Golden Cub: Jack Nicklaus II Takes Aim at Career on Tour

Jack Nicklaus II, the famous golfer’s son, wants to step into his father’s shoes this summer by turning pro, but he knows it will take more than a name to get him to the Professional Golfers’ Assn. Tour.

“They’re pretty big shoes. But I’m going to do the best I can,” said the 24-year-old amateur. “If it happens that I’m a tour winner, a multi-winner or a non-winner, I’ll be doing my best. I’ve just got to see for myself.

“Having a name isn’t going to take strokes off my game. I realize that,” said Nicklaus, who won the prestigious North and South Amateur last year. “I may not make it, but it won’t be because I didn’t try.”

Nicklaus wants to play in five tour events and win enough money to get into the Top 125 money winners which would exempt him from having to go through the tour qualifying school at PGA West in California in mid-November.

“That would be ideal, but if that doesn’t happen I’ll still be getting the kind of experience I need to compete at the tour school.”

During his first three years at the University of North Carolina, Nicklaus had a 77 stroke average. His senior year average dropped to 73.

Working occasionally with Chi Chi Rodriguez, Nicklaus has been lowering his scores more while building his confidence.

“The short game always has been my weakness,” he said in an interview in The Miami Herald. “I could do anything with it--skull it, double-hit it, chili-dip it--everything except hit it right. I can’t tell you how much that part of my game has improved since I’ve been working with Chi Chi.”

Nicklaus added his father never tried to push him into golf, or any other sport.

“Dad never gave me an opinion before I made up my own mind,” he said. “He was always noncommittal but supportive. When I told him that I had decided to play the tour, he looked at me and said, ‘If that’s what you want, I’m with you all the way. I’ll support you . . . but you’re going to have to work at it.’ ”

The oldest of the four Nicklaus sons said he hopes to qualify for the PGA Tour after the U.S. Amateur Aug. 26-31.

“This is what I’ve been working toward. It’s what I want to do,” he said. “From about May until the National Amateur, I’ll play in as many amateur tournaments as I can, and then I’ll turn pro and play in five tour events after that and see what happens.”