Golden Bear golf great Jack Nicklaus is sympathetic about Tiger Woods's epic personal and professional struggles – but thinks the troubled 41-year-old pro will have "a very hard time" playing his way back to the top of the PGA tour.
In an interview posted Moday by USA Today, Nicklaus' remarks came after the Tiger Woods Foundation announced he wouldn't attend this week's Quicken Loans National, a tour stop that benefits his foundation.
And it caps a rough two months for Woods, who was charged with driving under the influence in late May, and had fusion surgery on his back in April — the fourth procedures on his back since 2014, USA Today reported.
"He'll have a very hard time. I don't know whether Tiger will play much golf anymore," the winner of a record 18 major golf championships told the outlet.
"He might come back and play — I think it'd be pretty tough for him, after getting fused, and as many problems as he's had recently. ... His problems are more life problems than they are golf problems right now."
"Whether he plays golf or not, I think he's got an awful lot to offer the youth of the country and the game itself," the 77-year-old Nicklaus added. "Tiger's a good kid, he cares about people, and we'll just see what happens."
"I hope he gets his life straightened out with the problems he's had and be able to lead a normal life, but also use what he has done and his legacy to help a lot of kids and a lot of other people."
© 2025 Newsmax. All rights reserved.