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AUGUSTA, Ga. – Jack Nicklaus and the Masters go together like pimento cheese and white bread in April. Six Green Jackets spread over a span of 23 years between 1963 and 1986 is quite an impressive haul. Nicklaus will hit the opening tee shot once more on Thursday, but first he took time to answer Golfweek's Annual Survey, and it's a safe bet you'll learn a few new things you didn't know about the Golden Bear along the way.
JN: A lot of people might say a locket. But I don't even know where my locket is. … I would have to say when I finally got my Green Jacket in 1998. You know the story there, but yes, my Green Jacket.
JN: Obviously, it’s the Champions Dinner. And the ritual I always like is how prior to the dinner, just going around and talking to everybody you haven't probably seen for a year.
JN: Well, I get a chill every time I drive down Magnolia Lane. No different than to me now than it was the first time I drove down it in 1959. It’s hard to compare it to something that people might better understand the feeling. For me, it’s sort of like each time I hear our National Anthem, the Star-Spangled Banner. It’s almost the same thing, because of the pride and emotions that come with it. I always get a chill, even now. To me, it’s sensational.
JN: Probably how I got Willie Peterson. You know that one, right? It was 1960, and the caddiemaster was asking who wanted to caddie for me. Pond, who caddied for me in 1959, said, “I don’t want Mr. Jack.” He went on to say, “Mr. Jack works too hard.” So, then he asked, “Does anybody here want to take him?” And Willie says, “I'll take him!” Willie took me and went on to win five Masters Tournaments with me. Willie was a character. He was a good man, and he became a good friend. When I found out in 2020 that Willie’s grave site in Augusta didn’t have a headstone – which sadly was the case for many Augusta caddies through the years – we made sure to right that wrong.
JN: Probably 2018, when Watson, Player and I all finished in the top 10. Tom, at 68, won it; I finished fourth; and Gary, at 82, was 10th. Oh, and another little thing happened that year. My 15-year-old grandson GT (Gary’s son) got a hole-in-one. I said then and I still feel the same, when asked where that ranks among my Masters memories, it’s right up there at the top.
JN: An unwritten rule? Oh, one that is not well known. Ok, to have a little fun, the Chairman prefers you wear socks. I remember once Billy Payne, during the Jamboree when they were taking a photo of all the members, saw that two of them didn’t have socks on. Billy made them go back to their rooms and get socks on to take the picture.
JN: Winning it.
JN: Bobby Jones. He was my father’s idol, and mine.
JN: I took a picture. As in, I took a photo of something. They had these waste-paper baskets in the rooms that we really liked. We wanted something like it at Muirfield Village. So, we took a photo of them. Also, we liked the hooks under the corners of the tables at Augusta National to hang a hat (Barbara interjects and says, “It’s a purse-holder.” Ok, hooks as a purse-holder or for caps.”) So, we took photos of those, and we put them in at Muirfield Village and The Bear’s Club.
JN: The Club.
JN: Well, when Arnold was still alive, every year I would have Tiger on one side and Arnold on the other. For years! After Arnold passed, it’s been Watson on one side and Tiger sits on the other side.
JN: I did plans for redoing the second hole for Hord Hardin a long, long time ago. I suggested dropping the fairway and bunkering on the left side. I think it could be argued that the second shot at No. 2 could be considered the weakest shot on the golf course. You stand there on a right-to-left slope, downhill, with a tree in your way that you have to hit a hook around, and the green wants you to hit a high fade. It’s really hard to play. There's no easy way to play the second shot at Augusta with a proper tee shot.
And another thing. Now that I am 85, and half the membership is probably over 80, and they have added a number of women as members, I would add forward tees.
JN: Easy. My kids.
JN: It would be hard not to say the eagle putt I made at No. 15 in 1986. If I don't make that putt, I'm not going to get there. I loved the 1-iron I hit into No. 15 in 1975, but I missed the putt.
JN: The shank over Bob Jones' head on the 12th hole in 1964.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Jack Nicklaus tells great stories on drive down Magnolia Lane, more
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GWK: What's your greatest Masters keepsake?
JN: A lot of people might say a locket. But I don't even know where my locket is. … I would have to say when I finally got my Green Jacket in 1998. You know the story there, but yes, my Green Jacket.
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GWK: What's one ritual you have or had Masters week?
