Jack Nicklaus said he would not be surprised if Tiger Woods ended his seclusion and decided to play the US Masters at Augusta National next month. “I've been very non-committal because it's none of my business,” Nicklaus told reporters Wednesday following his pro-am round at this week's Honda Classic in Florida. “But playing golf, my guess as a golfer, he's going to probably try to (play the Masters). It would surprise me if he didn't.” The first major of the season starts on April 8. Woods is taking an indefinite break from the sport after admitting in December that he had cheated on his wife and has given no time table for his return to the game. However, the world No. 1 is reportedly practicing and working out at his home in Florida. The 34-year-old American, who has won 14 majors, has already missed two tournaments he routinely plays early in the season, the San Diego Open at Torrey Pines and the WGC-Match Play Championship in Arizona. The world No. 1 is chasing Nicklaus' record of 18 majors. Woods has won the Masters at Augusta four times. Caddie is mad at Tiger Woods' caddie Steve Williams, meanwhile, says he knew nothing about the golfer's affairs and was angry with him over the scandal. Williams told TV3's 60 Minutes program Wednesday that he is also bitter at the reaction toward him from the media and members of the public. “It's been the most difficult time of my life, no two ways about it, because every single person believed that I should know or did know or had something to do with it,” Williams said. “I knew nothing, that's my answer. I don't have to clarify or extend that answer, I knew nothing.” The New Zealander, who has been Woods' caddie for 11 years and is now his close friend, said he would have “blown the whistle” if he had known of the golfer's behavior. “If the shoe was on someone else, I would say the same thing. It would be very difficult as a caddie not to know but I'm 100 percent telling you, I did not know, and that's that,” he said. Williams said he was angry when revelations about Woods' private life emerged, but had not berated the player because he felt he needed a friend. “Of course I'm mad at him, why would you not be?” Williams said. “I'm close with his wife and he's got two lovely children and he's let them down. “When a guy's having a tough time, it's not up to me to beat him with a stick right now. He's getting enough grilling from everybody else. “When you're a true friend of somebody, that's when somebody needs your support and need you the most. That's when you don't walk away. Tiger's one of my closest friends and he needs my support right now and I'd never think of walking away.” Williams says the two don't discuss Woods' recent problems that forced him to take a break from golf. “When I talk to him, I don't talk to him about what's happened. I talk to him about the future and about what we're going to try to accomplish and how we're going to get over it.” Williams said Woods recently hit balls on the practice range, but would not return to golf until he felt he was in top form. Williams said he had personally tried to concentrate on his charity work and motor racing interests to avoid thinking about the controversy around Woods.
