Nicklaus recalls 55 years at the Masters

AUGUSTA, Ga. (AP) a' Jack Nicklaus enjoys absolutely every thing about this area. But being reminded exactly how many years have elapsed since the first time was won by him, not to mention the first time the drive was made by him up Magnolia Lane? Not so much. Nicklaus sat in the meeting room at the Masters for an hour or so Tuesday, and had more than enough material for two. He grimaced when membership member Ed Herlihy introduced him by saying "he earnings to Augusta National taken from his first 50 years of a record six jackets," and turned wistful for a minute at the conclusion. "I can not imagine anybody having more enjoyable doing what I have done and getting paid for it," Nicklaus mentioned, "and also being able to sit here in front of you people at 73 years old, so I can spout a lot of stuff I'd no idea whether you were hearing or not, or care about." In between, Nicklaus had that same roomful of reporters eating out of the palm of his hand. He spun therefore many amusing stories about the 55 years he's been visiting Augusta that there is not room to recount them all here. A quick sampling: a'Nicklaus was respected throughout the years for his readiness to advise young people at every level of capacity. Forty years back, he responded to a from a 13-year-old left-handed player from Canada who wrote to ask whether he should move and play right-handed. That kid, Mike Weir, went on to win the Masters in 2003. Early in the day this week, the latest long-driving sensation was helped by him, Nicolas Colsaerts. Per day or two, Nicklaus will do the exact same for Guan Tianglang, a 14-year-old Chinese player who'll end up being the youngest player ever at the Masters and wrote to ask for recommendations. Asked whether he provides the exact same meaning to he is sought by everyone who out, Nicklaus simply smiled. "I am not wise enough to own different ones," he explained. a'Several issues went back to his final Masters in 1986, perhaps the most well-known gain here actually. Nicklaus was 46 at the time and had not gained a significant in six years. He remembered slowly playing his way into contention on the back nine, talking with his daughter, Jackie, to ease a few of the stress. "At 16, I hit a 5-iron in there, it was 175 yards, and I just used a 5-iron up in the air. And I remember when I hit the picture, Jackie mentioned, 'Be right, be right.' And I said," Nicklaus paused for impact, "'It is.' "It was the cockiest comment I ever made." a'Masters co-founder Bobby Jones, whose report of 13 majors Nicklaus might eclipse, took a pursuit in the small Golden Bear and invited him and his father to his cottage for long discussions on topics which range from tennis to philosophy. A reporter asked, "Can you give us a flavor of the conversation?" Nicklaus did, and the writer questioned a, "Did you say something, or were you listening?" Nicklaus didn't have to think long concerning the response. "It is one of many few times," he remembered "I probably did not say too much." a'Nicklaus might have gone on like that forever. But Herlihy, moderating the conversation, finally noted that Nicklaus had to go to the champions meal and offered one last question. "If you'd perhaps not had such outstanding ability as a player, what would you want to have inked with your life?" Nicklaus said he thought he'd have wound up "somewhere in sports," then looked out at the roomful of reporters and included, "I might have ended up sitting out here." "Lucky you can perform golf," the questioner offered. "Well," Nicklaus said ultimately, "I can't cause, either."