ST. ANDREWS, Scotland – Regardless of resisting the urge to return since his 2005 sendoff on the British Open, Jack Nicklaus is in St. Andrews this week to obtain honorary citizenship and participate within the celebration of the one hundred and fiftieth taking part in of The Open.
Greg Norman, a two-time winner of the match, isn’t right here on the behest of the R&A, which disclosed it didn’t invite the Corridor of Famer because of the distraction it feared his presence may trigger within the wake of his involvement with LIV Golf and the current participant defections.
As a result of that affiliation, there was some dangerous blood between Nicklaus and Norman of late, a topic the Golden Bear did his greatest to keep away from on Monday on the Outdated Course, the place he met with the media upfront of Tuesday’s ceremonies.
Requested concerning the resolution by the R&A to not invite Norman, Nicklaus stated he was not conscious of the explanations.
“Let me simply sum this up with a few phrases,’’ Nicklaus stated. “To begin with, Greg Norman is an icon within the recreation of golf. He is a fantastic participant. We have been associates for a very long time, and no matter what occurs, he will stay a good friend. Sadly, he and I simply do not see eye-to-eye in what is going on on. I will mainly depart it at that.’’
Norman, 67, final month criticized Nicklaus in a Washington Submit story, saying Nicklaus was a “hypocrite’’ for feedback he made that whereas he took a name from the Saudi backers of LIV Golf, he was not on account of his long-time affiliation with the PGA Tour.
“100% fact? Jack’s a hypocrite,’’ Norman stated. “When he got here out with these feedback, I’m pondering: Jack should have a brief reminiscence.’’
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Norman stated that Nicklaus – who stated he was supplied a profitable ambassador position with LIV earlier than Norman was introduced on board – wrote in an e-mail that the brand new league had his blessing.
“Quote-unquote, he stated: “That is good for our recreation. If it’s good for the sport of golf, it’s good by me,’’’ Norman stated. “So that you need the information? You’ve obtained the information. Know what you stated earlier than you open your mouth.’’
Nicklaus wasn’t in St. Andrews to get in the course of the sport’s largest controversy.
An excellent variety of relations, together with his spouse Barbara, made the journey as he shall be offered with honorary citizenship, an honor given beforehand to simply two Individuals: Benjamin Franklin and Bobby Jones.
“I declined to come back again the final couple of instances to St. Andrews; I performed at St. Andrews as a result of I made my farewell in 2005, and I did not need to come again and dilute that for what it was. It was implausible then,’’ he stated of the 2005 match, when at age 65, Nicklaus performed his last main championship.
“However once I obtained the invitation this time to be an honorary citizen of St Andrews and to comply with Bobby Jones and Benjamin Franklin, I’ve obtained to come back again. So to be again is implausible. We introduced the climate with us, in case you did not discover that. However that is about the identical climate we had in 2005 once we performed. It was lovely.
“Anyway, it is nice to be again. We’re again really on the similar lodge room I used to be in, Barbara and I stayed in each time we have been at St. Andrews. And we’re trying ahead to a fantastic couple days.’’
Nicklaus, who received The Open thrice amongst his 18 majors titles, received twice at St. Andrews, in 1970 and 1978.
