a four-game losing streak. Adidas NMD For Sale Canada .Derrick Rose scored 23 points, and the Bulls pulled away from the Nets for a 105-80 victory on Wednesday night. Chicago held Brooklyn to 29 points on 26. http://www.nmdshoescanada.com/ . After Mondays comments by Coach Claude Noel that its work first and skill second, and that more “A” games are needed, the Jets responded with a 47-shot effort. If not for terrific goaltending by Braden Holtby the Jets would have had two points in regulation. Ultra Boost Uncaged Canada . -- Navy football player Will McKamey, who has been hospitalized since collapsing at practice three days ago, has died while in a coma. NMDs For Sale Canada . Felton was in court as the Manhattan district attorneys office outlined the agreement, which would resolve a gun case that arose amid the breakup of his marriage. Hes expected to admit June 30 to at least one charge, attempted criminal possession of a weapon -- he wont have to come to court to do so -- and get a $5,000 fine and 500 hours of community service.Lee Westwood was delighted to enjoy a successful week at the British Masters after a final-round 67 earned him outright third place at The Grove. Westwood managed to retain a positive attitude after a difficult month, failing to win any of his three matches in Europes Ryder Cup defeat at Hazeltine before missing the cut by a distance at last weeks Alfred Dunhill Links Championship. Lee Westwood says he can take many positives from his third-place finish at the British Masters But after finishing just three shots adrift of Alex Noren, Westwood is now looking forward to the remainder of the season with renewed confidence and optimism. My attitude is always pretty good, said Westwood. Obviously, I think everybody was disappointed with the Ryder Cup and the Dunhill last week was a bit of a relapse from that really. I struggled to really get my head around playing again, getting back into the groove and getting my tournament head on. Lee Westwood can take a lot of positives from his week at The Grove It has been a successful week here. Everything has been back together and I played well. It was a nice performance to finish in the top three, so Im very pleased with that.So Im looking forward to the end of the season and to some big events coming up. The next one is the World Golf Championships and obviously the Turkish Airlines tournament and the Dubai World Championship. Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just ￡6.99. No contract. I can go there with lots of positives from this week. Ive hit the ball really well tee-to-green, and on the greens Ive been very solid. The short games good. I felt pretty comfortable all week and it was nice to play well.But it was also one of those weeks where I feel like I didnt make enough putts frrom 15 to 25 feet.dddddddddddd I had a lot of chances. The greens are as good as Ive putted on in Britain in October for many a year. Westwood finished two shots ahead of playing partner Graeme McDowell Westwood finished two shots ahead of playing-partner and former Ryder Cup team-mate Graeme McDowell, who was happy with his first top-10 since the Scottish Open despite struggling to get to grips with the back nine at The Grove.It was a very pleasing week in general, he said. I wish I had felt as comfortable on the back nine as I did on the front nine all week but thats one of those things. Sometimes the golf course fits your eye in places and doesnt fit it in others. McDowell hailed The Grove as a spectacular venue The back nine really wasnt flicking my switches this week and I didnt play it very well. Especially holes like 18, I think I played it one-over for the week, which on a hole where Tiger Woods was seven-under par here in 2006 is slightly disappointing. Alex Noren survived a testing final day to clinch his third European Tour victory of the season at the British Masters But all in all, it was a great week and I thought The Grove was a spectacular venue. This golf tournament has re-established as one of the premier events on the European Tour and I thought we got incredibly lucky with the weather. Everything was made for a great week this week.You can watch Liverpool v Man Utd, plus Englands tour of Bangladesh and the United States Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy six months at half price! Also See: Masterclasses On Demand Final leaderboard WATCH: Beef with chips Golf live on Sky Sports ' ' '