TIGER Woods’ close friend Notah Begay III believes the 14-times Major champion is aware the “sun is setting” on his professional golf career.

Begay – Woods’ college roommate at Stanford University – says he has spent time with Woods recently following the 79-times US PGA Tour winner’s second back surgery in two years.

Begay claims Woods was aware he’s nearing the end of a competitive career, but that he was “certainly not going down without a fight.”

“I think he has a clear understanding with where he’s at in regard to his career that the sun is setting,” Begay said.

“He’s very fair about where he’s at with his career and his body, and he’s certainly not going to go down without a fight, without trying to do everything he can to get back to a world-class level.

“He’s giving it a little extra time to heal up before he starts rehabilitation.

“He’s just spending a lot of time at home and going to soccer games and watching Sam and Charlie play their fall (autumn) soccer. It’s hard. It’s a challenge to be on the couch, but you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do.”