Augusta, Ga.
Jack Nicklaus arrived at Augusta National on Tuesday afternoon and went to the interview room, wearing his green jacket, to speak before attending the champion's dinner.
Nicklaus doesn't exactly mind. When the moderator tried to cut the conversation short, Nicklaus said, ``I don't get to talk to these guys all that often, I'm not going to cut this short."
A few highlights, 30 years after he won the 1986 Masters:
-``Time passes so fast anymore. Seems like it was just yesterday we walked off the 18th green and Jackie and I gave each other a hug, which to me is probably my most memorable moment in golf ,having your son on the bag and being able to share that with him."
-On the notion that Augusta National might lengthen the 13th hole: ``The simplest solution is to change the golf ball. The golf ball goes so far, Augusta National is about the only place, the only golf course in the world that financially can afford to make the changes that they have to make and keep up with the golf ball. I don't think anybody else could ever do it."
-On the changes in the size of tour players: ``I used to be called Big Jack. I'm really huge now, about 5-8. Now the guys are all 6-3, 6-4, 6-5, long arms, and can hit it nine miles and they just take it over the top of the trees."
-On being an honorary starter with Gary Player: ``Gary looks forward every year to winning his Masters and trying to out-drive me. I think he was successful last year. I think I hit one in the neck and he hit one out there by me. At least that was what I was told. By Gary."
-Told Jason Day said he almost quit golf in 2011: ``Do you really believe that? That somebody as talented as he is would ever think of quitting the game would have to have his head examined."
-On not wanting to live in the past: ``I said years ago when I stopped playing golf that most people work all the time to play golf, or work all their life and retire to play golf. I said I played golf all my life to retire to work."
