continued from page those putts, ….

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those putts, he would have run away with the Open championship.

Following the final round of the Masters, fifty years ago, Weiskopf was disconsolate. I remember him sitting in front of his locker in the old lower clubhouse on the verge of tears. He never sobbed but he came close.

“It hurts,” he said. “You just don’t know how many times in your career that you will be in a position to win the Masters.”

Those years there was always a lot of talk about the possibility of a player winning a Grand Slam— four major titles in the same year. For that to happen, a player must obviously win the first one.

I remember Nicklaus saying, “It is possible, but not probable.” The man always had great insights and measured commentary when he met the press.

Nicklaus came from behind often to win a lot of golf tournaments, including majors. In 1975, there were two outstanding golfers who could have done unto him as he so often had done unto others.

The threat was real, and like always Nicklaus managed the results and aftermath with class which has always been a constant throughout his career.