Nicklaus: ‘I take my hat off to him’
Jack Nicklaus always thought the U.S. Open was the hardest and most complete test in golf. That’s what made Tiger Woods’ victory even more impressive to the man whose major record Woods is trying to beat.
“To have a will as strong as that, I take my hat off to him,” Nicklaus said Thursday.
Nicklaus was in Utah on Monday while Woods was going 19 holes for a playoff victory over Rocco Mediate at Torrey Pines and later learned the source of Woods’ pain.
Woods said Wednesday that he had a torn ligament the last 10 months and a double stress fracture in his left leg that he suffered two weeks before the U.S. Open. He twice rallied from a one-shot deficit on the 18th hole, first to get into a playoff on Sunday and then to extend the playoff one extra hole.
He said he will have surgery to repair a torn ACL and will miss the rest of the season.
espn.com
6/19/08
Magnolia Tribune
