Thursday 19 November 2015 12:15, UK
Sir Nick Faldo believes Tiger Woods faces a "make or break" year as he bids to recover from a torrid 12 months blighted by form and fitness problems.
Woods is currently sidelined after undergoing surgery on his troublesome back for the second time in September, and he required a follow-up procedure four weeks later.
The former world No 1, who turns 40 on December 30, played only 11 tournaments in 2015 and made the cut in just six, failing to make the weekend in the last three majors following an encouraging tie for 17th at the Masters.
Woods has not yet set a timescale for his return to competitive golf while his world ranking has plummeted to 384th, and Faldo doubts the 14-time major winner can get back into the top 10 if his injuries persist.
"He's got to physically get strong enough to practise hard enough to find his game again, try to compete again and then try to win again," Faldo told Reuters. "Who knows? It might be the end of the road for Tiger in a way. The hardest thing is, how determined can he be to come back?
"If he has another season like this one, mixed with poor play and injuries, what decisions will he make? If it was me, how can you pick it up?"
The likes of Rory McIlroy, Jordan Spieth and Jason Day have dominated the game over the last two years, and Faldo fears Woods will struggle to compete with the new generation of young superstars in the game.
"When you are an athlete and you've had your time, you should be praised for that," he added. "What Tiger's done for our game has been unbelievable but it's going to tail off one day because you physically can't run, jump and chuck it like you used to.
"We've got to acknowledge what he did for the sport but it's a new generation now, and it's a huge, tall order for Tiger to get into the mix. I'd say his problem now is a nerve factor. I've watched him closely and I feel he's got a couple of demons sitting on his shoulders.
"He hasn't got the confidence to hit the driver how he used to. Now it's going either way and that's huge."
McIlroy also had a season disrupted by injury in mid-summer, but Faldo tipped the world No 3 to bounce back in 2016 and reclaim the headlines from Masters and US Open winner Spieth and PGA champion Day.
"It will really motivate Rory," Faldo said. "Rory loves the limelight and he wants to be world No 1 again. He doesn't like the fact that these two other guys went 'whoosh' past him because of his injury so he'll be gearing up big time for next season."
McIlroy damaged ankle ligaments during a game of football with his friends shortly before the Scottish Open in July, and he missed the The Open at St Andrews before returning to action at the final major of the year.
"You've got to look after yourself," said Faldo. "You're an athlete, you have a window of opportunity. It doesn't mean you've got to put yourself in cotton wool but some things you've just got to think twice about.
"Your priority is to do everything right to be a golfer for the time you are out there. Once it's over, hopefully you've got 50 more years of the rest of your life to enjoy what you did as an athlete for 20 years."
