Nick Faldo: Sex scandal damaged Tiger Woods

Tiger Woods is still one of the better golfers in the world, but he hasn’t won a major since enduring his public sex scandal three years ago. Before his scandal and injuries, it looked like a lock that he would beat Jack Nicklaus’ record of 18 career majors. Now it would be a stretch to say that Tiger, who has 14 career majors, will break the record.

Commentator Nick Faldo, who won six majors, doesn’t think Tiger will reach Nicklaus’ mark.

“I think it’s slim. I would lean towards no,” Faldo said when asked on BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek. “It has been four years since he last won at the US Open.”

Faldo specifically mentioned the sex scandal and how he thinks it hurt Woods psychologically.

“(The revelations) have done more damage than people would give them credit for,” Faldo said.

“It’s wrecked that wonderful tranquility you get of going to a golf course, tipping out a bag of balls and hitting them from 9-5 and just thinking of golf.

“When you’re a golfer that is great. But now… He has shattered that peace. He won’t get that back. Once you lose that concentration and that ability to become completely engrossed in your golf… then slowly things have changed for him. His swing… physically, technically, mentally, karma… it’s a harder climb right now. Sure, he could come back and do things, but he won’t be dominant like he was.”

Woods has won three tournaments this year, and he finished third at the British Open. He’s nowhere near a lost cause, he’s just not what he was.

Faldo also believes that age has caught up with the 36-year-old.

“As you get older in this game, the little demons start to sit on your shoulders because you have seen one too many bad shots at the wrong time and it starts to eat away at you and I think he has a little bit of that going on.”

Nike likely saw the same thing, which is why they spent millions to bring Rory McIlroy aboard as their new central figure.

Here is everything you need to know about the Tiger Woods sex scandal in case you forgot about it.

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