Nicklaus reveals he and wife beat coronavirus

DUBLIN, Ohio — Jack Nicklaus and his wife, Barbara, both contracted coronavirus in March and since have tested negative for the virus and positive for antibodies.

The 80-year-old Nicklaus, founder and host of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village Golf Club, revealed the stunning news during the CBS telecast of Sunday’s final round.

Nicklaus said he and his wife self-isolated at home in south Florida from March 13 to April 20.

“Barbara was asymptomatic, and I had a sore throat and a cough,’’ Nicklaus told Jim Nantz. “It didn’t last very long, and we were very, very fortunate, very lucky. Barbara and I are both of the age that is an at-risk age.

“Our hearts go out to the people who did lose their lives and their families. We were just a couple of the lucky ones, so we feel very strong about working with those who are taking care of those who have COVID-19.”

When he was asked earlier in the week about his longstanding tradition of shaking the Memorial winner’s hand on the 18th green at the end of the tournament, he said, “I’m going to shake their hand. I’m going to walk right out there and shake [their] hand. If they don’t want to shake my hand, that’s fine, I’ll give them a fist bump or an elbow bump.

“But I’m not going to give them COVID-19. I wouldn’t put anybody in that position. And, if I was in any danger of doing that, I wouldn’t shake their hand. Incidentally, I like shaking their hand, too. I think that’s a great tradition, but it was as much fun for me as I hope it is for them.’’

On Sunday, Nicklaus clarified his comments.

“[Reporters] asked me if I was going to shake hands on the 18th green with the winner,’’ he said. “Well, if the winner wants to shake hands, that’s fine, [but] I won’t put him in the position.”

Nicklaus, who holds the alltime record with 18 major championship victories, revealed that he tested positive on March 13, the same day the PGA Tour canceled the Players Championship and paused its schedule.

“We were home from the 13th of March and we were done with it by about the 20th of April,” he said. “We stayed at home for the next month to make sure we were well.”

After he completed his final round Sunday, Tiger Woods, who lives near Nicklaus in the Palm Beach, Fla., area, said he knew Nicklaus and his wife had contracted the virus.

“The fact that they got through it and they’re safe and here and healthy, it’s all good news for all of us who are a part of golf and who looked up to Jack and been around Barbara all these years,” Woods said. “The fact that they’re healthy is nothing but positives.”