The greatest golf champion ever to play the game, Jack Nicklaus, has said he will not play in another Masters. Nicklaus missed the cut this week, citing that he feels he cannot compete anymore.
You have to respect that. Nicklaus, a six-time winner, could stick around until he dies like some guys do (former champions get an automatic invitation every year) but who really wants to see The Golden Bear limp around the course and shoot 90? I certainly don't. Obviously, he doesn't either.
More than likely in a year or two or three he and Arnold Palmer and maybe Gary Player will reincarnate the "honourary starter" group which the Masters had until a few years ago. Byron Nelson, Sam Snead and Gene Sarazen (Nelson is the only one still alive) used to hit one shot off the first tee and then pack it in.
I was fortune enough to attend the Masters in 2003 when Mike Weir won. I'm glad I was able to see Nicklaus in action there, because I was always afraid I would never get to see him before he quit playing competitively. He will be missed, but it is to his credit that he knew when it was time to say goodbye.
# posted by Adam Daifallah : 2:26 PM
