Rory McIlroy called Jack Nicklaus last week and requested a meeting. It’s not unusual. They see each other often. They meet several times a year for lunch. They talk about golf, life, tournaments. Rory initiated this meeting as part of his preparation for the Masters Tournament. After all, if you want to win this tournament, what better than to have a chat with the player who has won it the most times in history. Six Green Jackets adorn the Golden Bear. Won in three different decades. Surely, he has something interesting to say about it…
McIlroy shared his game plan for this week with Nicklaus. This was revealed by Jack himself after hitting the honorary opening shot of the 89th edition of the Masters this Thursday alongside Gary Player and Tom Watson. “We went hole by hole. I didn’t open my mouth until the end, and I said: ‘I wouldn’t change a thing. That’s exactly what I would do.’ Blessing received. In Nicklaus’s opinion, “discipline is what Rory has lacked. He has all the shots, all the talent. But sometimes he makes a big mistake that costs him the tournament. I like Rory. I’m a fan. And I also think Scottie Scheffler is in form. He’s the defending champion. Between him and Rory is the champion.”
If Nicklaus says it, it must be taken into account, especially if Player and Watson, five Jackets between them, give the same verdict. “I think Rory McIlroy is going to win the Masters this year, and I hope he does. It would be fantastic to have another Grand Slam winner. He has the best swing in golf, without a doubt. He’s the fittest. He does 400-pound deadlifts. If you do 100, it’s already exceptional. He consulted Jack on how to play this course. No one knows it better. I think his moment has come. There’s no course that suits a player better than Augusta suits Rory,” he explains. Meanwhile, Watson points out: “I have a hunch that Rory is the one who’s going to win this week. I just feel it.”
The chosen ones choose Rory.
When Nicklaus, Watson, and Player speak, you may or may not agree, but it’s certainly worth listening to them. They have the experience and are very clear-minded. Moreover, they don’t have to please anyone anymore. They simply say what they think. In this regard, about an agreement with LIV, they are quite pessimistic:
GARY PLAYER: “Well, first of all, I think confrontation is a terrible thing in life. And almost at 90 years old, I know that reconciliation and forgiveness are very important. They chose that path, and it’s their decision. Fortunately, we still have freedom of choice. They have their tour, and we have ours. I’m very proud to be a member of the PGA. I was president of the PGA in South Africa, I’ve played on tours all over the world. It would be wonderful if they could unite. Whether they will or not, time will tell. But it would be ideal.”
TOM WATSON: “I agree with Gary. They chose their own tour, and there they are. I don’t see a real working mechanism for them to reunite. Maybe that’s why there hasn’t been an agreement since June two years ago. What I do know is that Scottie Scheffler, at the champions’ dinner on Tuesday night, said: ‘I’m glad we’re all together again.’ So the players want to be united. But it’s up to the authorities if they find a framework for cooperation. I don’t see it. Maybe there are smarter people than me working on it. But the PGA TOUR requires permission to play in conflicting tournaments, and that protects the sponsors. That way, the courses don’t lose their best players. I myself, for years, received one or two permissions per year to play in tournaments that coincided with the PGA TOUR. That’s why I don’t see how they could reunite. But, as Scottie said, it would be great to have all the greats competing together. And that’s happening in the majors. Here, for example, there are LIV players who won the Masters and are exempt for life. In The Open, it’s the same, until 60 years old. The U.S. Open and the PGA are different tournaments, where players outside the world’s top 50 need special exemptions. That’s my opinion.”
JACK NICKLAUS: “I think LIV forced the PGA TOUR to make some premature changes. But the PGA TOUR is fine. They’ve changed their structure. Now the players are partners. With their elevated tournaments and their way of incorporating young players, they’ve been very successful. We’re creating new stars. Would I love to see them all together? Of course. We all want that. But the PGA TOUR is the main tour, and that’s where most of the good players are. Golf is healthy, whatever happens. But yes, we’d like to see them together.”
On the relationship with the media, they have an interesting point of view.
JACK NICKLAUS: “I’ve always had a good relationship with the press. As long as there’s respect, I think we have an obligation to respond. Do I understand if someone gets upset and doesn’t want to talk? Yes. But I don’t think I or these two have ever done that. I’m here because you’re here. I got up early to hit a ball and come talk to you. Am I interested in talking about my shot? No. But you are, and that’s enough.”
GARY PLAYER: “My father, who was a miner, told me: ‘Without the press, there are no tournaments.’ It should be a PGA rule: if they call you, you have to go talk, even if you shot 90. They don’t always treat us fairly, but it’s part of the game.”
TOM WATSON: “Seve Ballesteros gave the best answer: ‘Miss, miss, miss, miss, make.’ I also made five putts once. The relationship with the press is a two-way street. I remember a tournament in New Orleans. I had a bad round, asked to practice first, and then went to the press room. Maybe it wasn’t the best, but I complied. It’s our responsibility.”
Finally, regarding the psychological aspect of the game, they have their particular point of view that can help many young professionals:
JACK NICKLAUS: “You try not to have big disappointments. But they’re part of life. The important thing is not to let them dominate your thoughts. You have to stay positive.”
TOM WATSON: “After big disappointments, like the U.S. Open in ’74, where I shot 79 on the last day, I won my first tournament two weeks later. Sometimes, failure pushes you to success.”
GARY PLAYER: “Adversity is the greatest gift. It’s not easy to accept it. Some get depressed, others fight. We all face it. Professional golf is not as easy as it seems. Living in hotels, away from family… But what a wonderful life. It’s the only sport where you play and stay. In others, you play and leave. The senior tour is fantastic. You have to accept mistakes. No one cares about your bad shots. Tiger would hit four bad shots per round… and still shoot 65.”
