ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, February 12, 1996 TAG: 9602130039
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B3 EDITION: METRO
DATELINE: NEW YORK
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
THE GREATEST GOLFER of all time is bowing out of major championships.
If there is one thing Jack Nicklaus loves talking about, it is golf, even when the subject certainly involves some sadness.
The most successful golfer in the history of the game gives his version of an annual state of the union address today and among the topics he's expected to cover are the fact that he likely will skip this year's British Open and that he will accept no more special exemptions into major championships.
``Jack will discuss a series of topics, a review of the past year and a look at the year ahead,'' a source close to Nicklaus said.
The source, who asked to not be identified, said Nicklaus will clarify his announcement made last July that his next British Open appearance will be in the year 2000 at St. Andrews.
``I am of the feeling that there are no ifs, ands or buts about it,'' the source told the AP. ``He will not return to the British Open until 2000.''
Nicklaus, however, has left a door open for himself in case his play in the Masters and U.S. Open ``should warrant it'' by officially entering this year's British Open, the source said.
Nicklaus, who won his last major championship at the Masters in 1986 and last made the cut in all four majors in the same year in 1991, has given every indication his majors streak will end with this year's U.S. Open.
By skipping the British Open at Royal Lytham & St. Annes Golf Club in July, Nicklaus will end his streak of 138 consecutive appearances in the four major championships. The streak began with the 1962 Masters and will end with this year's U.S. Open at Oakland Hills in Michigan.
``You've got to stop sometime,'' Nicklaus said after finishing 79th in last year's British Open at St. Andrews. ``Until this year I had missed three cuts in a row. Enough is enough.''
Nicklaus, 56, got into his 40th consecutive U.S. Open this year on a special exemption granted by the USGA last month. He said last year it would be the final special exemption he would accept.
``That would be my last regular major in a row,'' Nicklaus said at St. Andrews about an exemption into the 1996 U.S. Open.
``He is in the U.S. Open this year on a special exemption,'' the source told the AP, ``but he will only go back if he earns his way in.'' Nicklaus will play in the PGA Championship in August and then restrict his play in the majors to the Masters and the 2000 British Open.
Nicklaus has played in the four major championships - the U.S. Open, British Open, Masters and PGA Championship - 143 times, beginning with the 1957 U.S. Open. He has won a record 18 major championships, taking the Masters six times, the PGA five, four U.S. Opens and the British Open three times. He also won the U.S. Amateur twice.
After rolling in a putt on the last hole on Sunday last summer at St. Andrews, Nicklaus received a warm embrace from the adoring Scottish gallery and then spoke emotionally about his last regular British Open.
``I wanted that putt,'' Nicklaus said. ``It gave me a 1-under-par 71. To shoot under par on my last day was special. That putt was very important to me. Then I got a little emotional looking around at all the people knowing this would be the last regular one.''
Nicklaus said he would be back for the British Open at St. Andrews in 2000, but less as a competitor and more as a figurehead.
``My appearance will be like Arnold Palmer's visit was this time, more ceremonial than golf,'' Nicklaus said. ``I've enjoyed my 34 years in the British Open.''
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