Nicklaus May Be Finished Too

Arnold Palmer completed his 50th and final Masters on Friday and pretty much was toast of the town.

Meanwhile, Jack Nicklaus completed his 44th Masters on Friday and slipped quietly out of it.

That’s the way it has always been with these two guys, especially here.

Palmer was always the more passionate while Nicklaus was more clinical.

Nicklaus has won more Masters titles than Palmer, six to four, yet Palmer has forged a more meaningful bond with the fans mainly because he worked harder to maintain the relationship.

“I think that Arnold has meant so much to this tournament and the tournament has meant so much to Arnold,” Nicklaus said.

Both players missed the cut, Palmer by 20 shots and Nicklaus by two.

Both men, well past their prime, have been contemplating for years how long they would keep playing at Augusta National.

Yet, Nicklaus went out of his way to defer to Palmer’s moment this week, even though Nicklaus has been strongly suggesting he might be done here too.

“It could well be my last Masters,” Nicklaus said after three-over 75 to finish at six-over 150 for the tournament.

Nicklaus, of course, has been dropping these kinds of hints since he won his last green jacket in 1986.

But does he mean it this time?

Nicklaus might not really think his time has come. Palmer’s consecutive rounds of 84 pretty much leave no doubt. Yet, over two days here, Nicklaus shot a better score than David Toms, Colin Montgomerie, Kenny Perry and Adam Scott.

Nicklaus seems to play well enough to keep open the option to return.

“I liked the way I hit the ball this week,” he said. “I was encouraged.”

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Bad news for Justin Rose?

The last man to hold the first- and second-round lead at the Masters was Chris DiMarco in 2001. DiMarco ended up finishing in a tie for 10th.

The last player to win the Masters, wire to wire, was Raymond Floyd in 1976.

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Casey Wittenberg, a 19-year-old amateur, shot even-par 72 on Friday and made the cut at four-over 148.

He credits a lot of his success to playing his two rounds with Tiger Woods.

“Just to see how he holds his game around the golf course, that’s vital for me,” Wittenberg, the U.S. Amateur runner-up, said of Woods. “If Tiger hits a shot 20 feet to the left, there’s usually a pretty good reason for it.”

Brandt Snedeker, the U.S. Public Links champion, also made the cut at 148.

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Friday wasn’t a good day for defending Masters champion Mike Weir or for John Daly, who bogeyed the last hole and missed the cut by one shot.

The cut was at four over, and 44 players made it. Since 1966, only in 1994 and 1996 have exactly 44 survived the cut, which is set at the low 44 scores and ties, plus any players within 10 shots of the lead.

Other notable players who won’t be around for the weekend are Darren Clarke, who shot a 70, and last year’s runner-up, Len Mattiace.

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In memory of Bruce Edwards, Tom Watson’s longtime caddie who died Thursday morning, caddies wore black ribbons.

Watson shot his second 76 to miss the cut, but he said his problem was that he didn’t have the right touch on the greens, not that he had nothing left after the death of Edwards.

“I wouldn’t say I was emotionally drained,” he said. “My friend’s right here on my shoulder today. I guess I didn’t listen very well.”

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Nathan Smith, 25, the U.S. Mid-Amateur Champion, missed the cut, but he had the privilege of playing both days with Palmer.

“It was pretty overwhelming. He’s just the greatest,” Smith said. “All day, coming up to the tees and the greens, it was unbelievable. I was trying to stay back and let him enjoy. He’s the king.”