JN: Obviously, it’s the Champions Dinner. And the ritual I always like is how prior to the dinner, just going around and talking to everybody you haven't probably seen for a year.
GWK: One word to describe the drive down Magnolia Lane?
JN: Well, I get a chill every time I drive down Magnolia Lane. No different than to me now than it was the first time I drove down it in 1959. It’s hard to compare it to something that people might better understand the feeling. For me, it’s sort of like each time I hear our National Anthem, the Star-Spangled Banner. It’s almost the same thing, because of the pride and emotions that come with it. I always get a chill, even now. To me, it’s sensational.
GWK: What's your funniest caddie story at the Masters?
JN: Probably how I got Willie Peterson. You know that one, right? It was 1960, and the caddiemaster was asking who wanted to caddie for me. Pond, who caddied for me in 1959, said, “I don’t want Mr. Jack.” He went on to say, “Mr. Jack works too hard.” So, then he asked, “Does anybody here want to take him?” And Willie says, “I'll take him!” Willie took me and went on to win five Masters Tournaments with me. Willie was a character. He was a good man, and he became a good friend. When I found out in 2020 that Willie’s grave site in Augusta didn’t have a headstone – which sadly was the case for many Augusta caddies through the years – we made sure to right that wrong.
GWK: What's your favorite Masters Par 3 Contest story?
JN: Probably 2018, when Watson, Player and I all finished in the top 10. Tom, at 68, won it; I finished fourth; and Gary, at 82, was 10th. Oh, and another little thing happened that year. My 15-year-old grandson GT (Gary’s son) got a hole-in-one. I said then and I still feel the same, when asked where that ranks among my Masters memories, it’s right up there at the top.
GWK: What's an unwritten rule at Augusta National Golf Club that's not well known?
JN: An unwritten rule? Oh, one that is not well known. Ok, to have a little fun, the Chairman prefers you wear socks. I remember once Billy Payne, during the Jamboree when they were taking a photo of all the members, saw that two of them didn’t have socks on. Billy made them go back to their rooms and get socks on to take the picture.
GWK: What's the one thing you miss most about the Masters now that your playing career there is over?
JN: Winning it.
GWK: Who's your favorite Augusta National member and why?
JN: Bobby Jones. He was my father’s idol, and mine.
GWK: Have you ever taken an item from the club? Could be as small as a box of matches.
JN: I took a picture. As in, I took a photo of something. They had these waste-paper baskets in the rooms that we really liked. We wanted something like it at Muirfield Village. So, we took a photo of them. Also, we liked the hooks under the corners of the tables at Augusta National to hang a hat (Barbara interjects and says, “It’s a purse-holder.” Ok, hooks as a purse-holder or for caps.”) So, we took photos of those, and we put them in at Muirfield Village and The Bear’s Club.
GWK: What's your favorite place to eat in Augusta?
JN: The Club.
GWK: Who do you have sit on each side of you at the Champions dinner?
JN: Well, when Arnold was still alive, every year I would have Tiger on one side and Arnold on the other. For years! After Arnold passed, it’s been Watson on one side and Tiger sits on the other side.
GWK: What's the one change you'd make to Augusta National?
JN: I did plans for redoing the second hole for Hord Hardin a long, long time ago. I suggested dropping the fairway and bunkering on the left side. I think it could be argued that the second shot at No. 2 could be considered the weakest shot on the golf course. You stand there on a right-to-left slope, downhill, with a tree in your way that you have to hit a hook around, and the green wants you to hit a high fade. It’s really hard to play. There's no easy way to play the second shot at Augusta with a proper tee shot.
And another thing. Now that I am 85, and half the membership is probably over 80, and they have added a number of women as members, I would add forward tees.
Your perfect foursome for one last round at Augusta National?
JN: Easy. My kids.
GWK: What's the best shot you've ever hit at Augusta National?
JN: It would be hard not to say the eagle putt I made at No. 15 in 1986. If I don't make that putt, I'm not going to get there. I loved the 1-iron I hit into No. 15 in 1975, but I missed the putt.
GWK: What’s the worst shot you've ever hit at Augusta?
JN: The shank over Bob Jones' head on the 12th hole in 1964.
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Jack Nicklaus tells great stories on drive down Magnolia Lane, more
Continue reading...
