Nicklaus planning St Andrews farewell

Jack Nicklaus insisted today that he expects this July’s Open at St Andrews to bring down the curtain on his tournament career – the most successful in golf history.

The 65-year-old, who made his farewell to the Masters in April, loses his exemption after this year’s championship.

He last played the Open in 2000 when it was also at the home of golf – scene of his victories in 1970 and 1978.

At Augusta Nicklaus, who has been through family tragedy this year with the death of his grandson Jake in a hot-tub accident, cried and hugged his son Jack jnr as he played his final hole.

“I expect I’ll be just as emotional at St Andrews – I’m a sentimental old fool,” said the Golden Bear today after flying into Britain for the launch of a Polaris World golf and property development in Spain.

“I enjoy being part of history and what’s going on, but I don’t consider myself competitive any more and the Open will probably end my competitive career.

“I’ve played one round since Augusta and that was a course opening. I’ve not even made up my mind whether to play the Memorial and that’s in two weeks’ time.

“Hopefully when I get to St Andrews I will have some kind of game. It won’t be great. but I hope not to embarrass myself.

“I will enjoy it. We will have a good time.”

Acting as his caddie for the week will be son Steve, the father of Jake.

Nicklaus shot 77-76 at the Masters and recalled the time just afterwards when somebody remarked that he had played well.

“I played what? That’s good?” he replied. “That’s why I don’t want to play any more. That’s what I shoot – when I play well!

“But at least a 76 was what I scored in my first round at Augusta (in 1959). I didn’t get any worse.

“Nothing will replace walking up the 18th at St Andrews, Augusta, a US Open or whatever. That’s where it all happened for me and what I did is why I am doing what I’m doing now.

“I’m very blessed to be able to transfer it to a second career probably more successful than my first career.”

The Spanish project involves three courses in which his sons will play a part in the design and surrounding the holes will be a town for 60,000 people complete with hospital and school.

After the launch Nicklaus’ next appointment was with a dentist. He had chipped a tooth and said the pain was going into the area of his artificial hip.