Golf

Jack agrees to play

By BOB HARIG
Published April 6, 2005

AUGUSTA, Ga. - Under pressure from his secretary to make up his mind, Jack Nicklaus finally relented. It was a week ago, and Rose Garrido, Nicklaus' administrative assistant, needed to know if the Golden Bear was going to participate in the Masters.

"Look, you've got to tell me. I've got all these people who are asking me," she said.

So Nicklaus said yes.

For the 45th time, Nicklaus, 65, will play in the Masters, something that has been in doubt since the drowning death of his 17-month old grandson, Jake, on March 1. At the urging of Jake's father, Steve - who is the second oldest of Nicklaus' five children, playing golf became part of their routine.

"I had no intention of playing golf whatsoever, but that's what he wanted to do," Nicklaus said Tuesday at Augusta National. "So we just played some golf at home and we decided to come up and here and play.

Nicklaus said he visited Augusta National two weeks ago and again last week. He isn't expecting much from a game that produced six Masters and 18 major championships.

"I think I can make the cut if I play halfway decent," he said. "I don't think that should be a stretch for me. Will I make the cut? Probably not. But do I think I should make it? Yeah, I think I could certainly play well enough to do that."

Nicklaus said he and his family have received "thousands" of calls, letters or e-mails from people expressing concern .

"The hardest part is watching your children suffer," Nicklaus said. "That's the hardest part, going through the whole thing, it's a double-whammy for a grandparent. That's just not supposed to happen."

ALBATROSS: Sergio Garcia made the rarest of birds during a practice round Tuesday, a double-eagle 2 at the par-5 second hole. Garcia hit a 2-iron from 253 yards.

"I thought it was like a yard and a half right of the hole, so all of a sudden the people went crazy on the green," Garcia said. "It was a fun thing. I hit a great drive and a 2-iron, and it's always special to make your first double eagle ever. ... You make it at Augusta. It was an amazing thing."

TIGER TALK: Tiger Woods had his worst performance in the Masters as a pro at last year's event, finishing tied for 22nd. A three-time Masters winner, Woods had an opening-round 75 and another in the third round.

Although he didn't say so at the time, Woods had just started working with instructor Hank Haney.

"Last year, I was just getting started with the changes," said Woods, who is ranked second in the world and has won twice this year on the PGA Tour. "This year I'm putting the finishing touches on the changes. So two different scenarios. Last year I was just hoping to put myself there in contention. This year, I know that my ball-striking is there. It's in me. I've proven it to myself a number of times so far, last fall and early this year. So I know it's in there. That's a big difference."

TEE TIMES: The Masters is scheduled to begin at 8:05 Thursday morning with the threesome of Jonathan Kaye, David Howell and Ted Purdy. Defending champion Phil Mickelson will play with reigning U.S. Amateur champion Ryan Moore and Stuart Appleby at 10:38. No. 1-ranked Vijay Singh is in a group at 10:49, while No. 2 Woods tees off at 1:33 p.m. and No. 3 Ernie Els goes off at 1:44 p.m.

AROUND AUGUSTA: Tiger Woods was sporting a Carolina blue golf shirt Tuesday, making sure his agent, Mark Steinberg, would suffer a bit more. Steinberg played college basketball at Illinois in the late 1980s and had a wager with his top client on the outcome of Monday's NCAA title game between Illinois and North Carolina. "Let's just say it was not a substantial amount for him, but it was a substantial about for me," Steinberg said. ... John Daly, who sells merchandise out of his motorhome at a Hooters near Augusta National, has signed an endorsement deal with the restaurant chain. ... Mickelson, who arrived Monday night after his BellSouth Classic victory in Atlanta, presided over the Champions Dinner on Tuesday night at Augusta National.

[Last modified April 6, 2005, 01:07:18]