The 3M Greats of Golf, a team-scramble demonstration that highlighted Saturday’s second round of the Insperity Invitational at The Woodlands in Houston, brought together Jack Nicklaus, Gary Player, and Lee Trevino for the first time in three years.
They were asked to discuss how much golf they are playing these days during a pre-round news conference, and the differences in their comments were telling.
Nicklaus, who missed the Masters’ Par-3 Contest in April but hit one of the tournament’s three opening tee shots on Thursday, claimed he hasn’t played a round of golf this year.
“I’m really pitiful,” Nicklaus, 82, who has won a record 18 major championships, remarked. “I’m too old to shoot.” “Not by a long shot.”
Nicklaus, on the other hand, was overjoyed to get the invitation from Bryan Naugle, the tournament’s executive director.
“‘Do you really want me to come back?’ I said. ‘I’m not going to play golf.’ ‘I want you to be here,’ Naugs remarked. Nicklaus stated, “That was a good compliment to me.” “It’s great to see these guys again.”
Trevino, who won six major championships during his Hall of Fame career, seldom goes a day without hitting a ball. He stated, though, that he had only played nine holes this year before to Friday’s pro-am.
He explained, “I don’t play, I whack balls.” “Honestly, this is what I do: I hit five strokes with each club and then I go home.”
Player, 86, who won nine majors during his career, including the career Grand Slam, said he enjoys playing every day. Nicklaus mentioned that Player had lately shot 19 and 20 strokes better than his age in back-to-back rounds. That would be rounds of 66 and 67, which isn’t bad at all, regardless of the tees.
Nicklaus boasted, “At age 86, he’s playing better than he did at age 66.” “I’m not sure why he isn’t out there playing.” Unless he choked, he’d be dusting this field this week!”
That’s something Nicklaus is completely unaware of. Nicklaus’ game may be “terrible,” but he hammered a birdie putt on the 18th green in the nine-hole scramble on Saturday to secure victory for his team, which included Player, Trevino, and LPGA Hall of Famer Annika Sorenstam. They appear to still have it.
