Nicklaus Predicts Woods Can Win One Of More Of The First Three Majors Of 2019.

Orlando, Florida ….

Golfing great Jack Nicklaus predicts Tiger Woods can win at least one of the four 2019 Majors and thus edge closer to breaking the ‘Golden Bear’s’ all-time 18-Majors victory tally.

As well, Nicklaus believes also it was a ‘big monkey’ off Woods’ back in capturing last September’s PGA Tour season-ending Tour Championship and with his East Lake victory ‘good for the game’.

The 14-time Majors winning Woods heads into the New Year having won Major Championships at three of the host venues for 2019 – Augusta National, Pebble Beach and Bethpage Park.  The New Year’s final major will be staged for at Royal Portrush in Northern Ireland but not having hosted a (British) Open Championship since 1951.

Woods has won four Masters, stormed his way to a stunning 15-shot success at Pebble Beach, and host next June to the U.S. Open while he captured the 2002 U.S. Open at Bethpage Park and venue for next May’s PGA Championship.

Jack Nicklaus and grandson, GT and with the duo teaming for a second year running at the Father-and-Son.

Nicklaus was first asked ahead of Saturday’s commencing Father-and-Son Challenge in Orlando what he thought of Woods ending a more than five-year victory absence to win in Atlanta and could he win either of the three opening Majors of the New Year.

“He didn’t play particularly well in the Ryder Cup or in the Bahamas but those events and probably much to his dismay,” said Nicklaus.

“Tiger never allowed himself to play poorly. We’ll have to wait to see how hard he’ll work and see how much he wants to put himself back into the game.

“At 42 years old, he’s had great success, broke almost every record in the game but do you put yourself back just to break my record? Or have you proved that you can come back and win and is that satisfying enough for him?

“Probably not for him, but I just don’t know. I don’t know what goes through his head.

“My guess is that he will continue this work ethic and play, so there’s an excellent chance he’ll probably win one or more of the three Majors next year and where he’s won a Major before.”

Nicklaus was optimistic last May at his own Memorial Tournament in Ohio that Woods would win by the year’s end and added his victory in suburban Atlanta is good for the game.

“He (Woods) did pretty well, didn’t he? He won the tournament nicely and played well,” said Nicklaus.

“It was a big monkey off his back. It’s good for the game. It’s not good for anybody if they’re playing badly, but it’s good for the game when he’s playing well because of the following that he has.

“I would sum it up by saying that I was very happy for him. He drove the ball beautifully, made a fair number of putts. That’s what he always used to do. I think his swing now is much better than I have ever seen it and the reason is, Tiger was up and down with his head and that put a lot of pressure on his back.

“I never thought he’d play golf again. I shouldn’t say that. I didn’t think he’d every play golf as well as he’s playing again. I felt like Tiger never did hit the ball that straight. He’s going to hit the ball still fairly long. He’s got a great short game.

“Tiger will win again, but I never dreamed that he would play quite as good as he has and that the operation would level out his hasead and his swing which I think is a great benefit for him”.

Nicklaus is competing in the Father-and-Son for a 17th occasion in the 21-year history of the event and partnering grandson, GT for a second year running.



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