When this year's Masters champion dons his green jacket on Sunday, picture Jack Nicklaus on some tropical Bahamas island, casting his reel, hoping the fish are biting.
Surreal as it sounds, the Golden Bear won't be providing any Jack roars this year. Unless, of course, he hauls in a blue marlin and starts whooping it up himself.
Nicklaus' 40-year affair with Augusta National and the Masters Tournament ends this year. Left hip replacement surgery in January took care of that.
His biggest regret: ``Not playing,'' he shrugged.
Oh, he'll make an appearance this week, albeit a token one.
The six-time champion, honored a year ago with his own day and a permanent plaque near the 17th tee, said he will arrive late Tuesday afternoon, take a tour of the course's changes with new chairman Hootie Johnson, be among Mark O'Meara's guests at the Champions Dinner and depart the next morning for a fishing vacation in the Bahamas.
Quick and painless. This year's Masters will be the first since 1958 without Nicklaus competing.
``I'm not really sure what a Masters without Jack will be like because I've never seen one,'' Olin Browne said. ``I think we're all going to wonder about him because the greatest player to ever walk now has a limp.''
A year ago, at age 58, Nicklaus limped around while providing another classic Sunday showstopper. His front-nine birdie charge conjured up memories, and sent a scare atop the leaderboard as he finished sixth, ahead of all four reigning majors winners.
If it was the Bear's final Augusta growl, he left an indelible impression.
His imprint now is of a 59-year-old man struggling to use a cane while walking. In early March, Nicklaus' frustrations at not playing golf paled in his despair at not being able to accomplish menial tasks like reaching to his left foot to tie his shoe, being able to answer telephones or doorbells, or needing his 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.''
But the Bear seems to be feeling better these days. In opening a new Florida course on March 26, he hit an assortment of wedges -- his first public golf display in five months -- to the delight of his audience.
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 and could be ready to play by then.
``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 the fall, just enough to keep my hand in so I won't be too bad coming up next year.''
Chip shots: Jack Nicklaus
Last Masters tournament without Jack Nicklaus witnessed Arnold Palmer's first title in 1958.
Nicklaus will make a courtesy call, then go fishing 