Tiger considers 2018 one of his best years, sees 'bright future ahead'

Despite failing to find the winner's circle so far this season, something Tiger Woods has made a habit of doing throughout his illustrious career, 2018 is unfolding as one of the 14-time major winner's finest moments.

"This has been one of my best years, considering that I didn't know what I was going to do, I just didn't have a clue," Tiger told reporters Wednesday at TPC Boston, host of the Dell Technologies Championship. "The fact that I've been able to make it this far is very exciting to me. I have a bright future ahead of me because at this point last year that wasn't the case."

Even though career win No. 80 has yet to occur, Woods climbed from 656th to 26th in the world rankings this season, thanks to high finishes at The Open and PGA Championship, remarkable results that he could not have predicted.

"The hardest part is I didn't have any inkling of what this year might be," Tiger added. "Normally if I have a good offseason or feel healthy I can reasonably expect what might happen the following year. This year was a complete unknown."

One of those unknowns was his schedule, as Woods said he added two events to his 2018 calendar, the Valspar Championship and WGC- Bridgestone, which were "nice options to have."

As his health and swing have held up during the course of the season, producing sufficient results to qualify for the FedEx Cup playoffs for the first time since 2013 and likely to be named to the American Ryder Cup team, Woods is confident that elusive 80th win is coming if he keeps putting himself in contention.

"The thing for me is to just keep getting there in the mix, keep getting there on the back nine with a chance to win. I'm not going to win them all. In order to win them, you've got to be there. And I've been there enough this year and obviously want more of it."

Tiger's next chance at victory begins at 8:51 a.m. ET on Friday at TPC Boston, a course he conquered in 2006.