MIAMI -- Jack Nicklaus' Augusta stay will be a brief one, the Golden Bear confirmed Thursday at the Doral-Ryder Open.
The six-time champion, honored a year ago during his 40th consecutive year of participation, said he will arrive late Tuesday afternoon of Masters Week, attend the Champions' Dinner that night, depart the next morning and spend the rest of tournament week fishing.
Five weeks removed from left hip replacement surgery, the Bear's days of competing at the Masters appeared to have dwindled. A year ago, he finished sixth, besting all four reigning majors winners with a stirring final round.
This year's Masters will be the first since 1958 without Nicklaus competing.
``I will probably go out and take a ride around the golf course, if I find someone to drive me around out there,'' Nicklaus said prior to following his son Gary tee off for his first round at Doral.
``I am not going to sit around and watch a golf tournament. I have never done it yet, so why would I do it now? I can watch it on satellite if I wanted to.''
It was an eerie sight Thursday, watching the 59-year-old Nicklaus, walk gingerly through the Doral Resort & Spa while using a walking cane instead of crutches five weeks after undergoing left hip replacement surgery.
Olin Browne crossed Nicklaus' path after completing his round and said, ``The greatest golfer ever to walk now has a limp.''
Nicklaus' frustrations at not playing golf pale in his despair at not being able to accomplish minimal tasks, like reaching to his left foot to tie his shoe, answering telephones or doorbells or needing wife Barbara to dry off his legs after a shower.
``I was brushing my teeth and I happened to drop the toothpaste,'' Nicklaus said. ``I had to say, `Barb, can you come pick up my toothpaste?' That is the frustrating part. You just can't do anything.''
Especially not swing a golf club. His recuperation regimen consists of three exercise programs a day, walking four to six times a day for 10 to 20 minutes, and stretching while on his back thrice a day.
While in Boston on Wednesday for some post-surgery checkups, Nicklaus' doctors gave him the go-ahead to start swinging a club when he feels that he's able to stabilize himself on both legs.
Nicklaus targeted his sponsored Memorial tournament the first weekend in June as his possible return date, though his doctors believe that is a bit optimistic. Nicklaus has an exemption to the U.S. Open in Pinehurst, N.C.
``I would just go when I felt like I could play,'' he said. ``I can probably play a senior tournament before I would play a regular tournament only because I can take a cart and sort of pace myself into that. Then I would play a reasonable amount probably up until August, and then I might play a few odd tournaments in fall just enough to keep my hand in so I won't be too bad coming up next year.''
Jack to attend Masters Dinner
