Just My Type

The Interview

Jack Nicklaus

THE GOLDEN BEAR

The winner of 18 majors—four more than Tiger Woods—played his final British Open in 2005 at St. Andrews, where he won twice

Dan Patrick: When's the last time you weren't at St. Andrews for a British Open?

Jack Nicklaus: This time [laughs].

DP: Tougher course: Augusta or St. Andrews?

JN: Oh, Augusta. I don't think St. Andrews is a particularly difficult golf course. The conditions make it difficult.

DP: Tiger is 34. At what point in your career did you feel like winning majors got a little more difficult?

JN: Probably once I got over 40. When I was 39, I had the worst year I ever had on Tour, and I didn't think I was ever going to win anything again. And then I changed my golf swing, and I won two majors at age 40. I suppose that I could've played well beyond that point, and I did play well on a few occasions beyond that point, but the game was never really the same to me. After that, I felt like my career was basically over. I was playing because I just enjoyed playing, but I was never into it like I was before.