Jack Nicklaus ‘puzzled’ by what’s going on with Tiger Woods

When it comes to what the heck is going on with Tiger Woods, Jack Nicklaus is as clueless as anyone not in the ailing superstar’s inner circle.

“I don’t have a take,” Nicklaus told NBC’s Johnny Miller and Dan Hicks during the network’s broadcast of Sunday’s final round of the Honda Classic. “I’m a little like everyone else, I’m a bit puzzled by it.”

Woods was supposed to be at last week’s PGA Tour tilt in his backyard at PGA National. Instead, after withdrawing from the Dubai Desert Classic with what he termed back spasms, the 711th-ranked golfer in the world pulled out of the Honda and the previous Genesis Open.

Tiger took his time coming back from multiple back surgeries, making his most recent return from injury in December at the unofficial Hero World Challenge following 15 months on the DL. After finishing 15th in a 17-player field, he then attempted to revive his full-field career at the Farmers Insurance Open, only to miss the cut.

Then came the WD after scuffling to a 77 in Dubai, a no-show for his twice-scheduled pre-Genesis press conference, and, as far as those not on Team Tiger know, Woods remains bed-ridden after doctors urged him to stay horizontal.

Which is where we left the guy who will likely finish his career four major titles shy of the all-time mark of 18 owned by Nicklaus, who must not have watched Woods gingerly making his way around the Emirates Golf Club. Conceding he had not seen Tiger in the last couple of months, Nicklaus contended that the pursuer of his record “looked great.”

“Physically, he looks fantastic,” said Nicklaus, who suggested there may be more to what’s going on with Woods than the obvious bodily woes.

“Mentally, he’s — talking, he sounded great. But then he goes and plays and then he either physically can’t make it, or mentally and physically, maybe they work together. I don’t really know and I’m not sure he knows,” Nicklaus noted.

Nicklaus was certainly not alone in expressing his desire to witness Woods give it one more run before calling it quits for good.

“It’s sad to me because he’s such a great talent, he’s a good kid. He’s got so much ability and I’m sad to see it happen to him,” he said. “I hope he gets it corrected.”

We do too, Jack, but we’re not holding our breath.