Record major winner Jack Nicklaus feels Tiger Woods has not given himself a good chance of winning a fifth Masters (Woods 4/1 The Masters 2010) by returning to golf ‘cold’ for the tournament.

The 34-year-old Woods has not competed for five months after marital problems but will end his self-imposed exile in Augusta next month.

But Nicklaus, who has won the Masters six times, does not think Woods is giving himself the best chance of winning the title.

He said: “Tiger’s a phenomenal athlete but if I went to Augusta cold, I would not have been at my best.

“Being sharp is being tournament-tested on a recent basis. That would be the only negative for Tiger in that he would not be tournament-tested.”

If Woods fails to shine in the Masters he at least will look to be in good shape for the Open in July and the United States’ Ryder Cup battle with Europe (USA 11/8, Europe 8/11, Tie 9/1 2010 Ryder Cup) at Celtic Manor in October.