He told Rory McIlroy that it will be “tougher” for him to complete the career Grand Slam as he ages.
The Golden Bear also used Tom Watson and Arnold Palmer as models of great players who were not in the club.
There are only five men who have won all four Majors. Gene Sarazen (1935), Ben Hogan (1953), and Tiger Woods were the first to do it after winning their third.
At the 2000 Open, Woods did it when he was only 24 years old. Nicklaus in 1966 and Gary Player in 1965 both won on their third try.
A month before his 35th birthday, McIlroy, who is ranked second in the world, is trying for the 10th time to win the Masters. It is the only Major he has never won.
Woods said on Tuesday that the Ulsterman will win a Green Jacket soon.
The same question was put to Nicklaus at a press meeting for the honorary starters.
The 84-year-old Golden Bear said, “I think the answer is yes.” He then added, “I closed the deal when I was 26.”Tiger closed it when he was very likely younger than both Gary, who was 29, and I. It gets harder as he gets older because all of a sudden it’s a talk.
Watson has won eight Majors, but he has never won the US PGA. In 1978, he was five shots ahead at Oakmont but lost in a play-off to John Mahaffey.
Watson asked, “Is there something I feel bad about?” Not really, no. I would have won the game if it was meant to be mine.
Read More: Rory McIlroy criticizes LIV Golf and the Official PGA Tour.
Seven
Palmer was very good and won seven Majors. He also came in second place three times in the US PGA.
Eighteen times Big winner Nicklaus also asked, “Is Tom Watson good enough to win the Grand Slam?” Yes, of course.Could Arnold Palmer have won the Grand Slam? Yes, of course.
Could Rory McIlroy win the Grand Slam? No doubt, but they all know they need to do it. Also, do I think Rory will win this? Yeah. This year, he might win.
“He might get it next year.” He’s too good at it not to. On the other hand, they were too good not to win those too. “You never know.”
Before his 16th tournament, McIlroy said he was going to play “boring” golf at Augusta to become better at it.
Read More: Masters called a “joke and an mbarrassment” after Rory McIlroy and Scottie Scheffler’s snub causes a stir.
After the fact, Nicklaus told Golf Channel, “I only have one complaint about Rory.” He has to pay full attention all the time. He slips up and makes double or triple bogeys sometimes.
It takes place, and I have no idea why. I love him though. Every week, I cheer for him. It would be great to see him do it.
Woods has said that he can tie Nicklaus’s record of six Masters wins this weekend, even though he hasn’t played 72 holes in 15 months.
The Golden Bear said, “Tiger has a good chance of winning.”
“Tiger had a chance to win more than Arnold and I had put together 20 years ago, and that would have been ten.” In fact, he probably would have if he wasn’t hurt.I don’t think he has a good chance to win. He’ll probably be able to do that because I think he’ll hit the ball well enough.
He has to be physically able to do what needs to be done with it, and he has to be able to score higher than everyone else.
Regardless, I think he’s a great player and wish him the best of luck.
