Bernard Gallacher, three time Ryder Cup captain and former pro, has said that Tiger Woods will struggle to recapture his previous form.
World number one has recently confessed to letting his family down after allegations of extramarital affairs. And Gallacher told BBC Radio 5 live: "It's going to take an awfully long time to get over this.
"His performance on the golf course is certainly going to be affected in the short and medium term."
Gallacher added: "He won't be able to practise the game, his focus is going to be affected and his preparation is going to be affected.
"It has been affected already because he had to pull out of the tournament this week."
Since crashing his car, 27th November, outside his Florida home he has had much scrutiny from the press. He was found crashed outside of his house semi conscious with
facial injuries. He had hit a fire hydrant and tree but it took him until Tuesday to admit the accident was his fault.
He later issued a statement saying,
In it, he said: "I have let my family down and I regret those transgressions with all of my heart. I have not been true to my values and the behaviour my family deserves. I am not without faults and I am far short of perfect."
Jesper Parnevik is one of the first to speak out against the 14 major champion. He was the one who introduced the couple as Elin was working as an au pair and they met at the Open at Royal Lytham and St Annes in 2001.
Parnevik told the Golf Channel: "I would be especially sad about it - I really feel sorry for Elin - since me and my wife were at fault for hooking her up with him. "We probably thought he was a better guy than he is. I would probably need to apologise to her.
"It's a private thing of course but when you are the guy he is, the world's best athlete, you should think more before you do stuff."
Anthony Kim also had a few words to say about it, Kim, 24, said: "Obviously there are things going on right now that other people are speculating about, but nobody has the facts but Tiger and his family, and that's a personal issue for them."
World number three Steve Stricker admitted: "I think his image is going to take a bit of a shot.
"He's trying to make it as private as he can, and it's hard because everybody is trying to get a piece of information on really what happened.
"I think I'd like to see him come on TV and just pour it out a little bit and show what's happened. I don't know if that will ever happen."