Tiger only has eyes for Jack

HAPPIER DAYS ... Woods celebrates 2008 US Open win

DEFIANT Tiger Woods insists the turmoil in his private life has not wrecked his chances of beating Jack Nicklaus' 18 Majors.

Even legend Nicklaus says Woods may not get the five he still needs if he does not win either this week's US Open or The Open at St Andrews next month. But Woods, 34, reckons time is still on his side and predicts he will still be a leading contender at the Majors well into his 40s.
He said: "Yes, this is a big year because we're playing on courses where I've been successful in the past - and I like the way they set up for my game.
"But even if the courses aren't such a great fit for my game, it doesn't mean you cannot win on them.
"And you get the same four chances to win every year. Every year is a big year in the Majors and I've got a chance to play in a lot more of them.
"Guys like Vijay Singh and Kenny Perry have shown you can be very competitive well into your 40s - especially if you look after yourself.
"In the past maybe the guys burnt out earlier because they didn't pace themselves or didn't pay as much attention to fitness as we do now.
"My 14 Majors are all very special to me and of course I want to win more. That isn't going to change because I love the game, I love practising and I love to compete.
"If that did change I'd have to get the hell out of here."
Woods still needs to produce a big performance this week to convince the doubters he has what it takes to capture five more Major titles.
Even the second most prolific player of the Tiger era - Phil Mickelson - has won just four.
Pebble Beach is where Woods won by an incredible 15 shots the last time the US Open was hosted there 10 years ago. He went on to win The Open at St Andrews by eight shots and added the USPGA title before also winning the Masters the following April to complete the Tiger Slam.
That made him the only man to hold all four Major titles at the same time and it seemed just a question of when - not if - he would overtake Nicklaus.

But even before he started making headlines for a string of extra-marital affairs, his invincibility was waning.
Since winning the 2008 US Open on one leg - and following knee surgery straight afterwards - he has struggled.
He fired blanks throughout 2009 and even surrendered his proud record of never failing to convert a 54-hole lead in the Grand Slams when YE Yang beat him in the USPGA.
Woods has not looked like winning this year, with his marriage on the rocks. And when quizzed if there was any chance of a reconciliation with wife Elin he snapped: "It's none of your business".
Woods is paired with English hope Lee Westwood and Ernie Els in the first two rounds.
He added: "I'm looking forward to it even more because I've got a great pairing.
"It seems like I get Westy in every Major! But he is playing great, with his win in Memphis, and it's terrific to have Ernie in the group too."