David Feherty on Tiger Woods

According to NBC and Golf Channel reporter David Feherty the real question to be asking about Woods is not when he will be back - but if.

Speaking at the launch of GolfNow's "Golf for Life" campaign in Ireland, Feherty expressed some serious doubts about the 40-year-old Woods.

"I am not sure that Tiger will come back, because it is a nerve in his back," Feherty said, accroding to the irish Golf Desk. "It's not muscular or skeletal. It's not something you can deal with in a physical way."

Tiger has made multiple on-course public appearances in recent weeks, including last month at the opening of Bluejack National, his first U.S. course design.

But his most recent public appearance at media day for the Quicken Loans National saw Woods put three straight wedge shots in the water from close range, raising questions about whether Woods' game is in any state for an imminent return.

"He is in phenomenal shape - just ripped as usual. But he is not able to make a full pass at it," Feherty said. "I saw him a few weeks ago in Houston and he hadn't played in five months and he hit some good shots, and some awfully skanky-looking things."

Feherty also stated that Woods is "too stubborn and too good" to simply walk away from the game, but he questioned whether Woods would ever be in good enough shape to compete the young guns.

"I think he has a feeling that if he doesn't make it back this time, he might be done from a physical standpoint," Feherty said. "I don't think he needs to do this. He wants to do this. He really, really does. But I am not sure that he can. I am not sure he is in any way clear on whether he can, either."

Related:

Watch Tiger hit the water three times. Click here or on the image below.