Nicklaus Playing One for the Ageless

Underneath the famous old oak tree in front of the clubhouse here, Barbara Nicklaus talked Saturday about the day Augusta National had for her husband earlier in the week.

“That was more unbelievably special than we ever thought,” she said of the ceremony Tuesday in honor of Jack Nicklaus Day. “We didn’t know if anybody would even be there. We show up and there’s all these people.”

The only disappointment for her husband, she said, was that he cried and couldn’t finish his speech after receiving a plaque that later was placed on a fountain between the 16th green and the 17th tee.

“He got mad at himself for being so emotional,” she said. “He wanted to talk more about Bobby Jones, but he said he just couldn’t get through it.”

It was as poignant a moment as Nicklaus has experienced in 40 years of Masters tournaments, turned semi-sweet only when one considers the significance of it. As Nicklaus said, no one has a day for you at the beginning of your career.

Jack Stephens, Augusta National chairman, tried to insert levity into the occasion, closing it by saying, “We have taken the precaution of leaving a little extra space at the bottom of the plaque, just in case.”

After Nicklaus negotiated a four-foot break on the 16th green Saturday and sank a 22-foot putt for a birdie, putting his name on the leaderboard for the first time of the week at one-under, more than a few people stopped by the nearby water fountain just to make sure Stephens had told the truth.

Could this be Jack Nicklaus Week?

Consider this: In 1986, when he won here for a record sixth time, he entered the final round four shots behind leader Greg Norman. Today, he enters the final round five shots behind leader Fred Couples. But Nicklaus is only three behind Mark O’Meara, Paul Azinger and Phil Mickelson, who are tied for second.

Don’t even think about it, Nicklaus said Saturday. He knows those numbers, but he also knows another one. He is 58.

“I didn’t need as much help in ’86 as I need now,” said Nicklaus, whose back no longer allows him to crouch to line up putts. That is a task here for his caddie, son Steve.

Nicklaus allowed himself to dream Friday night, believing he could be a contender if he shot 67s in the final two rounds. He shot two-under 70 Saturday.

“So now I need to shoot 64 tomorrow,” he said. “I’ve put myself in a hole.”

But although he might not win the tournament, he has convinced himself he can still compete in the majors. He wasn’t sure earlier this year, believing perhaps the U.S. Golf Assn. was right when it didn’t immediately renew his special exemption that would have allowed him to play in this year’s U.S. Open. Under siege, the USGA relented and give him an unprecedented three-year exemption.

“He wanted to retire and let the USGA people off the hook,” Barbara said, “and then about that time they called.”

Now Nicklaus is among the top 10 in the Masters and tied with Tiger Woods.

This was supposed to be the year of the twenty- somethings, led by defending champion Woods, Ernie Els, Phil Mickelson, Justin Leonard and David Duval. They have done well, but they have not dominated.

If anything, this will be remembered as the Masters of Generation Ex.

Sam Snead, 85, suffered symptoms of a stroke Tuesday, checked into a local hospital and then checked out in time to join Gene Sarazen and Byron Nelson for the traditional first tee-off Thursday.

“We were glad we were able to help Mr. Snead, and we were glad when he left,” an unidentified hospital employee said of Slammin’ Sammy, irascible as ever.

Gay Brewer, 66, became the oldest player to shoot par in the Masters with his 72 on Thursday. Gary Player, 62, on Friday became the oldest player in the Masters ever to survive the cut.

And who had the largest, loudest gallery Saturday?

Nicklaus.

“The Masters is a place where experience and patience pay off,” Nicklaus said. “If there is a place where I have a chance to take a run at some of these younger guys, this is it.”

One over par through the first two rounds, he hit the ball well enough on the front nine Saturday to play himself into contention. But his putts wouldn’t fall, and when he bogeyed the 12th to fall back to one over, he felt as if he were on a treadmill.

But he birdied from 12 feet on the 15th, then from 22 feet on the 16th.

On the par-four 18th, his drive sliced into the trees, preventing him from reaching the green in two. Preparing to hit his chip shot, his concentration was interrupted by a loud ovation at No. 13 for a Couples’ eagle. He chipped 25 feet past the pin.

But he rammed the putt into the cup, earning his own ovation.

“Someone was looking over my shoulder on the last four holes,” Nicklaus said. “They had to be.”

Nicklaus, however, was less enthused than his fans.

“I feel pleased,” he said. “But I’m not going to have that many chances left. When I get an opportunity like I had today and don’t take advantage of it, I feel let down.

“It’s the competitor inside me that says, ‘Jack, I don’t care how old you are, I don’t care who is out ahead of you, you can still win.’ I don’t care if that’s realistic or unrealistic. I don’t care if you laugh at me. This is the way I’ve got to think or else I wouldn’t be here.”

No one is laughing, except perhaps Arnold Palmer.

“Jack said at age 30 he would not be out here at 35, and he said at 35 he would not be out here at 40,” Barbara said. “You know who’s laughing the hardest? Arnie. Arnie used to say, ‘OK, Jack, you can come back and watch me play.’

“But I’ll tell you something. Jack is enjoying this just as much as ever.”