Jack Nicklaus: Tiger Woods 'needs our help' after arrest on suspicion of  DUI

DUBLIN, Ohio -- A concerned Jack Nicklaus said Tiger Woods needs our help after the 14-time major champion was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence.

“I’m a fan of Tiger’s. I’m a friend of Tiger’s. And I feel bad for him,” Nicklaus said Tuesday in his annual meeting with the news media ahead of Thursday’s start of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club. “I think that he’s struggling. And I wish him well. I hope he gets out of it, and I hope he plays golf again. He needs a lot of support from a lot of people.

“And I’ll be one of them.”

Woods, 41, was arrested early Monday. According to the police report, Woods was asleep at the wheel in his parked and still running 2015 black Mercedes. Last month Woods had his fourth back surgery — the latest being a fusion surgery — and will not play this season. He told police he was taking several prescriptions, including two painkillers. Woods, who released a statement Monday evening stating that alcohol was not involved, agreed to two breathalyzer tests and blew 0.00 each time.

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He will be arraigned July 8 on the DUI charge. Woods was also cited for improper parking.

“Obviously I don’t really know what happened, what went on. But I feel bad for Tiger,” Nicklaus said. “Tiger is a friend. He’s been great for the game of golf. And I think he needs all our help. And we wish him well.”

Nicklaus and Woods have been hooked at history’s hip since Woods started stalking Nicklaus’ record for major championships won. As Woods chipped away at the Golden Bear’s iconic number — 18 — Nicklaus always said with confidence he thought Woods would break his record.

But with Woods’ latest ordeal, years of injuries and the unknown of fusion surgery doubling as a dark cloud on a possible comeback, Nicklaus, 77, isn’t so sure anymore. Woods’ last major win came in the 2008 U.S. Open.

“Tiger, I’ve always thought, was going to break my record,” Nicklaus said. “Do I think he probably won’t now? I don’t think … I don’t know what’s going to happen. … Did I enjoy watching him play? Absolutely. Did I enjoy (that) every time Tiger did something, my name was mentioned right beside it? It kept me relevant. It was as good for me as it was for him.

“ As I’ve told Tiger and we’ve talked about it 100 times, does anybody want to see their records be broken? Of course not. But do I want to see somebody not have the ability because of physical problems, not to be able to compete to have that chance? I don’t like that at all.”

The anterior lumbar interbody fusion surgery on April 19, which Woods said gave him instant nerve relief, concerns Nicklaus.

“Fusion is hard to play golf after, a very difficult situation,” he said. “But I’m not a doctor. I don’t know the answer to that question. I don’t believe that he probably would have had that if he had any other choice.

“Now, whether he can play golf (after fusion surgery), it’s very difficult to play golf and do the things he does without a drastic change of his golf swing after a fusion operation. I mean I wish him well. I hope that he does. I hope he plays. The Tour needs him. And the Tour would love to see him come back.”