Nicklaus will pass up Open

Jack Nicklaus will miss the Open for the second straight year.

The golfing great saw his streak of competing in 154 straight majors end last year at the Open because of hip problems. He underwent hip replacement surgery in January and returns to the PGA Tour this week at the Memorial Tournament here.

But Nicklaus said Tuesday his schedule will prevent him from playing in the Open on July 15-18 in Carnoustie, Scotland.

Nicklaus is committed to playing in the U.S. Senior Open and the Senior Players Championship the two weeks before the Open.

"That would be three weeks in a row," he said of the Open. "That's just more than I can play. I said that's just crazy to even think about. Two weeks in a row is going to be tough."

The 59-year-old Nicklaus said he plans to play in all four majors in 2000.

"Whether that will be the end of my majors or not, we'll see. I hope not," he said.

AP