'i Haven’t Killed Anybody Yet': Jack Nicklaus 'came Close' With Ceremonial Shot At Masters

Jack Nicklaus had a informing for each nan fans who lined nan fairway to watch his ceremonial tee changeable Thursday astatine the Masters.

“Oh, boy, watch out,” the 86-year-old play fable said. “And I don’t mean that facetiously.”

Nicklaus’ statement prompted dense laughter from nan assemblage astatine Augusta National, but nan 18-time awesome title victor wasn’t kidding. He proceeded to hook his changeable debased and to nan left, a fewer feet complete nan heads of immoderate onlookers.

After laughing it disconnected astatine nan tee, Nicklaus explained to reporters why he predicted his changeable mightiness beryllium a small wild.

“I was a small worried,” he said. “I had carpal passageway room astir five, six weeks ago, and I was worried astir being capable to clasp onto nan play nine and [not] wounded somebody. That was my rumor today.

“I’m fortunate that I sewage it complete somebody’s head. I didn’t deed it very well, but I sewage it complete their heads and didn’t wounded anybody.”

Jack Nicklaus hits his ceremonial tee changeable connected nan first spread Thursday during nan Masters astatine Augusta National.

(Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)

Nicklaus won a grounds six Masters betwixt 1963 and 1986. To people the 40th anniversary of his last championship, Nicklaus brought his caddie backmost Thursday from nan 1986 win: his son, Jackie.

An honorary Masters starter since 2010, Nicklaus was again joined by chap play legends Gary Player — who is 90 and has been a ceremonial starter since 2012 — and Tom Watson — who is 76 and joined nan group successful 2022.

Nicklaus said he has nary plans to extremity nan contented anytime soon, moreover aft this year’s errant shot.

“As agelong arsenic I tin still deed nan play ball, I’ll do it,” Nicklaus said, adding that he’s played only doubly since nan commencement of 2025. “You know, I don’t really play play anymore. But it’s specified a bully ceremony, and it’s a existent grant to beryllium invited. I dream to beryllium capable to do it arsenic agelong arsenic I tin not termination anybody.”

He added, in an interview pinch CBS Sports’ Amanda Balionis: “I haven’t killed anybody yet. I came adjacent today.”