jack nicklaus us open tiger woods odds major betting golf event Nicklaus has never been much at looking back and reflecting on his time in the game. And he's not about to start peeking over his shoulder and wondering whether Tiger Woods can someday threaten his record of 18 major championships. (AFP Photo) PEBBLE BEACH, Calif. (AP) — Jack Nicklaus doesn't hear the footsteps, even as he prepares for what is likely his last U.S. Open on a course that has loved him almost as much as he loves it.
Nicklaus has never been much at looking back and reflecting on his time in the game. And he's not about to start peeking over his shoulder and wondering whether Tiger Woods can someday threaten his record of 18 major championships.
jack nicklaus us open tiger woods odds major betting golf event ``Do I keep track of his vs. mine?'' Nicklaus asked. ``No.''
Arguably the greatest golfer in modern history, Nicklaus helped cement his stature with a win at Pebble Beach in the 1961 U.S. Amateur and another in the 1972 U.S. Open.
If Woods is to eventually pass Nicklaus, he might find Pebble Beach just as inviting to his chances of winning his first Open and his third major championship.
jack nicklaus us open tiger woods odds major betting golf event Not that Nicklaus, playing in his 44th Open, will be standing by, keeping count.
``Poor Tiger. I mean, the first time he wins a tournament, `OK, Tiger, only 19 more to go,''' Nicklaus said. ``Poor kid has that sitting in front of him every day.''
Woods, of course, is favored to win his first Open, and it would be fitting if it came at Pebble Beach. He's on a run reminiscent of Nicklaus at his best, winning won 11 of his last 20 tour events, including Nicklaus' Memorial two weeks ago.
The seaside links is not only the course where Nicklaus says he would play if he only had one round of golf left, but is also a favorite of Woods. Tiger first played here as a 13-year-old who couldn't believe how long the course seemed.
jack nicklaus us open tiger woods odds major betting golf event An Open win would give Woods three major titles in his first four years as a pro, just one shy of the four Nicklaus held after four years on the PGA Tour.
Nicklaus might not be aware of it, but Woods certainly is. Woods used to keep a list on his bedroom wall of Nicklaus' accomplishments, and he knows where he stands.
``It's pretty close,'' Woods said. ``I know he has probably two more majors, or maybe three, whatever it is. It's been pretty good and that's pretty remarkable.''
Just as remarkable as the career of Nicklaus has been the play of Woods, whose dominance over the past year included winning his second major title at last year's PGA Championship.
jack nicklaus us open tiger woods odds major betting golf event Longevity, though, will be the key to Woods' chances of catching Nicklaus, whose major titles stretch 24 years from the 1962 Open to the 1986 Masters. Nicklaus has played in 156 majors, and was runner-up 19 times and in the top 10 a total of 71 times.
``Jack has obviously set the bar up pretty high for everyone to try to chase after,'' Woods said. ``And to win as many majors as he has and the record he has in the major championships is very remarkable.''
At the age of 60, Nicklaus isn't expected to be a factor in what will be his last Open unless the USGA grants him another exemption. At the age of 24, though, Woods is only getting better.
``I am playing pretty good right now,'' Woods said Tuesday before a practice round on the picturesque course that straddles rugged cliffs against the Pacific Ocean. ``I've played some pretty good rounds and I've shot some pretty good numbers. And it just kind of makes you believe that you're heading in the right direction.''
That piece of news may not be greeted with enthusiasm by the other 155 players in a field that includes nine former champions and the biggest group of amateurs (seven) since the 1985 Open.
Nicklaus won the first Open at Pebble Beach in 1972, while 1982 winner Tom Watson and 1992 winner Tom Kite are also on hand.
They will face a course that has changed since the last Open, with a newly redesigned par-3 5th hole and a par of 71 after the second hole was trimmed from a par-5 to a par-4.
jack nicklaus us open tiger woods odds major betting golf event What hasn't changed is the deep rough the USGA loves to grow on Open courses, and tiny greens that will be tough to hit if the wind doesn't blow and almost impossible to get on if it does.
``I will try to probably leave it 20 or 30 yards short on some greens so I have uphill chips and feel like I can get those up-and-down,'' said Phil Mickelson, who finished second last year when Payne Stewart sank a 15-foot putt to win at Pinehurst. ``There's probably going to be about six or seven greens where I won't even try to hit them, if you can imagine that.''
Stewart's death in a bizarre plane accident last October hangs over this tournament, with players gathering Wednesday on the 18th hole to whack balls into the ocean in a tribute to the late champion.
Then they will try to put aside those thoughts and concentrate on the challenge at hand.
jack nicklaus us open tiger woods odds major betting golf event ``It's just difficult sometimes to think about last year and what took place and recall all the events,'' Mickelson said.
