Masters legend Nicklaus refuses to talk ‘politics’ at Augusta after supporting Trump in build-up to presidential election
Six-time winner Jack Nicklaus declined the opportunity to talk about “politics” in a press conference yesterday after performing his dut y as honorar y starter at the Masters.
N i c k l a u s h a d d e l i ve r e d a ringing endorsement of Donald Trump in the build-up to l a s t we e k ’s U S P r e s i d e n t i a l e l e c t i o n i n a p o s t o n s o c i a l media.
I n i t ,
1 8 - t i m e m a j o r champion said he had seen “a resolve and a determination to do the right thing for our countr y”.
R e f e r r i n g t o T r u m p , h e added: “He has delivered on his promises. He’s worked for the average person.
“In my opinion, he has been more diverse than any President I have seen and has tried to help people from all walks of live – equally.”
D e s p i t e h a v i n g t h e s u p - p o r t o f N i c k l a u s , T r u m p l o s t t o J o e B i d e n b u t h a s s h o w n n o s i g n s o f c o n c e d - ing defeat to his Democratic opponent.
In a tradit ion al press con - ference yesterday involving Nicklaus and fellow honora r y s t a r te r Gar y P l aye r, t h e g a me’s g r e a t e s t p l aye r wa s asked what advice he might have for Trump.
“I ’ v e s a i d e n o u g h a b o u t that,” replied Nicklaus, who was widely criticised for his p u b l i c s h ow o f s u p p o r t f o r Trump.
“This is not a place for politics.”
N i c k l a u s h a d b e e n a s k e d to t h r ow h i s we i g h t b e h i n d T r u m p b y v i c e p r e s i d e n t M i k e P e n c e , a d m i t t i n g h e k n e w t h e r e a c t i o n i t wo u l d generate.
“H e’s b e e n v e r y s u p p o r t - i v e t o e v e r y t h i n g w e ’ v e e v e r d o n e , ” s a i d N i c k - l a u s o f h i s c o n t r o v e r s i a l p o s t i n t h e b u i l d - u p t o t h e election.
“He’s asked for nothing. If I can just on my own do that, I would be happy to do it.
"A n d I k n o w i t wa s g o i n g t o c a u s e me s o me g r i e f. S o , that’s what I did.”
N i c k l a u s a n d P l a y e r w i l l be joined as honorar y star ters at next year’s Masters in April by Lee Elder, who was t h e f i r s t A f r i c a n A me r i c a n t o p l a y i n t h e M a s t e r s i n 1975.
A “s p e c i a l ” i n v i t a t i o n t o E l d e r w a s a n n o u n c e d b y Augusta National earlier in the week.