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. Cyber Monday Jerseys . The team announced the defensive coordinator will not be offered a contract extension. Cheap Nike Jerseys . It was just business as usual for the Thunder at home. Durant scored 32 points and the Thunder beat the Bulls 107-95 on Thursday night for their eighth straight win. https://www.fakejerseyswholesale.com/.NYCFC confirmed to The Associated Press on Saturday that this week Lampard signed a contract to start in July — midway through the new teams first season in MLS. Cheap Jerseys . - Chicago Bears running back Matt Forte sees the commitment to the handoff and cant help but come away impressed. Cheap Custom Jerseys . - The Baltimore Ravens and tight end Dennis Pitta reached agreement on a five-year contract Friday.BUFFALO, N.Y. -- Sabres President Pat LaFontaines two-month search for a general manager ended with an unexpected addition. In hiring Tim Murray to take over as GM on Thursday, LaFontaine also announced the addition of Hockey Hall of Fame executive Craig Patrick to serve as a special adviser to assist in transforming the NHLs worst team into a contender. "Its comfortable for me to be in the middle, having played centre my whole life," the former Sabres captain said, seated between Murray and Patrick. "To have these wingers is pretty special." Murray has the background, decisiveness and even a hockey pedigree LaFontaine was seeking in a general manager. The 50-year-old Murray is the nephew of Senators general manager Bryan Murray, and has spent much of his 20 years in the NHL being mentored by his uncle, including the past seven in Ottawa as an assistant GM. "I think we have the next great eye for talent," LaFontaine said. "Hes earned it. Hes done every job to get to this point. Hes had success everywhere hes been. And hes going to have success here in Buffalo." Patrick assumes a role similar to the one he held the previous two seasons with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Its LaFontaines belief that Patricks 30-plus years of experience -- including 17 with the Pittsburgh Penguins -- can provide focus to a team in transition after general manager Darcy Regier and first-year coach Ron Rolston were fired in mid-November. "Craigs going to help evaluate. Hes got the experience," LaFontaine said. "Hes won Stanley Cups. Hes gone through rebuilds." The Sabres front-office has begun taking shape in the two months since LaFontaine took over. "Im on a mission to bring the right people here," LaFontaine said. "Im still not done. We still have a lot of work." Now comes improving the team on the ice, which sits last in the NHL with 12-26-4 record entering its home game against Florida on Thursday night. Though Buffalo has shown improvement in going 8-11-3 under interim coach Ted Nolan, Murray made clear he has plenty of work to do. Murray intends to continue the process begun under Regier by building through the draft. And he wont be averse to trading any of Buffalos remaining core players -- including goalie Ryan Miller. "This teams in last place right now," Murray said. "Everybody can be traded." Miller, along with captain Steve Ottt and newly acquired forward Matt Moulson, are in the final year of their contracts.dddddddddddd Another issue is the status of Nolan, who was hired by LaFontaine with the opportunity to continue on as coach once the new GM was hired. Murray is open to working with Nolan beyond this season. "Its a clean slate here," Murray said. "Theres no preconceived notions. Hes the coach of the hockey team, and Im looking forward to getting to know him." Nolan, who is back for a second stint in Buffalo, said he had no input on Murrays hiring, and is eager to getting to know his new boss. "My status has always been the same since Pat asked me to come here," Nolan said. "Im here to coach this team as best as I can. Im not worried about tomorrow, Im just worried about here today." Murray believes the Sabres have several pieces already in place, including a large stock of high draft picks and up-and-coming prospects in their system. "The cupboards not bare," Murray said. "This was an attractive, attractive time for me to just branch out on my own and try to put my stamp on the game of hockey." The Sabres could have as many as two first-round and three second-round selections in this years draft. The Sabres also have a solid group of prospects in their farm system. They include defencemen Rasmus Ristolainen and Nikita Zadorov, who were both drafted in the first round in June. Murray has a solid track record as a talent evaluator, and has had input in numerous personnel decisions during his previous stops in Detroit, Florida, Anaheim and the New York Rangers. In Anaheim, he had a hand in the Ducks selecting future star forwards Ryan Getzlaf and Corey Perry in the first round of the 2003 draft. "I would consider myself somewhat aggressive," Murray said of his philosophy. "I dont think it takes you two days to make a decision or two weeks to make a decision." Thats a departure from the conservative approach the Sabres took under Regier, who was criticized for being overly cautious when it came to shaking up his roster. Murrays decisiveness and directness is what owner Terry Pegula was seeking in his new GM. As for Patrick, Pegula has been a long-time fan of the executive he first got to know in Pittsburgh. "Craigs a smart man," Pegula said. "Hes probably forgotten more than most people know about hockey." ' ' '