South Florida Sun-Sentinel Palm Beach (Sunday)
Nicklaus turns back the clock
Teamed with grandson, Golden Bear 2 off lead
It’s been awhile for golf ’s most prolific champion, but winning never gets old for Jack Nicklaus — even if The Golden Bear has grown a bit long in the tooth and short off the tee.
Playing in a favorable format and teaming with his strapping 16-year-old grandson, Gary “GT” Nicklaus Jr., the 78-year-old Hallof-Famer turned back the clock Saturday at the PNC Father/Son Challenge to end the day in contention.
An 18-time major champion on the PGA Tour and winner of eight Senior Tour majors, Nicklaus was excited to have a chance heading into Sunday’s final round of the 36-hole scramble. He last captured the Father-Son Challenge in 1999 with his son Gary, GT’s father.
“It’s only been 19 years,” Nicklaus said. “We haven’t been in the mix for years.”
Team Nicklaus ended the day two shots behind leaders John and Little John Daly, whose 13-under-par 59 tied the event’s record score at Orlando’s RitzCarlton Golf Club Grande Lakes.
Jack and GT will need a special Sunday to walk away with the Willie Park Trophy, in memory of father and son British Open champions Willie Park Sr. and Willie Park Jr.
At least there is a chance.
The last time Nicklaus ended Day 1 of the Father-Son within five shots of the lead was 2013 when he and Gary were two strokes back and finished tied for fifth place.
Asked if his competitive juices would be flowing Sunday, Nicklaus quipped, “Take a guess.”
Playing in the event for the first time last December, Nicklaus and GT were nine shots back after 18 holes. Since then, GT’s golf game has improved considerably, along with the format of the Father/Son.
Tournament organizers decided this year to allow older com- petitors to play from tee boxes well ahead of their younger partners.
“We talked about this three or four years ago — we can’t compete,” Nicklaus said. “Moving the tees up so we became part of the game was a good decision. We used 2 or 3 of my tee shots today; he hit a couple offline. It allowed me to be in a position to be part of the game.
“I can’t compete at my age with guys 20 or 30 years younger than I am. I need a little bit of help.”
Nicklaus offered plenty of help on the putting surfaces, where few, if any, ever have been better.
“We kept making putts when we needed to make putts,” Nicklaus said.
While his grandfather might not always have had his best stuff, GT said he was clutch.
“He did the right thing when he needed to,” the younger Nicklaus said. “I had to do that, too.”
Nicklaus said his grandson was “being very diplomatic,” and essentially carried the team on Saturday.
Among the 22 grandchildren in the Nicklaus clan, GT is the most promising golfer and carries aspirations to play at the college and professional level.
Of all the impressive shots and putts he and his grandfather hit Sunday, GT could not name one or two that stood out.
“The whole round was memorable,” he said.
A Sunday victory by Team Nicklaus surely would be memorable — and popular.
Team Daly is another fan favorite, as well as the team to beat.
The long-hitting Daly and his talented 15-year-old son ended Saturday with six straight birdies and 11 during the final 13 holes.
“We mojo-ed real well,” Daly said. “If I hit a bad shot, I’m not worried about him hitting a bad one. That’s why we can do so well here.”
David Toms and his son, Carter, found some mojo during their first appearance in the Father-Son en route to a 12-under 60. Like Team Nicklaus, Stewart Cink and son Connor, the 2013 winners, carded a 61.
But regardless of who walks away with the Park Trophy and $200,000 first prize, the Father- Son Challenge is a winner with the 20 teams involved.
The 52-year-old Daly, for example, competes on the Champions Tour while Little John trains at Bishops Gate Golf Academy in Howey-in-the-Hills.
Like many of the teams this week, it is a rare chance for fathers and their sons or grandsons to play together.
“Like a lot of these guys say, it’s their favorite tournament of the year,” Daly said. “It’s one of mine. Getting to play with him.
“I don’t get to see him as much as I would like because I’m on the road.”
egthompson @orlandosentinel.com