Golf legend Jack Nicklaus has spoken out about his friend Tiger Woods in the wake of his latest scandal. “The Golden Bear” expressed concern for Woods and thinks he “needs some help.”
Following a two-vehicle collision in Jupiter Island, Florida, on March 27, authorities took Tiger Woods into custody, accused of DUI with property damage and refusal to submit to a lawful test. Despite passing a breathalyzer test, he declined to undergo a urinalysis. Two pills discovered in Woods’ pocket turned out to be hydrocodone, a potent opioid.
Woods has since released a statement saying that he planned to enter a facility to “seek treatment.” He added that he is “committed to taking the time needed to return in a healthier, stronger, and more focused place, both personally and professionally.”
Jack Nicklaus expressed concern for Tiger Woods
“Sometimes you get, you know, too far down the line and you just need somebody to help you,” the 86-year-old Jack Nicklaus told The Palm Beach Post. “I think he probably needs some help. And we all want to help him. We’re all on his side.
“Obviously, I feel bad for Tiger,” Nicklaus continued. “I like Tiger. I don’t just like him, I like him a lot. He’s been taking painkillers for a long time, and I don’t know how much pain he’s in because I just don’t know. But I don’t think he’d be taking them if he didn’t need them.”
Not everyone feels bad for Tiger Woods
The stance Jack Nicklaus is taking on Tiger Woods’ latest scandal stands in stark contrast to that of another PGA legend, Nick Faldo.
After the PGA Tour issued a statement offering its support of Woods, Faldo fired back, saying the Tour’s stance was “so predictably weak.” He added that he thinks “something should be done and a little bit more seriously than waving him off to a tropical island and saying, ‘welcome back’ in three or four months.”
Jack Nicklaus seems to think Tiger’s statement shows he is serious about making some changes in his life. That, of course, remains to be seen. In the meantime, Woods has pleaded not guilty to the charges against him. He will have a pre-trial hearing in Martin County on May 5, but he will not have to be present.