Nicklaus (right) and Jacklin both questioned Woods' cold start

Jack Nicklaus says he is surprised by Tiger Woods' decision not to play any events before his Masters comeback.

Woods returns at Augusta in April after five months away from golf in the wake of revelations about his private life.

Nicklaus, 70, with a record 18 major titles to his name, said: "I fully expected Tiger to play the Masters and that will be good for Augusta.

"I am surprised he is not playing some place before that, but then Tiger is Tiger and he'll come back ready."

However, Nicklaus warned that world number one Woods could not expect to be on top form for the Masters.

"Tiger's a phenomenal athlete but if I went to Augusta cold, I would not have been at my best," the golf legend added.

"Being sharp is being tournament-tested on a recent basis. That would be the only negative for Tiger in that he would not be tournament-tested."

IAIN CARTER BLOG Were Woods to win it would put all of his previous achievements in the shade

Nicklaus was speaking while hosting a golf clinic at the Hassan II Trophy in Morocco with former Open and US Open winner Tony Jacklin.

The Briton agreed with Nicklaus, saying: "I'm surprised Tiger is not getting his feet wet [first] somewhere else.

"But the Masters will have the biggest TV audience it's ever had and, like everyone else, I will be watching with anticipation."

Nicklaus added he still believed that his tally of major triumphs would eventually be surpassed by Woods, who will by looking to seal his 15th at Augusta.

"Yes, I still expect Tiger to go past my record," he said. "His chances of doing that are quite good.

"He's still the best out there so we'll just have to wait and see."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version