Sunday Extra

Sharing a few second thoughts

Nobody has been second in majors more than Jack Nicklaus, who recalls a few that got away.

By BOB HARIG
Published July 10, 2005

The record is phenomenal, stretching over 24 years. Jack Nicklaus won each of the major championships at least three times. He bested Walter Hagen, who held the professional record, by seven majors. Tiger Woods is still nine behind.

And yet, it could be even better.

As impressive as 18 major championships are for his career, Nicklaus could have run that total past 20, maybe to 25.

He finished second in majors a record 19 times.

Arnold Palmer, who won seven majors, was a runnerup 10 times. Even Greg Norman, famous for his major-championship near-misses, had only eight second-place finishes in the Grand Slam events, as did Sam Snead.

Nineteen.

Seven came at the British Open, which Nicklaus will play for the last time this week at the Old Course at St. Andrews where, in 1964, he finished ... second.

Four of Nicklaus' seconds were by a single stroke and there was a playoff loss at the 1971 U.S. Open to Lee Trevino. There were eight more in which he finished second by two strokes. Tom Watson and Trevino foiled Nicklaus' major-championship bids four times each, the most of any players. Two of Watson's victories were among the most famous of major championships, the 1977 British Open at Turnberry and the 1982 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach.

Trevino, who won six major championships, first got Nicklaus at the 1968 U.S. Open. The '71 U.S. Open at Merion was Nicklaus' only playoff loss in a major. Trevino also denied Nicklaus the third leg of the Grand Slam in the '72 British at Muirfield.

Arnold Palmer was first to Nicklaus' second on two occasions. Tony Lema, Bobby Nichols, Dave Marr, Roberto De Vicenzo and Hal Sutton won their only majors at the expense of Nicklaus.

Any regrets, Jack?

"Well, I would have liked to have shot a few shots lower at Muirfield in '72," he said. "And I'd have liked to have shot a couple of shots lower at Pebble Beach in '82. And Turnberry ('77), too.

"And I would like to not have bogeyed the last two holes at Lytham in '63. Sure, we all have those. That's part of the game. I think Lytham was the only time I really gave one away. I think I played pretty well in those others I was talking about. I never really look at what the other person has done. If somebody beats me, they beat me and well done."

Nicklaus didn't even finish second at Royal Lytham in 1963. He bogeyed the final two holes, shot 70 and missed a 36-hole playoff won by Bob Charles over Phil Rodgers by one stroke.

That simply goes down as one of Nicklaus' 56 top-five finishes in majors.

1. 1982 U.S. OPEN, PEBBLE BEACH: Nicklaus thought he might have secured his fifth Open when he saw Tom Watson's approach to the 17th green land in tall rough. But Watson chipped in for birdie to take a one-stroke lead, then birdied the last hole for a two-shot win and his only Open title.

2. 1977 BRITISH OPEN, TURNBERRY: The Duel in the Sun is considered by many the best British Open. Watson shot 65-65 on the weekend; Nicklaus shot 65-66 to lose by one. The third-place finisher, Hubert Green, was 10 strokes back.

3. 1972 BRITISH OPEN, MUIRFIELD: Nicklaus had won the first two majors and was bidding to become the first since Ben Hogan in 1953 to win the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open in the same year. A third-round 71 left him six strokes behind Lee Trevino, then a furious rally with 66 came up one shot short.

4. 1963 BRITISH OPEN, ROYAL LYTHAM: Playing in just his second British Open, this is one Nicklaus thought he let get away. He bogeyed the last two holes to miss a 36-hole playoff by one shot. Bob Charles defeated Phil Rodgers.

5. 1971 MASTERS: Tied for the lead with Charles Coody heading into the final round at Augusta National, Nicklaus could manage just par 72 while Coody shot 70 to win by two strokes.

[Last modified July 9, 2005, 23:58:02]