18-time Major winner Jack Nicklaus says he ‘feels bad’ for the player once tipped to break his Major record, Tiger Woods, after his arrest on Wednesday, writes WADE PRETORIUS.
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He was speaking ahead of this week’s The Memorial Tournament in Ohio, where he hosts the tournament on the course he designed, Muirfield Village Golf Club.
Asked by reporters if he ‘cared to comment’, Nicklaus replied: ‘Not really (laughter)’.
‘No, obviously I don’t really know what happened, what went on,’ said the 77-year-old great.
‘But I feel bad for Tiger. Tiger is a friend. He’s been great for the game of golf. And I think he needs all our help. And we wish him well.’
It now appears that Woods will not be able to make good on the predictions that he would surpass Nicklaus’ tally in Majors. The 41-year-old recently underwent his fourth back surgery, and as recently as a week ago stated that he wanted to return to competitive golf.
Once confident that Woods would leapfrog him, Nicklaus is now unsure, due to Woods’ battle with injuries.
‘I think that the Tiger, I’ve always thought, was going to break my record. Do I think he probably won’t now? I don’t think unless – I don’t know what’s going to happen. I really have no idea what his operation — you’re asking me questions that I can’t answer.
‘Did I enjoy watching him play? Absolutely. Did I enjoy every time Tiger did something, my name was mentioned right beside it? It kept me relevant. It was as good for me as it was for him. Do I like to see anybody – as I’ve told Tiger and we’ve talked about it a hundred times, anybody want to see their records be broken? Of course not. But do I want to see somebody not have the ability, because of physical problems not to be able to compete to have that chance? I don’t like that at all.
‘And I feel bad for him that that’s happened. And I still wish him well to be able to get – I’ve said many times, I don’t know what’s going to happen after fusion surgery. Fusion is hard to play golf after, very difficult situation. But I’m not a doctor. I don’t know the answer to that question. I don’t believe that he probably would have had that if he had any other choice. But I still haven’t – I’m not there and I haven’t been part of it.
‘I can’t really answer it. But am I saddend that he’s not playing? Absolutely.’
Woods has not played since pulling out of the Dubai Desert Classic in February, and last tasted Major success at the in 2008 when he won the US Open at Torrey Pines.
