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In the world of professional golf, turning 30 is normally the step into the golden years for a golfer. If that happens to be the case with Tiger Woods, then the golf world had better get ready for an onslaught on the record books of epic proportions.

Tiger Woods, who turns 30 today, has already taken the golf world by storm. In July, Woods became just the second player to collect at least two wins at each of the four majors when he took home the Claret Jug in the British Open at St Andrews. The only other professional golfer in the storied history of the game to achieve that feat is the player generally regarding as the greatest golfer ever, none other than Jack Nicklaus.

Turning 30 has Woods primed for the chance to match and even surpass Nicklaus most amazing of achievements, winning 18 majors. Woods has garnered ten such titles already, leaving him in third place all-time standings behind Nicklaus and Walter Hagen (11). That majors mark continues to drive the world's current top player and with that mark Woods recognizes that golfing immortality is within his grasp, that perhaps he could one day even supplant Nicklaus as the greatest golfer ever.

Woods has many feats on his resume already, most of them the youngest player to ever accomplish a specific title. He became the youngest winner of the U.S. amateur at 18, then became the first man to ever win three consecutive U.S. amateur titles. In 1997, he became the youngest winner of the famed Green Jacket at the Masters in Augusta, Georgia. His 12-shot margin of victory that year remains the largest in Augusta National history. Over the next eight years, Woods managed to accumulate three additional Green Jackets. He also has claimed two U.S. Opens, two British Opens and two U.S. PGA championships.

Woods earned more than $11 million world-wide in 2005 in a year that saw him regain his number one ranking after a one year disruption by Vijay Singh. Woods would win seven times in 2005 and take home his second British and fourth Masters title. He has moved a full seven points ahead of Singh, the number two ranked player in the world, and theoretically has little to accomplish other than the run on golfing immortality.

But Woods has all the career marks to take a run at if he can maintain his interest as he enters the next decade of his career. Woods has to also have his sights on the all-time PGA Tour wins list led by the incomparable Slamming Sammy Snead who won 82 events in his illustrious career. Next on the list is Nicklaus with 73, followed by Ben Hogan's 64 and Arnold Palmer's 62. Woods with 46 such PGA triumphs has those fellows in sight as well.

Maintaining his interest is something that is perhaps Woods greatest strengths to date, no player is as competitive or willing to gruel his way around the golf course like that of the current number one player. Entering his golden years with a shot to top both Nicklaus' 18 majors and Snead's 82 wins puts Woods in a position to perhaps top both lists one day. If he does so, then there will be no argument as to who is the best professional golfer to ever play the game.