GOLF DIGEST:JACK Nicklaus believes Tiger Woods has to win a major this year to succeed in his bid to overtake Nicklaus' record.

“If he is going to get his game back on track he needs to do it pretty quickly,” Nicklaus said.

“I said earlier this year if Tiger plays, and plays all the majors, I suspect he would win one or two of those.

“He did not win the Masters – he came pretty close – but I suspect he will win one or two of the next few if he is in shape to play. If he does he will probably go ahead and break my record. If he doesn’t win this year he has a tougher road.

“He will be 36 next year and time starts to go. He has to win five majors. Phil Mickelson won his fourth at the Masters, but prior to that three was the next closest (active) guy.

“So Tiger has to win almost two careers (of a “regular” player) in the next five or six years to do that and that is a pretty big chore.”

- SCOTLAND’S Martin Laird hit a seven-under-par second-round 63 to earn a place in the British Open at a qualifier in Texas yesterday.

Brian Davis missed out on one of the eight places.

Others who failed to qualify included Davis Love, Andres Romero and Boo Weekley.

- The four-hole Champions Challenge on the eve of the British Open at St Andrews in July will feature 28 of the 32 former winners invited to play.

Nicklaus, Nick Price, Johnny Miller and Kel Nagle – at 89 the oldest living champion – are the four who will not be present.

The highlight should be Seve Ballesteros on his return to the scene of his 1984 victory. He was the first to confirm his appearance, although he will not be competing in the Open itself.

“I think I can do very well and say thank you to all my fans at St Andrews, where I have many great memories,” he said.