Tuesday 20 February 2018 22:30, UK
Padraig Harrington has backed Tiger Woods to add to his 14 major titles, although he does not believe it makes any difference when looking back at the former world No 1’s career.
Woods announced on Friday that he would feature at PGA National, the first time since August 2015 that the 42-year-old has made appearances in consecutive weeks on the PGA Tour.
The 79-time PGA Tour winner said he felt that his game was progressing after missing the cut in his latest start at the Genesis Open, with Harrington confident that Woods will return to the major winner's circle.
"I do believe he will win another major," Harrington said on Tuesday. "Will he get to 18? I think the odds would be against him getting to 18, but I would be pretty sure, if you look at any of the great players in the game of golf, they always won a major later in their career.
"15 (major titles) would make no difference to 14. 18 or 19 would make a difference, but 15 would make no difference. Like really, it wouldn't, it's still a great career. At the end of the day, I think he's the best golfer we'll ever physically see."
This year marks a decade since both players last celebrated a major title, with the Irishman believing that a "mellowed Woods" still has plenty left to offer in the game.
"He's a different person," Harrington added. "There are many things you see in Tiger Woods to have changed and the one thing he can't do is try to be the person he was 15 years ago.
"He has to try and be the version he is now and that's plenty good enough to win tournaments. It's plenty good enough to win major tournaments.
"He doesn't have the intensity he had 10 years ago, and that intensity 10 years ago created an aura. He's mellowed. That's just the way he has changed.
"It might not be the game that he had back in the day that was good on demand, but it's certainly good enough. Many of us would love to be in his shoes in any given week and have his ability."
Watch the Honda Classic throughout the week live on Sky Sports. Live coverage begins with the On the Range preview show on Wednesday from 8pm.
