Golf: Nicklaus rules out Augusta return

Six-time Masters winner Jack Nicklaus has pulled out of this year’s tournament in Augusta because of lingering back problems.

The 62-year-old has also withdrawn from this week’s Liberty Mutual Legends of Golf event.

He told Nicklaus.com: ‘‘I have tried over the last couple of months to get my body and my golf game in shape to play at the Legends and possibly The Masters.

‘‘While encouraged, I made a decision today that neither is at the point I hoped they’d be at this stage.

‘‘I will continue to focus on my strengthening and conditioning programmes, with the hope that I will continue to see improvement.

‘‘My back is better and hopefully it will come around to the point where it will allow me to play golf in the not-so-distant future.

‘‘I really miss competitive golf. It’s in my blood and I very much look forward to playing again soon.

‘‘As much as I’d like to play in both the Legends and the Masters, I do not think my golf game is suitable right now for the competition.’’