Tiger Woods can now take advice from Jack Nicklaus’ comments about retiring from golf

Any golf fan who has watched for the last few decades will likely admit they would love to see Tiger Woods squeeze out one more PGA Tour win.

Woods stands level with Sam Snead at the moment on 82 wins.

But after undergoing major surgery once again in the last year, there are now big question marks over whether we will see Woods play again, never mind win.

There is the obvious talk of Woods joining the PGA Tour Champions and in a way, that might help him.

Of course, in any sport, some top stars can overstay their welcome in a way and end up bowing out on a low, rather than a high.

And looking back at what Jack Nicklaus once said about continuing to play on, Tiger Woods could well heed the advice.

Tiger Woods should listen to what Jack Nicklaus said

Everyone will have their own opinion on Tiger and what he should and shouldn’t do with his future but ultimately, only he knows.

His body has taken so much punishment that it’s hard to see him really competing on the PGA Tour again, especially with the level of player now on the TOUR.

Indeed, when we look at what Jack Nicklaus said previously about playing into his 50s and not performing well, Woods should take note.

“No. Just going out there and playing doesn’t do it for me. It’s more fun not to play than to play badly. What’s fun is competing,” Nicklaus commented back in 2000.

When questioned further on is he was happy to just go out and shoot 75s or 81s and risk tarnishing his legacy, Nicklaus confirmed why he’d not carry on.

“No, I don’t worry about that. What I’ve won is what I’ve won. There are a couple reasons why I’m doing what I’m doing. I’m 60. I have my last exemption for the U.S. Open this year. The British Open is at St. Andrews. Those two are the guiding lights,” Nicklaus continued.

“So, this is probably the last time I’ll play all four majors, unless I happen to win the U.S. Senior Open. I’m not likely to go back to the British after this year, unless I happen to play well there, which I don’t think is likely.”

Tiger Woods will be fighting the urge to be outright number one

While Woods is widely considered the greatest ever by many and his joint-record of 82 wins on the PGA Tour won’t ever be matched, he will still be fuelled by a desire to be outright number one.

As Nicklaus mentions here, it is the desire to compete that drives the very best golfers in the world.

Woods has spent his whole career winning or at least competing to win. Sure, he might not be able to do it regularly but if he has the fight and his body allows it, it would be no surprise to see him go at it again.

If Woods can somehow get fit, and manage to comfortably get four rounds of golf in again, then we might be able to start dreaming.

Until then, it will simply be about Woods and his willpower.