A Day for Walking With the Gods of Golf

Nicklaus and Palmer. Palmer and Nicklaus.

The names are entertwined down through the decades, back into the ‘60s, even the ‘50s.

Their competitions and golfing confrontations are the stuff of legends; legends sited at Oakmont and Baltusrol and Augusta.

Now, at Jack Nicklaus’ Memorial tournament, the two giants--two aging giants--are playing golf again. With and against each other.

It may be the last time.

There was more than a hint of a valedictory in Palmer’s remarks at ceremonies in which he was lauded as the 1993 Memorial honoree.

“I had a good career,” he said Wednesday.

There is no way of knowing if the use of the past tense was deliberate.

The 63-year-old Palmer grudgingly acknowledges his competitive career is near an end.

He wears glasses and a hearing aid. The old fire and drive is still there. But the game is not.

He even got a couple of tips from his arch-rival Nicklaus in a practice round. “I guess he didn’t want me to embarrass myself,” Palmer said.

The huge gallery, undiminished by a drizzle and drawn by the irresistible lure of Palmer and Nicklaus, did not let him.

Applause and cheers and shouted encouragement greeted his every move.

His game has dwindled, but not his popularity.

It was that popularity, perhaps unequaled by any athlete since Babe Ruth, and the sheer magnetism of the slope-shouldered man that--more than any other factor--ushered golf into the television age and raised to its present high level the public acceptance of the game.

And it was for that reason, as much as for his playing record, that he was personally selected by Nicklaus to be the man honored at this Memorial tournament.

He is the first person, still an active player, to be so honored.

“It was obvious to me that Arnold should be the man this year,” Nicklaus said. “We don’t usually honor an active player. But Arnold might be playing when he’s 85.”

Palmer wasn’t touching that, however. He spoke of the past, not the future.

Prompting Nicklaus’ memory, he frequently began sentences with: “Don’t you remember the time . . . “

“I’ve had a good career,” he repeated. “I’ve had a lot of fun. I’ve had a lot of competition.”

Then, looking at Nicklaus, he added: “A lot of the competition came from someone standing very nearby.

“But, I guess that if I hadn’t had that competition, if he hadn’t given me that competition, maybe my career might have been a lot different.

“It might not have been so much fun.”

Quite obviously, both had fun in a mini-skins game, and in their practice rounds. Some good-natured ribbing was going on. Lots of laughter.

The gallery had fun.

And the other, younger players, competing with Nicklaus and Palmer in that skins game, had fun.

But there was a sense of sadness, too. The fans knew they may be witnessing a scene that will not be repeated.

And one of the other players, who knows perhaps better than anyone the stature and contributions of Palmer and Nicklaus, gave voice to his thoughts after playing with them.

“Today, I walked with the gods of golf,” Ben Crenshaw said.