Jack Nicklaus admitted he feels “bad” for Tiger Woods after his arrest early Monday morning, so much so the “Golden Bear” says the golf community as a whole needs to rally around the 14-time Major winner.

“I don’t really know what happened, what went on,” said Nicklaus ahead of hosting this weeks Memorial.

Jack Nicklaus admits he feels “bad” for Tiger Woods. He is a friend… he has been great for the game. (Image … www.golfbytourmiss.com)

“But I feel bad for Tiger. Tiger is a friend. He’s been great for the game of golf. And I think he needs all our help. And we wish him well”.

That question quickly led the now 77-year old Nicklaus being quizzed if he thought Woods would now ever break his record of 18 Major Championship titles.

Of course, twenty years ago and on the eve of the 1997 Masters Nicklaus remarked that he expected Woods to smash his record.#

“I think that the — Tiger, I’ve always thought, was going to break my record,” said Nicklaus.

“Do I think he probably won’t now? I don’t think unless — I don’t know what’s going to happen. I really have no idea what his operation — you’re asking me questions that I can’t answer.

“Did I enjoy watching him play? Absolutely. Did I enjoy every time Tiger did something, my name was mentioned right beside it? It kept me relevant. It was as good for me as it was for him. Do I like to see anybody — as I’ve told Tiger and we’ve talked about it a hundred times, anybody want to see their records be broken? Of course not. But do I want to see somebody not have the ability because of physical problems not to be able to compete to have that chance? I don’t like that at all. And I feel bad for him that that’s happened.

“And I still wish him well to be able to get — I’ve said many times, I don’t know what’s going to happen after fusion surgery. Fusion is hard to play golf after, very difficult situation.

“But I’m not a doctor. I don’t know the answer to that question. I don’t believe that he probably would have had that if he had any other choice. But I still haven’t — I’m not there and I haven’t been part of it. I can’t really answer it. But am I sad end that he’s not playing? Absolutely.”