The Hindu : Sport / Golf : Fittingly, Nicklaus to quit after the British Open

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Sunday, Jul 10, 2005

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Fittingly, Nicklaus to quit after the British Open

This will be his 164th start in a major, including 146 in a row from the 1962 Masters through the 1998 U.S. Open

LUSS (Scotland): Of all the moments that have defined the incomparable career of Jack Nicklaus, perhaps the most shocking display of emotion showed just how much he loves St. Andrews.

His idol, Bobby Jones, always said that a great career was not complete without winning the British Open at the home of golf, and Nicklaus was desperate to capture the claret jug on the Old Course. He had a one-shot lead over Doug Sanders on the final hole of the 1970 playoff when Nicklaus smashed his drive over the 18th green.

Sanders played a bump-and-run to 5 feet, and Nicklaus chipped down to 8 feet. He crouched over the birdie putt, frozen until he was ready, then watched the ball curl in the right side of the cup.

Nicklaus is famous for raising his left hand and the putter when he makes a crucial putt.

This one was much bigger. He thrust his arm skyward and leapt with such force that his putter went airborne, causing Sanders to duck.

``I had never shown emotion like that before, and it was totally out of character,'' Nicklaus later said. ``But then, I had never before won the oldest golf championship in the world at the cradle and home of the game.''

It wasn't the only time he lost control on the Old Course.

Leading by two shots playing the 18th hole in 1978, tears began to fill his eyes as he walked toward the green and saw thousands of fans lining the fairways and crammed into balconies. His caddie, Jimmy Dickinson, had to jab him in the ribs to remind him there was still some golf left before he held the claret jug.

Nick Price remembers that moment. He was 21, playing in his second British Open, and had finished in a tie for 39th about two hours earlier. Price stuck around, wanting to watch Nicklaus finish.

``When he walked off the 18th green, there was a tear in his eye,'' Price said. ``I thought, `Why is he crying? Why is he so emotional?' Only after a period of 15 years playing in the Open championship do you realise how special St. Andrews is. I understand very well now why he was so emotional about it.''

The most poignant moment awaits.

Sometime next week — possibly on Friday, preferably on Sunday — Nicklaus will cross the Swilcan Bridge down the 18th fairway at St. Andrews and wave goodbye to the greatest championship career golf has ever seen. He has said the 134th British Open will be his final appearance at a major.

Nicklaus can think of no better place to end his career.

``The reception every time I've ever played in Scotland, the people have always accepted me as I went around,'' Nicklaus said. ``It's been fun, a great experience for me every time I've gone there. I thought that was my place to want to finish playing golf.''

Sentimental

Nicklaus calls himself a sentimental fool and expects emotions he has never felt before. He was in St. Andrews two months ago and walked onto the first tee and over toward the 18th green, breathing the wind off St. Andrews Bay and seeing the hotels and shops lining the tiny street next to the fairway.

Even then, his eyes welled up with tears.

``It just sort of gets me every time I go there,'' Nicklaus said. ``Just because what it has meant to the game of golf, and what it has meant to me.''

Tiger Woods is pursuing Nicklaus' benchmark of 18 professional majors, and might one day catch him. Still, it is difficult to conceive of another player dominating the four Grand Slam events the way Nicklaus did.

Only four other men have won all four professional majors — the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and U.S. PGA Championship. Nicklaus is the only one to have captured them all at least three times.

``He always showed up with the intent of winning,'' Woods said.

This will be his 164th start in a major, including 146 in a row from the 1962 Masters through the 1998 U.S. Open. And while his 18 majors define his career, even more staggering is that Nicklaus was a runner-up 19 times.

``He made it special, the way he played the game,'' Scott Hoch said. ``If he can't compete, then it's not worth playing for him. Jack is all about competition, and that's the way a warrior should be.'' — AP

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