Fans at the
100th U.S. Open at Pebble Beach serenaded Jack Nicklaus with
wave after wave of cheers as the Golden Bear sauntered along
the ocean-front course on the way to perhaps his final hole
ever at the U.S. championship.
The 60-year-old Nicklaus, competing thanks to the last of
three special exemptions awarded him three years ago by the
United States Golf Association, was showing his age on Friday.
Nicklaus had posted two double bogeys and seven bogeys
without a single birdie as he peered toward the par-5 18th
green after hitting a strong drive into the fairway.
Then he delivered one more majestic blow, like Babe Ruth
pointing toward the center field stands before hitting a World
Series home run.
"Let's take a run at this and get on in 2," Nicklaus said
he told his caddie, son Jackie. "I took a 3-wood and hit it
right on the screws, through the slot and onto the green."
"I haven't gone for it in 20 years."
That blow ignited a thunderous ovation from the huge
galleries lining the fairway and packed around the 18th green,
which Nicklaus acknowledged with waves of his baseball cap,
before dabbing away tears after he marked his ball.
Old adversary Tom Watson applauded from his vantage point
in the fairway of 18 in the group behind.
Then Nicklaus, the winner of 18 major championships,
reminded everyone he was not the Nicklaus of old.
The winner of a record-tying four U.S. Opens, six Masters,
five PGA Championships and three British Opens left his 50-foot
eagle putt six-feet shy and then left his birdie putt hanging
on the lip.
Nicklaus was asked whether he or Jackie had read the eagle
putt.
"Jackie told me, 'You read your own last putt ever at the
U.S. Open,'" related Nicklaus. "I topped it."
After tapping in for par to complete an untidy 82, Nicklaus
walked off the green, where he hugged his wife, Barbara, and
sons Gary and Steve.
Before walking off to the scorer's tent, he turned toward
Barbara and shrugged. "That's it. That's the end of it."
Nicklaus hedged a bit later, saying he might be back again
should he win a U.S. Senior Open, which brings an automatic
invitation to the Open.
But the day had the feel of a farewell performance and the
galleries gave him a send-off full of affection and respect at
the course where he won the 1972 Open and was edged by Watson
in the 1982 event.
The barrel-full of Open records held by Nicklaus includes
most appearances (44 consecutive), cuts made (35), runner-up
finishes (tied with 4), top-3 finishes (9), top-10 finishes
(18).
Nicklaus finished with a 13-over-par total of 155, failing
to make the cut.
"I'm sure this is my last U.S. Open," Nicklaus said shortly
after leaving the green, tears again welling in his eyes.
"Pebble Beach is a great place to end your career in the
U.S. Open."
