One of the coolest things yours truly has seen in a long time in the wide wide world of sports was provided by Jack Nicklaus yesterday. In the Par 3 contest preceding the Masters, the Golden Bear had a hole-in one.
Sure, the 4th hole was only 135 yards, and three other players would ace it on the same day. But 135 isn't exactly a putt-putt hole either. It's a legitimate par 3. Regardless, seeing Jack pull it off was a special moment indeed.
Though the records are unclear, Nicklaus is generally credited with roughly 20 holes-in-one in various competitions, and who knows how many more aces he may have racked up over the thousands of rounds of leisurely play and practice over the years?
But this was his first of any sort at Augusta National. And at the, shall we say, rather mature age of 75. Given Nicklaus first turned pro way back in 1962, when a guy named JFK occupied the White House, one could fairly say it was a long time coming.
Naturally, fans around the green were begging for the ball. That would be quite the souvenir. But who could blame Jack if he wanted to keep it? His only hole-in-one ball ever at Augusta will likely find a spot in his massive career trophy case, and well it should.
Afterwards, Nicklaus could be seen fraternizing with the fans and autographing everything they put in front of him.
Bravo, Jack. You still got game -- and class -- after all these years.
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