Jack Nicklaus says Tiger Woods’ injuries, age impacting his play

Jack Nicklaus chooses words carefully when speaking about Tiger Woods. When you’re No. 1 in majors won, like the Golden Bear, it’s a bad look, especially in a gentleman’s game, to even hint that No. 2 is anything but amazing.

So you talk up Tiger, even when he’s down. And he is down. At age 48 and worn through by injury, Woods no longer is a threat to win every tournament he enters. Or any tournament, period. At the Masters in April, he finished last among players who made the cut and looked old doing it.

Nicklaus knows the feeling. He turned 84 in January, but realized nearly 25 years ago that his days of contending in professional tournaments were over.

The Upper Arlington, Ohio, native, who famously won the 1986 Masters at age 46 to become the oldest winner of the green jacket, a title he still holds, was paired with Woods at the 2000 PGA Championship at Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky, which again hosts the major May 16-19. Jack was 60. Tiger 23.

Two days of watching Woods play a major championship he eventually won told Nicklaus everything he needed to know.

“When you can’t compete.” Nicklaus said, explaining when he knew it was time to stick to recreational golf. “I knew that I was getting to where I couldn’t compete (and) it was brought to me very abruptly, in 2000 at Valhalla when I played with Tiger. I got done with those two rounds and, ‘Man, you need to pass the baton. You can’t compete in this anymore.’ I had realized that before, but that was boom, right in the face. Thirty-six holes of playing with him and seeing how well he played, how he just dominated what was going on, I did that earlier. But I don’t do it now.”

Father Time remains undefeated

Aging always wins. Bodies break down. Hand-eye coordination deteriorates. But it’s not just about reflexes. Willingness to take risks on the golf course wanes. A 23-year-old slams a putt 7 feet past the cup and thinks no big deal. Just make the next one. A 45-year-old facing the same situation gulps.

Then there are the rigors of life that take their toll, even for millionaires who toil by hitting a little white ball. Family responsibilities increase. The passion for playing your sport 24/7 peters out.

It can be hard to stomach. It definitely is hard to watch, to be standing outside the ropes as legends slip into limping versions of their former selves. Jack has been there a while. Tiger is edging near the cliff.

Fans too young to remember Woods in his…