The Golf Watch

Did Holmes snub Nicklaus?

Typically, tournament host Jack Nicklaus waits beside the 18th green to greet the last few groups finishing up their final rounds. The first group that Nicklaus greeted included J.B. Holmes and Nick O'Hern. 

Holmes, an American and 2-time winner on tour, didn't say anything when he walked past Nicklaus.  O'Hern did shake Jack's hand, and Jim Nantz of CBS said:

Uh, turn to your left there guys.  What was that all about?  Jack just said, was that J.B. Holmes, didn't he win the FBR Open this year?  What was that all about?...I don't know, I guess he didn't see him.

From the replay, it does look like Holmes acknowledges Nicklaus with a nod from afar.  But no handshake?  Walking up farther behind, Holmes' caddy was seen chuckling at what just took place. 

J.B. shot a disappointing final round of 77, so we'll cut him a break.  Plus, it looks like he tossed his ball to a kid in the crowd.

I guess counting majors wasn't as important...

Every time Tiger Woods competes in a major championship, he is asked about Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major titles.  It's been on Woods' radar for quite some time, as he taped Nicklaus' accomplishments on his bedroom wall as a junior golfer.

Jeff Rude of Golfweek asked the Great Bear how he counted his major championship titles...

One, Nicklaus said he couldn’t recall what was on his bedroom walls as a kid. Two, he said he didn’t know how many majors he had won until he reached 10 and Associated Press golfer writer Bob Green informed him that he was three behind Bobby Jones.

You didn’t count majors until then? Really?

“I swear,” the Golden Bear said.

Since there was no Golf Channel back then, I'm not surprised Nicklaus wasn't aware of how many he'd won.

Nicklaus: I'm happy to not be in Gary's position

On Monday's edition of Golf Central, US President's Cup captain Jack Nicklaus was asked by Kelly Tilghman of The Golf Channel about the difficult decision International team captain Gary Player will have when deciding whether or not to select Mike Weir as a captain's pick.  Nicklaus responded: "Gary’s got a difficult choice.  He’s got a world team and he’s got to pick the best 12 players that he thinks.  I don’t think if Mike Weir is not playing well or if Stephen Ames is not playing well, how can he pick them?  I know that that would be great for Canada, but I’m happy I’m not in Gary’s position."  Weir is currently ranked 18th and Ames is ranked 19th in the President's Cup standings.

Nicklaus serves as honorary chairman for Nationwide event

This week's Nationwide Tour event is the Nationwide Children's Hospital Invitational, and Jack Nicklaus will be serving as the tournament's honorary chairman.  The tournament will be played at the Ohio State University Golf Club's Scarlet Course, which Nicklaus redesigned in 2006. It is the Nationwide Tour's only invitational event.  Notable players in the field include Nick Flanagan, who is making his return to the Nationwide Tour after a hernia operation.  Flanagan will be seeking his third win this year, which would lead to an automatic promotion to the PGA Tour.  Also in the field are NCAA Individual Champion Jamie Lovemark, coming off a T-45 finish at the AT&T National last week, and the Tour's youngest player, Jason Day, who won last week in Cleveland. 

Nicklaus does not want drug testing on PGA Tour

In an interview with Steve Sands on Golf Central Sunday night, Jack Nicklaus was asked if there should be drug testing on the PGA Tour.  The Golden Bear responded, "I hope they don't bother with it. I hope they keep the game self-policing...Let's just hope the players have the integrity not to be involved."

Nicklaus "doesn't mind" low scoring

CBS commentator Nick Faldo asked tournament host Jack Nicklaus, "What's the cut-off before you go out and re-model the golf course?"  Earlier in the conversation, Faldo referred to Adam Scott's second round and his eleven birdies saying to Nicklaus, "I'm sure that's not your vision."  Nicklaus replied by saying, "I don't really mind that frankly...If it doesn't yield it's not a good golf course...The players love it and everybody is happy."  The Golden Bear added that the good playing conditions contributed to the low scoring during the first two rounds.  "Adam Scott got it going and more power to him," said Nicklaus.  Later in the broadcast, when Bubba Watson hit an iron off the 451-yard first hole, Faldo jokingly remarked, "You need to lengthen this one Jack, for Bubba."