JACK IT ALL IN, TIGER

TIGER WOODS is “living in a dream world” if he is entertaining thoughts of a golf comeback following his horror car crash.

That’s the view of two-time Major winner and Ryder Cup legend Tony Jacklin.

Woods needed emergency surgery, involving the insertion of a rod to support multiple fractures in his right leg, after his SUV struck a kerb and rolled down an embankment (above) in Los Angeles last week.

And Jacklin maintains it is now crucial the American superstar, 45, puts all ambitions of a golf return to the back of his mind in order to concentrate on his rehabilitation.

He said: “It doesn’t look like he’s going to be able to add to his tally of 15 Major wins, or think about breaking Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18, but the most important thing is that he has survived.

“With something like this, your life is in the lap of the gods. It’s a whole new ballgame for him now because he’s got to channel that fierce determination and absolute passion he showed on the course to find inspiration and come out the other side.

“He’s looking at between one and two years of rehab — that consideration on its own is daunting enough.

“To even contemplate being able to compete again at this stage of proceedings is living in a dream world.

“The idea he could break Jack’s record pales into insignificance now. He’s got young children, they’ve still got their dad, and that’s all that matters.

“Possible golfing accomplishments would be the least of my worries if I was in his shoes.”

The strength that has always set Woods (inset, top) apart from his rivals has been his mental fortitude and, according to Florida-based Jacklin (inset, below) that is going to be needed again.

He added: “You could tell when he burst on the scene and won three straight US Junior Amateur Championships in the 90s that this guy was going to be what the Americans call a ‘phenom’.

“Nike and the other big companies came in with a bucketload of cash and he delivered for them on the world stage.

“Baseball had Babe Ruth, boxing had Muhammad Ali and golf now has Tiger Woods.

“In more recent times we’ve seen golfers like Bryson DeChambeau and Michelle Wie make outstanding starts to their careers and they quickly found out how tough it is to deliver.

“Tiger, though, set himself apart from the rest by delivering year after year. His mental strength is what has made him stand out from the pack.”

Jacklin, now 76, remembers a conversation with one of Woods’ peers — Kiwi Michael Campbell — in which the 2005 US Open champ offered an insight into the extraordinary mind games the star used to play to maintain his mindset and focus.

“Michael told me that Tiger times exactly how long it takes for a putt to reach the hole and also counts how many footsteps he takes in one minute when he’s out on the course.

“These are all exercises designed to keep him in the zone.”

GORDON ELLIOTT reports that Milan Native, who has had a wind operation since he last ran, will head back to the Cheltenham Festival where he won last year’s Kim Muir.

This time though the gelding is likely to tackle the Ultima Handicap Chase on the opening day of the meeting.