Jack Nicklaus, the legendary golfer, has stated that he has not had the opportunity to speak with Tiger Woods, but feels that if Woods were to win the Masters again, it would surpass his previous record of six green jackets.
On the Five Clubs podcast, the renowned golfer quipped that even after many operations and a car accident, Woods, now 46, still walked better than he does despite having multiple surgeries and recuperating from a car catastrophe himself.
Most recently, Woods and his son Charlie competed in the PNC Championship in December, when they shot a final-day 58 to finish second to John Daly and his son John Daly II, who shot a final-day 58 to win the tournament.
Currently, the golfing world is on edge, as the big cat has returned to rehab. We’re all wondering when, if, and where we’ll get to watch Woods play golf again.
Nicklaus, 82, was asked if hypothetically Woods were to win another Masters this year how it would compare to when he won his last green jacket at the same age for the last time and whether it would eclipse his achievements or equal it.
The Golden Bear won the Masters for the first time in 1963 and won at Augusta National in 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975 and finally 1986.
Woods won the coveted major for the first time in 1997, then again in 2001, 2002, 2005 and memorably in 2019 after returning from another back fusion surgery.
Nicklaus said:
“I think it would eclipse it. For him physically to get back and win a Masters this year, it would be absolutely fantastic. I mean, for him to come back after what he’s been through and to win again, my hat would go off to him big time.
“I have not talked to him at all and I believe he is going to play. When he can play and how much he can play, how much he can walk, I watched him at the father/son a little bit – he walks 10 times better than I walk, for someone almost 82 but that’s besides the point.
“He’ll figure it out, that’s what he’s always done – that’s what champions do. He’s a champion.”
Woods debuted the new TaylorMade Stealth Plus driver at the PNC Championship and has targeted a return to competition this year.
He tentatively suggested he could play at the 150th Open at St Andrews.
Read the original article on Golf Magic.
Both Mr. Palmer and Mr Nicklaus thought Tiger would win more master’s than the two combined when they saw him play. Then Augusta national started modifying the course after his wins, even calling it Tiger proofing the course. Neither Mr Palmer or Mr Nicklaus had a course modified specifically to keep them from dominating. My opinion, had they welcomed him as a champion, rather than trying to keep him from winning, he would have surpassed the major total record easily.