Teddy Ballgame
07-17-2005, 07:59 PM
- Golf's greatest player Jack Nicklaus closed out his tournament career on Friday at The British Open with a 14 foot birdie putt on the 18th hole at The Old Course at St. Andrews, Scotland where golf was born and the fans really know what the hell's going on and how to tell a bad shot from a good shot from a great shot.
- 65 year old Nickalus - with 18 major championships leading Walter Hagen with 11 and after today's win by Tiger, Tiger Woods with 10 - missed the cut on Friday by just two shots and when he stood on the bridge crossing to the 18th green for the final time, there were hundreds of people in the gallery openly weeping. I almost did myself, being just four years younger than Jack and knowing exactly what it is like (I lost my club tennis championship five years ago now and I'll never win it again) to have to surrender to the visissitudes of age and infirmity in doing something you really love.
- Just briefly, I wanted to say that Jack Nicklaus always represented the very best values of his sport and so he was not just its greatest player but also its greatest ambassador. Just like Wayne Gretzky in hockey, Mohammud Ali in boxing and a select few others, he was more than the greatest player in his sport, he was the greatest person.
- I play golf, badly, about five times a summer and I usually play at Glen Abbey in Oakville near Toronto, the very first course (in 1976) that Jack Nicklaus designed himself in the now more than 280 courses around the world that Jack built.
- Thanks for the great golf thrills, the great courses, and the great example of sportsmanship and generosity and gentlemenly behaviour that you have given to all of us, Jack.
- You'll be remembered as long as golf is played anywhere on this little planet of ours.
- 65 year old Nickalus - with 18 major championships leading Walter Hagen with 11 and after today's win by Tiger, Tiger Woods with 10 - missed the cut on Friday by just two shots and when he stood on the bridge crossing to the 18th green for the final time, there were hundreds of people in the gallery openly weeping. I almost did myself, being just four years younger than Jack and knowing exactly what it is like (I lost my club tennis championship five years ago now and I'll never win it again) to have to surrender to the visissitudes of age and infirmity in doing something you really love.
- Just briefly, I wanted to say that Jack Nicklaus always represented the very best values of his sport and so he was not just its greatest player but also its greatest ambassador. Just like Wayne Gretzky in hockey, Mohammud Ali in boxing and a select few others, he was more than the greatest player in his sport, he was the greatest person.
- I play golf, badly, about five times a summer and I usually play at Glen Abbey in Oakville near Toronto, the very first course (in 1976) that Jack Nicklaus designed himself in the now more than 280 courses around the world that Jack built.
- Thanks for the great golf thrills, the great courses, and the great example of sportsmanship and generosity and gentlemenly behaviour that you have given to all of us, Jack.
- You'll be remembered as long as golf is played anywhere on this little planet of ours.