Tiger Woods' next season will prove to be better than the last – Jack Nicklaus
Jack Nicklaus, the American golfing legend said that Rory McIlroy’s presence on the Professional Golf Association Tour is going to prove to be fruitful for Tiger Woods.
Rory McIlroy took the world by surprise by winning his second major championship title in the 2012 season. His dominance throughout the season was exemplary. Defeating the top golfers on the tour, he made his presence felt.
During the course of the 2012 season, Woods clinched three victories and consequently surpassed Nicklaus’s record of 73 PGA Tour victories.
Having won his last major championship four years ago, Woods is stuck at 14 major titles.
Nicklaus gave his views and said, “When you really don't have a pushing competitor, a force that is pushing you ... his force pushing him has always been my record, and it may get stale during a period of time”.
He continued, “Maybe somebody else gives you a little kick and gives you a boost. Tiger certainly hasn't lost his talent, certainly hasn't lost his desire.
“But he's got a few more guys out there now who can finish coming down the stretch than he did a few years ago”.
McIlroy got the best of Woods throughout the year. He went on to win the Honda Classic tournament and a top place finish ahead of Woods in the year ending rankings.
Nicklaus said that seeing competition in the form of McIlroy will be helpful for Woods. Woods is at a place where he would want somebody as good as McIlroy to give him a tough time on the fairways so that he can retaliate by exhibiting similar level of golf.
He continued that there are times in a golfer’s life when he needs a push, something to drive him. When he finds that, then things start becoming easier and he starts producing results.
Nicklaus had his rivalry with Arnold Palmer, which is considered to be one of the greatest in golf’s history.
Reflecting on his own rivalry, Nicklaus said that rivalries make the competition fierce. It instills more commitment and determination in a golfer’s mind.
Woods has had tough times on and off the course. With a failed marriage and a highly controversial scandal that has given him a bad reputation among the masses is one of the major reasons why he is not the same person he was at one point of his life.
Although the American is trying to pull himself back together and catch up with McIlroy, he has come a long way, and improved upon his game.
Nicklaus believes that Woods is capable of much more and can win any tournament any given day. He is capable of beating more records.
McIlroy should be concerned because if Woods comes up with the same form that he once had, the Northern Irishman will stand no chance in front of him.
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