Golf: The Golden Bear's tough goodbye

By Ryan Ballengee Sports Central Columnist

Jack Nicklaus withdrew last week from the Senior PGA Championship in Kentucky for personal reasons. He cited that he had already missed several events for his PGA Tour event, The Memorial, and that he could not miss any more for the week to be successful.

While the reasoning for the withdrawal was as sound as any, it was a clear signal of a change in the golf world.

For years, Nicklaus has been trying to hint to his millions of adoring fans and well-wishers that it may be near time for him to stop playing competitive golf. Following a 75-75 opening two rounds at The Masters this year, the Golden Bear floated the notion that he would no longer appear in the tournament most dear to his heart. Despite striking the ball well and receiving the usual fanfare for his appearance, Jack felt that his atrocious short game was an indication of a larger problem.

Nicklaus already plays a limited schedule. He plays various events with sentimental value or that he has direct ties with and leaves the remaining golf calendar to stay out of the spotlight he was under for so long. He and his sons play in several pro-am events on the Nationwide Tour each year. Jack almost always makes appearances at the Champions Tour majors. And, unless Jack's threat becomes a reality, he will be at the Masters again this year.

But, it may be time for the golfing public, including myself, to accept that Jack will not be with us too much longer. Jack has already had to receive special invitations to several of the majors because he no longer qualifies under requirements that have been modified over the years to prevent one-time champions from eras long past to continue to take spots in tournaments. The Golden Bear, by no stretch, would fit into that category, but the last time Nicklaus won one of his 18 majors was 1986. I was three then.

The opportunities for golf fans to see Nicklaus play tournament-caliber golf are dwindling from all sides. At some point, either Jack will decide to end his career voluntarily or the golf regulatory bodies will end his career for him by withdrawing opportunities for Jack to play in the high-profile tournament that he still wants to enter. I feel, and I'm also fairly sure that Jack would agree, it would be better for the game of golf if he ends the story of his career on his own terms.

Nicklaus is the greatest player of all-time, and his image can hardly be tarnished by less than common play this deep into his 40-year career. But while Jack understands the growing limitations on his time and the natural regression of his skills due to injury and age, he still feels that future generations of golf fans should remember him as the man who won 18 majors.

Almost as importantly, Jack would like people to remember that he had 19 second-place major finishes. I don't think he would mind future golfers remembering that he didn't finish out of the top-five on the money list for a period of almost two decades.

The point of the above is this: no matter how much I, or anyone else, loves Nicklaus for his personality, impeccable timing, and amazing talents, I have no say in when Jack stops playing. The golfing world needs to give Jack the opportunity to say goodbye to the limelight in a way that Arnold Palmer has seemingly been unable to do.

Sooner than later, it will be time for the Jack Nicklaus Farewell Tour. And quite frankly, that decision would put a final period on a career that was masterfully arranged by a composer who made his own brand of music.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.