Golf
'Tiger will play Masters'
2010-03-04 09:02
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Florida - Jack Nicklaus said Wednesday he'd be surprised if embattled superstar Tiger Woods doesn't tee it up at the Masters - and at least one event before the year's first major.
Nicklaus has kept his comments to a minimum regarding the scandal that engulfed Woods in November, when tales of marital infidelity jeopardized Woods' marriage, tarnished his reputation and put his spectacular golf career on hold.
Woods announced an "indefinite break" from the game in December, and in his only public remarks since, on February 19, said he didn't know when he would return to competition.
At the time of that widely televised statement Woods said he was heading back to therapy, but he has now returned to his Florida home.
Like many, Nicklaus appeared to believe that signaled that Woods could be back in time to play the Masters at Augusta National - a tournament he has played every year since 1995 and won four times.
"It would surprise me if he didn't," Nicklaus said after playing a pro-am round at the US PGA Tour's Honda Classic. "I can't imagine in 100 years he's going to miss this."
However, 18-time major champion Nicklaus said he didn't have any inside information on Woods' plans.
"I don't know. I don't know. I've been very noncommittal about anything because it's not my business. But as it relates to him playing golf, my guess is as a golfer he's going to want to try to play Augusta if he's got his other things in order."
Nicklaus also thought Woods, who with 14 major wins is just four shy of Nicklaus' all-time record, would want to play a tune-up event.
"I suspect he'll play something before Augusta," Nicklaus said.