The 86-year-old Jack Nicklaus hooked his ceremonial tee shot at The Masters over the patrons heads on Thursday morning adding a brief scare to the feel-good proceedings.
Afterwards, Nicklaus told reporters at Augusta that he had carpal tunnel surgery recently and had not played much in the lead up to his yearly shot at The Masters.
He was asked how long he will continue taking the honor, which was shared this year with Gary Player and Tom Watson.
“I don’t know. I was a little worried. I had carpal tunnel surgery about five, six weeks ago,” Nicklaus said. “I was worried about being able to hold onto the golf club and hurt somebody. That was my issue today.
“I was fortunate I got it over somebody’s head, I didn’t hit it very well. As long as I can still hit a golf ball good… Hope to do it as long as I am able to do it and not kill anybody.
Nicklaus was victorious at The Masters six times among his record 18 major championships.
Nicklaus had his son Jackie as his caddie on Thursday, 40 years after he had the same role during his father’s shocking 1986 Masters victory.
“I’ll have Jackie tee the ball up so I don’t fall over,” Nicklaus said when asked what he was thinking on the tee. “[Fans] spread out on both sides so I don’t kill anybody. Had they been any closer, I might have. I got it high enough to get it 110 yards over their heads. I don’t know what was going through my mind other than don’t hurt anybody…. It’s a great place, a great place to be and pretty special.”
