Unceremonial
No starter's role, Jack repeats
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In today's ceremonial first tee shot, Arnold Palmer won't be sidling up to any surprise partners. At least not any of the Golden Bear variety.
After playing the Par-3 Contest on Wednesday afternoon with the other members of the Big Three - Palmer and Gary Player - Jack Nicklaus confirmed he has no intention of being an honorary starter. Not this year. Not next year. Or the next year. And so on.
"Right now," the 67-year-old Nicklaus said, "I'm not a very good ceremonial golfer."
Nicklaus applauded the fact Palmer will be the sole honorary starter at 7:45 this morning before the first round of the Masters Tournament.
"I hope he hits it a long way," Nicklaus said. "Hope he enjoys it. It'll be nice."
Nicklaus, the six-time Masters champion, returned to Augusta solely for Tuesday night's Champions Dinner and the Par-3 Contest. He still received plenty of fanfare in the Par-3 Contest, receiving one standing ovation after another in his 70-minute waltz around the course.
Nicklaus stood at 1-under-par through eight holes before letting his 16-year-old grandson Billy O'Leary attempt the birdie putt at the last hole. After Billy missed the putt long, he knocked the uphill par putt toward the hole, and Nicklaus, ever the good grandfather, stood with his feet surrounding the hole, gently guiding the ball into the cup.
In 2005, Nicklaus retired from the Masters after missing the cut with rounds of 77-76. He said when he left the course that year, he knew his competitive career was over.
He finished his career in Augusta with 22 top-10s and 37 made cuts in 45 tournaments. He began his green jacket run in 1963 and followed with wins in 1965, '66, '72, '75 and '86.
Most golf observers believe Nicklaus' stirring comeback victory at age 46 in 1986, when he shot a back-nine 30 en route to a final 65, is the greatest Masters ever.
Nicklaus threatened to win his 19th professional major at age 58 in 1998. His final-round 68 left him in a tie for sixth, four shots behind eventual Masters champion Mark O'Meara.
In recent years, Nicklaus has concentrated most of his energy toward his Nicklaus Design company, which has 312 courses open for play.
Although playing golf hasn't been his main focus, Nicklaus doesn't believe he's ready to pull the driver out of his bag for an honorary shot at Augusta.
Not now. Not yet.
"Ten years from now, you never know what can happen," he said. "Right now, it's hard for me to get over not being a competitive golfer."
Reach Chris Gay at (706) 823-3645 or chris.gay@augustachronicle.com.
