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Nicklaus may play Verizon at the TPC

The Golden Bear's sore back is improving and he may tee it up in February at Tampa Bay.

By BOB HARIG, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published January 19, 2002

His bad back permitting, Jack Nicklaus said he hopes to play in next month's Verizon Classic at the TPC of Tampa Bay.

He wasn't officially committing, but Nicklaus said Friday that he likely will add the Senior PGA Tour event to his schedule "if my golf game is all right.

"We'll just see what happens. If my body allows me, I'm going to play as much as I can play, be competitive and enjoy it."

He played a Shell's Wonderful World of Golf Match with Ben Crenshaw last fall (which Nicklaus won), but he has not played an official event since the British Senior Open in July.

Although Nicklaus typically plays a limited schedule, he has lauded the condition and difficulty of the TPC of Tampa Bay, where he won in 1996. Nicklaus, who turns 62 Monday, will play in next week's Senior Skins Game in Hawaii and the Feb. 8-10 ACE Group Classic at TwinEagles in Naples, a golf course he designed with son Jackie. The Verizon Classic is Feb 15-17.

After that Nicklaus' schedule is uncertain. He could play the Genuity Championship at Doral on the PGA Tour. A 43rd appearance at the Masters is not a certainty.

Nicklaus missed the cut at the Masters last year for the third time as a professional. He became a member at Augusta National last year and played a club outing in November, but his back hurt so much he could barely hit the ball. "I have not been able to stay down in a golf shot," Nicklaus said. "But it's gotten better. I'm very encouraged and looking forward to getting out there."

Nicklaus, who won a record 18 professional majors, would be a another boost to the Verizon Classic field, tournament director David Porter said. Fuzzy Zoeller, Ben Crenshaw, Arnold Palmer, Hale Irwin, Lee Trevino and Gary Player have committed.

"He would be icing on the cake to top off the field here," Porter said. It would be Nicklaus' sixth appearance at the event. Last year he tied for 20th.

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