Nicklaus says Tiger faces ‘tough road’ back

WASHINGTON: Jack Nicklaus says Tiger Woods will have a very difficult time making a comeback to competitive golf as he deals with physical injury issues and undergoes treatment for managing medications.

Speaking on Monday to USA Today at a charity tournament in Virginia, the winner of a record 18 Major titles was not optimistic in the wake of Woods’s arrest last month for driving while impaired and after back surgery Woods revealed in April he has undergone.

“He’ll have a very hard time. I don’t know whether Tiger will play much golf anymore,” Nicklaus said.

“He might come back and play — I think it would be pretty tough for him, after getting (his spine) fused and as many problems as he has had recently.”

“His are more life problems than they are golf problems right now.”

Woods will not appear at this week’s PGA National tournament in suburban Washington because he continues to undergo treatment for managing medications for back pain and a sleeping disorder, issues Woods revealed last week in a Twitter posting.

Last month, Woods was arrested and charged with impaired driving near his Florida home. A breathalyzer showed no alcohol in his system and he later said he was unaware he would have such a strong reaction to several prescription medications he was taking simultaneously.

— AFP