Jack Nicklaus believes Tiger Woods has to win a major this year to succeed in his bid to overtake Nicklaus' record

Legend Jack Nicklaus predicts major success for troubled Tiger Woods

Jack Nicklaus believes Tiger Woods has to win a major this year to succeed in his bid to overtake Nicklaus' record.

The 70-year-old has 18 major titles to his name, with Woods just four behind.

However, well-documented personal problems and a neck injury have affected Woods' game this year, and Nicklaus believes his compatriot needs to win one of the three remaining majors this year to turn things around.

Considering the US Open is at Pebble Beach and the Open at St Andrews, where Woods won by 15 and eight shots respectively in 2000, there is every chance that may happen.

"If he is going to get his game back on track he needs to do it pretty quickly," Nicklaus told Press Association Sport. "He's playing the Memorial Tournament (hosted by Nicklaus himself) next week and he will need that event.

"I said earlier this year if Tiger plays, and plays all the majors, I suspect he would win one or two of those.
"He did not win the Masters -- he came pretty close -- but I suspect he will win one or two of the next few if he is in shape to play.

"If he does he will probably go ahead and break my record. If he doesn't win this year he has a tougher road to go. He will be 36 next year and time starts to go. He has to win five majors. Phil Mickelson won his fourth at the Masters, but prior to that three was the next closest (active) guy.

"So Tiger has to win almost two careers (of a 'regular' player) in the next five or six years to do that and that is a pretty big chore."

Sympathy
Nicklaus sympathised with Woods over the problems he is facing after it was revealed he had a number of extra-marital affairs and said that stress, and his latest injury worries, would undoubtedly affect his game. "I'm wondering what is going to happen and your guess is as good as mine," Nicklaus added. "It is really very difficult for anyone to understand what has gone on in Tiger's private life over the last few months. I feel very badly for him and his wife and for the issues he is going through.

"I've always got on great with Tiger, always respected him as a golfer and the way he has handled things. I don't even want to understand what is going through his head with all the other stuff but I'm sure it is not easy."

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