The most remarkable thing about Doral was how sideways Tiger hit his tee shots and how many putts he lipped out, and yet he was still in contention down the stretch. He has often referred to winning with something less than his “A” game, but this week he came within three of getting it done with a low C- at the CA Championship.

So, the consecutive-win streak ended at seven (or five if you only count “official PGA Tour wins”), which reminds us again of the greatest record in golf, and the only which no one, including Tiger, is likely to touch: Byron Nelson’s phenomenal streak of 11 consecutive victories and 18 total wins in 1945. Yes, it occurred at a time when many of the best players were just getting home from World War II, but every record has its blemishes, and that one is far from disqualifying.

Winning 11 straight dogfights at Crabapple Golf Club is a feat worthy of high praise. Winning 11 in a row on the PGA Tour is akin to a pitcher throwing 11 consecutive no-hitters or a point guard shooting 100% from the floor for an entire season. It simply can’t be done.

Before he retires Tiger will probably break every record in golf with two noteworthy exceptions: in 1919 J. Douglas Edgar won the Canadian Open (then considered a major) by 16 shots, a record that remains unbroken, even though Tiger came close with his 15-shot win in the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach. But the one he will never sniff is Byron’s 11 in a row. As great as Tiger is, that one will be in the history books for many, many years to come.