NEWS:Tiger Woods' extra-marital affairs have ruined his chances of becoming the best golfer in history, Nick Faldo claimed yesterday. The American was widely tipped to beat Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 Major championships after making a stunning start to his career, but is still to win a Major title after revelations about his private life emerged almost three years ago.

Woods took a four-month break from golf after admitting cheating on his wife, and he has struggled to impress since returning to action. He has not added to the 14 Majors he won before the sex scandal erupted and Faldo, himself a six-time Major winner, thinks Woods stands next to no chance of eclipsing Nicklaus’ record.

When asked about Woods’ chances of winning 18 Majors or more, Faldo told BBC Radio Five Live’s Sportsweek programme: “I think it’s slim. “I would lean towards no. It has been four years since he last won at the US Open.”

Faldo thinks the psychological strife caused by the news of his affairs continue to haunt Woods three years on and he believes they will continue to do so for the rest of his life.

“(The revelations) have done more damage than people would give them credit for,” Faldo said. “People thought he would deal with it and then get back on the golf course. It’s wrecked that wonderful tranquility you get of going to a golf course, tipping out a bag of balls and hitting them from 9-5 and just thinking of golf.

“When you’re a golfer that is great. But now . . . He has shattered that peace. He won’t get that back. Once you lose that concentration and that ability to become completely engrossed in your golf . . . then slowly things have changed for him.”