Golf’s greatest ever golfer Jack Nicklaus believes it will be a bonus if Tiger Woods ever plays golf again.

Nicklaus, speaking at this week’s Legends of Golf near Springfield, Missouri, was asked his opinion of Woods after Woods yesterday revealed he had undergone a fourth operation on his long-ailing back.

This latest surgery is expected to side-line the 14-time Major winning Woods for some six months and thus ruling out any return to full competition to at least the end of the season.

“I am not too sure if Tiger is not worried about playing golf as he is more worried in how he can spend more time with his kids, and how can he spend some time throwing the football and like watching the kids grow up”, said Nicklaus.

Jack Nicklaus with Tiger Woods at the Memorial but with “The Golden Bear” saying it will be a bonus if Woods returns to the Tour. (Photo – www.pgatour.com

“I think that is where Tiger’s thoughts are and if he plays golf again it is a bonus.

“And if he will play golf again, I have no idea.

“But would we like to see him come back to play golf again, of course would.

“I have said many times that nobody ever wants the records to be broken but then I do not want somebody not to be able to compete and not have a chance to do it.

“I have put a helping hand out to Tiger several times in trying to help him and I wish him well and I hope this last surgery will be different from the other ones and actually helps.

“But we will wait and see, and I am hoping that is going to be back.”

Nicklaus revealed he also chatted with Woods at the Champions Dinner during the recent Masters and indicated Woods remarked he just felt “miserable”.

“Tiger has had a hard time and from what I get sitting next to him at the Masters dinner, and we usually sit next to each other and talk, but he was miserable”,  said Nicklaus.

“He was hurting so bad and I just think his quality of life has been turned around.”