Woods
has 10 more years in him, says Nicklaus
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[November 30, 2016]
(Reuters) - While some pundits
have questioned whether Tiger Woods will ever regain top form after
being sidelined for 15 months due to back issues, Jack Nicklaus
thinks he could compete at the highest level for another decade and
challenge his record of 18 majors.
Woods, who turns 41 next month and won the last of his 14 majors at
the 2008 US Open, will make his comeback at this week's Hero World
Challenge in the Bahamas.
He has not played on the PGA Tour since August 2015, having
undergone back surgeries in September and again in October of that
year, and not won anywhere since 2013.
However, Nicklaus said it was perhaps only the mental side of the
game which had prevented him from returning sooner.
"I've always thought that he's got at least another 10 years of good
competitive golf in front of him if he's healthy and as talented as
he is," Nicklaus was quoted as saying by BBC Sport.
Woods, who spent a record 281 consecutive weeks as world number one
but has now fallen to 898th in the rankings, needs four majors to
tie Nicklaus's record.
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"I don't think anything is safe," added the 76-year-old.
Woods had planned to return at last month's Safeway Open in
California but withdrew three days before the opening round, saying
his game was not sharp enough.
"He keeps saying he is fine ... he's ready to play, yet he has not
come back to play. That probably is the five inches between his ears
that is the part that he's having trouble with.
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![](../images/113016PICS/sports57.jpg)
Team USA vice-captain Tiger Woods talk at the 13th green during the
practice round for the Ryder Cup at Hazeltine National Golf Club in
Chaska, Minnesota, September 28, 2016. Mandatory Credit: Michael
Madrid-USA TODAY Sports/File photo
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"(He) has got to re-evaluate that and find out what's going to
happen to him and how can he mentally get himself back into the idea
of playing golf again."
(Reporting by Debanjan Bose in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter
Rutherford)
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