Jack Nicklaus still lights up Masters with his wit as age catches up on the golf course

Jack Nicklaus, a record six-time winner at Augusta National and the game’s most successful player with 18 major victories, was taking part in this one along with Gary Player and Tom Watson at the age of 86.

Without wanting to offend anyone, the Golden Bear looks his age and, by the sounds of things, he feels it. “Oh man, watch out,” he said before teeing off, with one of his sons, Jack jnr, pegging up his ball for him.

As Nicklaus was quick to admit himself shortly afterwards in the Press Building, this year’s effort wasn’t one to remember. “I got it high enough to hit it about 110 yards over their heads on the left,” he observed.

Nicklaus said he’d asked his son to tee it up “so I don’t fall over” and warned the patrons on both sides to spread out “because I don’t want to kill anybody”.

Despite it becoming more physically challenging more than anything else with each passing year, he is determined to keep being there as long as he possibly can.

“I had carpal tunnel surgery about five, six weeks ago, and I was worried about being able to hold onto the golf club and hurt somebody. That was my issue today,” he admitted.

“I don't really play golf anymore. But it's such a nice ceremony, and it's a real honour to be invited. I hope to be able to do it as long as I can not kill anybody.”

His wit is still there, as evidenced on more than one occasion as he answered questions along with Player and Watson for more than 30 minutes in a traditional Thursday press conference at the season’s opening major.

“Well, the key obviously is to win two years in a row. That's the first thing,” he replied to being asked, as one of just three players to achieve the feat back-to-back, what the key is to Rory McIlroy making it back-to-back Green Jacket wins this week.

Nicklaus was reminded that in 1998, a year after Tiger Woods had landed a first major victory in this event in record-breaking fashion, that, at the age of 58, he’d finished above the game’s new star on the leaderboard. “Nice going, Jack,” he said, smiling, about that.

When Nicklaus talked about finishing second 19 times in majors, Watson quipped: “That’s a good thing.” Replying to that, Nicklaus: “It actually was a good thing, but I didn't like it (laughing).”

This year marks the 40th anniversary of Nicklaus winning his sixth Masters at the age of 46, making him its oldest champion. “Absolutely number one,” he insisted of where that stood in the pantheon of his Green Jacket wins.

Woods, of course, is an absentee this week, having announced he was “stepping away” from golf for a spell to seek treatment - he’s believed to be at a clinic in Switzerland - following his latest car crash that led to him being charged with driving under the influence.

Asked if he had a message for the 15-time major winner, Nicklaus said: “Just whatever you need to help you and get back, because I think golf needs him, and we'd love to have him back.”