Nicklaus Says He Might Not Return

Jack Nicklaus, who has won the Masters a record six times and shot himself into contention with a two-under-par 70 in the second round, raised the possibility Sunday that this might be the last time he plays in the tournament.

Nicklaus, 60, closed his tournament 81-78 to finish at 15-over 303, his worst four-round total in 41 Masters. He had never shot a round in the 80s in the tournament.

“It’s possible that was my last walk at 18,” he said.

Nicklaus’ experience at this year’s tournament soured on the back nine Saturday, when he shot an eight-over 44 in windy, cold conditions.

“I didn’t have any enthusiasm,” Nicklaus said of the third and fourth rounds. “I didn’t make anything happen, had a nice six-bogey round.”

Nicklaus said his fitness and health are not factors. The hip-replacement surgery that forced him to miss the tournament last year is enabling him to swing the way he wants to.

“I feel fine,” he said after walking off the 18th green. “I could go out and play another 18 right now . . . but I’m not going to. They wouldn’t let me anyway.

“Physically, I’m the best I’ve been in a while; mentally, I’m beat.”

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David Gossett, the 20-year-old U.S. Amateur champion, finished as low amateur, the only one of six in the field who made the cut. Paired with Nicklaus on Sunday, he shot 78 to finish tied with Nicklaus.

Gossett won the U.S. Amateur last year at Pebble Beach, site of Nicklaus’ second U.S. Amateur title, in 1961.

“It doesn’t get much better than playing with Jack Nicklaus in the final round of the Masters,” said Gossett, a sophomore at the University of Texas.

Gossett, who had played a practice round with Nicklaus, was well aware he was amid golfing royalty.

“I called him Mr. Nicklaus,” he said. “He never told me to call him Jack.”

After returning to classes at Texas on Tuesday, Gossett plans to get ready for the Big 12 Conference tournament in two weeks, the U.S. Open in June and the British Open in July. He’s also hoping to get some exemptions into PGA Tour events.

“I’m going to have to make a decision whether to turn pro or not,” he said. “I’ll decide after the British Open. I’ll take note of how I played here, and how I play at the Open and the British Open. But I know I can play; I don’t feel I’m far from being competitive.”

In the meantime, he needs to take care of some classwork.

“I’ve got some papers to do,” he said. “I brought my laptop and some books this week, but they’ve pretty much collected dust.”

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There have been 16 weather-related disruptions to the Masters, so Saturday’s two-hour delay is just the latest.

The worst? Probably 1938, when the first 18 holes were played Friday, 36 holes were played Sunday and the final 18 were played Monday. Henry Picard won by two shots over Harry Cooper and Ralph Guldahl and earned $1,500.

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Notah Begay finished with a 73 and a six-over 294 in his first Masters, but he didn’t feel very comfortable.

“I still feel like Blind Man’s Bluff,” he said. “It’s like cramming for a mid-term or final exam. You really need the knowledge.”

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Colin Montgomerie on the Masters: “You start off the week with great anticipation and end it with great depression.”

Montgomerie closed with a 69 and a three-over 291 total.