Tiger Woods must return to his former glory if golf as a sport is to prosper, says South African golfer Gary Player.
Player believes that Woods needs to recapture his former crown as one of golf's greatest champions because the sport needs a black role model.
Player told Omnisport: “We need Tiger Woods. Why? He’s a man of color. We need a black champion.
“Go to Africa, where we’ve got all these young black kids used to seeing a white guy as the champion.
"Now they’re getting inspired; they’re sitting in front of their TV sets. It inspires them; it gets them interested in golf.
“Asia wants to see a man of color. So there are many reasons, besides being so charismatic. I don’t know if anybody in the world today can play like Tiger Woods did.”
The 79-year-old golf veteran remarked that it was sad to see a player of his calibre struggle through tournaments and sees only shadows of his former greatness as he makes his way holes.
"Tiger Woods won the US Open [in 2000] by 15 shots ,” Player said.
“He was on the way to breaking every record, he was on his way to being the greatest player that ever lived. Whether he will do that now and fulfil his dream, I don’t know.
"Only the Lord above knows. But it’s sad to see him shooting 85 and missing the cuts and not hitting the fairways.”
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