Jack Nicklaus reminisced about the Masters Tournament today in a ceremony held in his honor. He took the opportunity to make a startling announcement: he’ll be playing this year.
A month ago, following the tragic death of Jack’s grandson in a pool accident, Nicklaus announced that he would probably skip The Masters, saying that he’d rather spend time with his family in these trying times.
Of his change-of heart, Nicklaus said “It (Augusta National) is a place that’s meant a lot to me in my life. I’m coming up here to play and fulfill a request by Hootie (Johnson, chairman of Augusta National Golf Club) and a desire on my part. I feel like I can play so I’m going to play.” Nicklaus made the remarks at the Georgia Golf Hall of Fame Botanical Gardens, where he received a key to the city during ceremonies that also honored Lee Elder for breaking the color barrier in The Masters 30 years ago.
Augusta and The Masters means a lot to Nicklaus, a six-time winner of this event, but it’s safe to say his family means a lot more. Jake Walter Nicklaus, 17 months old and the son of Jack’s second-oldest son Steve, accidentally drowned. The Golden Bear promptly cancelled almost all of his business commitments to spend more time with Steve.
Steve, who expects to caddy for Jack at this year’s British Open at St. Andrews, played a lot of golf with his father in the past month. “I wanted to spend the last month with Steve. He really wanted to play golf. I wanted to play golf. I don’t have a whole lot of a golf game, but I’ve played a lot of golf,” Jack said.
The elder Nicklaus visited Augusta two weeks ago for two rounds, firing 74s each time. Said Jack:
I don’t hit it anywhere and I putted horribly. I shot lights out and shot 74. That’s about as good as I could do. I played a fairway wood into every par 4. Physically I feel fine. My hip feels good. My back feels good. My legs are good from the walking I’ve done the last few weeks. I spent yesterday with (instructor) Jim Flick and we made some changes, and… I’m certainly not in any tournament shape. I don’t expect to be in any tournament shape.
He later added “I would like to walk away with some decent golf. Last year was a pair of 75s. I suppose I could walk away from a pair of 75s, but they (club members) said you’ve got to come back. Well, I know I was going to go to the British Open. I didn’t think I was going to have any time to play golf. But I have, so while I’m doing that I might as well go play.”
Photo Credit: © Augusta.com.
Good for Jack. I am glad to hear that and I can certainly understand him not wanting to play in the tournament. It might be good to start getting back into the flow of things.
Expect a huge crowd and incredible cheering for Jack at this years Masters.