“Tiger has the ability to still play, but obviously doesn’t play as well as he did, and I think a lot of his is physical ailments.”
—
JackNicklauschooseswordscarefullywhenspeakingaboutTigerWoods.Whenyou’reNo.1inmajorswon,liketheGoldenBear,it’sabadlook,especiallyinagentleman’sgame,toevenhintthatNo.2isanythingbutamazing.
SoyoutalkupTiger,evenwhenhe’sdown.Andheisdown.Atage48andwornthroughbyinjury,Woodsnolongerisathreattowineverytournamentheenters.Oranytournament,period.AttheMastersinApril,hefinishedlastamongplayerswhomadethecutandlookedolddoingit.
Nicklausknowsthefeeling.Heturned84inJanuary,butrealizednearly25yearsagothathisdaysofcontendinginprofessionaltournamentswereover.
TheUpperArlington,Ohio,native,whofamouslywonthe1986Mastersatage46tobecometheoldestwinnerofthegreenjacket,atitlehestillholds,waspairedwithWoodsatthe2000PGAChampionshipatValhallaGolfClubinLouisville,Kentucky,whichagainhoststhemajorMay16-19.Jackwas60.Tiger23.
TwodaysofwatchingWoodsplayamajorchampionshipheeventuallywontoldNicklau
