Jack Nicklaus
"Why would I want to give up my record?" Nicklaus said Tuesday, shortly after arriving at Augusta National and wearing the green jacket he earned for capturing six Masters titles. "Why would I say that?"
Because equipment can help players prolong their careers and Nicklaus says Tiger Woods can become the best in the world again.
Indeed, Nicklaus used to say it was a mere formality that Woods would eclipse his record of 18 major titles. No one disagreed, especially after Woods hobbled to his 14th on one good leg at the 2008 U.S. Open.
He was still in his early 30s. There was plenty of time to knock out five more major titles, plenty of time to make his case as the greatest golfer ever.
Then, it all fell apart for Woods.
"I think Tiger will probably break my record," Nicklaus said. "I hope I'm around to see it if he does. But nobody wants to see their record broken."
"Last year was an important year," Nicklaus said, fully aware the 2010's biggest events were at courses that favoured Woods' game. Augusta National, Pebble Beach, St. Andrews. All places where he's romped to dominating wins.
"I knew if he won one or two, he would break the record more easily."
But Woods didn't win any.
"Now," Nicklaus said Tuesday, "this year is a very important year for him."
Woods is 35 years old -- in the prime of his career. But he's no longer the intimidating force he once was, the golfer who always figured out a way to win in the final round. Nicklaus usually couches any predictions about Woods becoming the greatest major champion ever by saying, "He still has to do it."
These days, those words have a lot more meaning.
"The longer it goes," Nicklaus said, referring to Woods being stuck on 14 major titles, "the tougher it's going to be. That's just simple mathematics."
There was a time that Woods used to be the automatic favorite at any tournament he entered. But not anymore.
Phil Mickelson is the defending Masters champion and coming off a win at Houston he rmeians the clear-cut choice at Augusta this week.
"I think Phil," said PGA winner Martin Kaymer, when asked to pick between the two. "He has a good chance again."
On Tuesday when Tiger met the media there was an edge to his half-hour session with the media, with flashes of the defiant Tiger when anyone tried to bring up the non golf topics.
"My main focus is to get ready and be prepared and come to the first tee, be all cylinders go," Woods said. "As far as being a better person, I try to do that each and every day. That will always be the case."
No one would deny that Woods knows his way around Augusta as well as any other course. Since turning pro and winning with a record 18-under score in 1997, he has never missed the cut and hasn't been lower than sixth in the past six years.
Even last year, coming back for the first time in five months, Woods was in contention on the final day and finished in a tie for fourth.
The other golfers are not dismissing Tiger, as Martin Kaymer, now holding the title as the world's top-ranked golfer, explained.
"Obviously, he has won here many times," the German said. "You should never forget about him."
