Azinger: A healthy Tiger will definitely pass Snead on wins list

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla. – New NBC golf analyst Paul Azinger has no doubts that Tiger Woods will one day surpass Sam Snead to become the PGA TOUR’s all-time winningest golfer – albeit with one caveat.

“If Tiger’s healthy – assuming no more injuries – 100 percent. That’s what I think,” Azinger said. “If he gets hurt, it could go right to zero.”

Woods will enter next week’s Arnold Palmer Invitational presented by Mastercard with 80 career wins. That leaves him two shy of Snead’s record, meaning the 43-year-old Woods needs to win three more times to stand alone in the record book.

Woods won the TOUR Championship to end last season, his first victory in a five-year stretch that included four back surgeries and a limited number of starts. Last week’s T-10 at the World Golf Championships-Mexico Championship was his best result in three starts this season.

Azinger, who replaced analyst Johnny Miller earlier this month and worked his first full tournament in the NBC booth last week at Mexico City, spoke to the media Thursday at The Honda Classic.

Azinger said it’s definitely doable for Woods to catch Snead. “There’s just no way if he’s healthy enough that he won’t… break that record,” said Azinger, who’s not as sure about Woods winning four more majors to match Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18.

“The major record, that’s a whole ‘nother animal. But the all-time wins list, I think he’s going to get that. I hope he does it at one of our tournaments.”

Azinger is impressed that Woods has bounced back from his back injuries to regain a winning form.

“He’s just adding to his legend, he’s adding to history,” Azinger said. “Tiger is a living, breathing walking miracle."

“Whoever fused his back, they should name that something. They named the elbow, the surgery Dr. [Frank] Jobe did on Tommy John, they named it Tommy John surgery. It got a name. I think that fused back needs a name too.”