Seven in a row

After yesterday's win at the Buick Invitational, Tiger Woods only needs four more wins to tie Byron Nelson's seemingly unbreakable record.

SAN DIEGO — Tiger Woods is more interested in a fifth green jacket at the Masters than 11 straight victories on the PGA Tour.

At this rate, he might have a chance at both.

Woods resumed his improbable pursuit of Byron Nelson with a predictable result at the Buick Invitational on Sunday, winning for the third straight year to stretch his PGA Tour winning streak to seven. That's the second-longest streak in Tour history behind Nelson in 1945, and there is little evidence anyone can stop him.

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He won by two shots and finished with a six-under 66, the best score all week on the demanding South Course, site of the U.S. Open next year.

Nelson's record often has been thought to be untouchable, which now describes the world's No. 1 player.

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This is the second time Woods has made a run at Nelson, who died in September.

Woods won six straight in 2000, a streak that Phil Mickelson stopped at Torrey Pines. But against a cast of challengers short on experience or victories, Woods met little resistance in winning at Torrey Pines for the fifth time in 10 tries.

The only question is the veracity of the streak - Woods failed to win once in Europe and twice in Asia during his run - and when he will resume his chase of Nelson's mark.

Woods could be in position to tie Byron Nelson's record for consecutive PGA Tour wins in South Florida - or at the Masters.

It all depends upon whether Woods plays at Riviera in the Nissan Open, an event he's played in the last three years but has failed to win in nine tries as a pro.

Woods is expected to play in the World Match Play Championship at Tucson, the Arnold Palmer Invitational at Bay Hill in Orlando, and then the CA Championship at Doral on March 22-25. The CA Championship is a World Golf Championship event that replaced the Ford Championship at Doral.

If Woods adds the Nissan to his schedule, and he keeps winning, he would arrive at Doral - where he has won the past two years - in position to tie Nelson's 62-year-old record of 11 Tour victories in a row.

Some comments

*- While golf has become a global game, I don't see any reason not to consider Woods streak as valid. Just so long as it applies to PGA Tour records.

*- Tiger does face a major obstacle in regards to the Nissan Open.(or LA Open as in Los Angeles not Lake Arrowhead, Louisiana or West Patterson New Jersey) Open. His best ever finish in that tournament is a playoff loss to Billy Mayfair in 1998. That didn't even take place at Riviera.

If I was Tiger and wanted to keep the streak alive, I'd play at Pebble Beach. Tiger won both the US Open and the yearly tour stop there in 2000.

My bet is Tiger plays at Riviera and the streak comes to an end there.

Linked to- Basil's Blog, Mark My Words,