Nine Shots Back of Leaders, Nicklaus Thinks He Still Has a Shot

The sea breezes are his allies. The course whispers its secrets to him. The spectators are old friends.

In the “Home of Golf,” no golfer is more at home than Jack Nicklaus.

The Golden Bear’s love affair with this ancient town began in the 1960s and is stronger than ever today. After a two-under-par 70 left him with view of the second-round lead at 141 Friday, Nicklaus declared himself ready for a fourth British Open title.

“I’m in position on the Old Course to win the tournament with two good rounds,” he said. “You just never know what’s going to happen.”

By the end of the day, however, torrid play by Greg Norman and Nick Faldo left him nine shots back.

Nicklaus was runner-up to Tony Lema in his first British Open at St. Andrews in 1964 and won the title the following two times it was held on the Old Course, in 1970 and 1978. He also won the Open at Muirfield in 1966.

But the 50-year-old Nicklaus, who now plays mostly on the Seniors Tour in the United States, is tied to St. Andrews by much more than golf.

He is the favorite of the grandstands, where even the sentimental final journey of Arnold Palmer must take a back seat. What’s more, the man who calls St. Andrews “my favorite place in the world” holds an honorary degree from the local university and is one of only eight honorary members of the Royal and Ancient Golf Club that sits beside the Old Course.

The most successful golfer in history, Nicklaus said he has a shot at another title this year because his back feels better than it has in years and because of his experience here.

He treats the feared wind and the quirky course almost as co-conspirators, while other players shudder at the pitfalls awaiting them.

“We got the best of the weather today. The wind died after three or four holes and was quite calm for most of the round,” he said after finishing his round shortly after noon. “It should get worse later.”

Nicklaus rolled in a 25-foot birdie putt on the ninth hole, a 12-footer on the 10th and a seven-footer two holes later, then suffered his only bogey on the treacherous 17th.

“The Old Course is fun to play under any circumstances,” he said. “When you get to the major championships, you get to the tournaments where experience counts.”

And that plays right into the hands of a man who has won a record 18 major championships.

“The competition is what I’ve thrived on all my life,” he said. “I just love coming to the 18th hole with a chance to win.”