Jim McCabe

ST. ANDREWS, Scotland - An endless stretch of people, perhaps 15 or 20 deep, lined the links to the right of the 18th fairway and thunderous applause rocked this corner of the United Kingdom last night. They stood and cheered up in the bleachers behind the 18th green and also in the bleachers to the right of the first tee. There were heartfelt tears and roars of passion, but none of this was for the Claret Jugs he had won or the major championships he had conquered, both of which can be quantified with real numbers, 3 and 18, respectively.

No, the emotion, the joy, the expressions of appreciation were in payment for something that cannot be measured, only felt. They were thank-yous for all the dignity Jack Nicklaus demonstrated while he graced the sporting landscape for nearly 50 years.

The greatest golf champion of them all bid farewell to both the British Open and the major championship stage, his hand-picked retirement party played out before a crowd he genuinely admires (the Scottish golf fans) at a venue he cherishes (the Old Course at St. Andrews). To say emotions pored forth from the heart would be an understatement. The tears could have overflowed the Swilcan Burn.

Heck, playing competitor Tom Watson may have done that on his own.

“[Watson] came up to me on 18 and he had more tears in his eyes than I did,” said Nicklaus, who at 65 was in his last year of eligibility for former British Open winners. The fact that Royal & Ancient Golf Club members came up with the idea of putting the 2005 Open Championship here at the Old Course convinced Nicklaus to come back for the first time since 2000 and play in a tournament he first introduced himself to in 1962. While he won fewer of these than he did at the other majors (6 Masters, 4 U.S. Opens, 5 PGA Championships), in many ways Nicklaus dominated this annual July celebration more than any other stop.

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Consider the stretch of 15 consecutive years in which he never finished worse than sixth. Consider that from 1963-1983, he finished inside the Top 30. Consider that he played 23 of them in a row before he missed a cut.

Yes, the man had power. But he dominated a links game he had never experienced as a kid, and he did it with imagination and sheer will. Beyond that, however, was this truism about Jack William Nicklaus: he was a gracious sportsman who set a standard that will never be matched and one by one his colleagues heaped praise.

Said Brad Faxon: "He has been, the biggest ambassador of the game that you can imagine."

Said Nick Faldo: "Jack was my inspiration. Words are really not enough for Jack. They should make him out of gold and stick a little Jack on every tee box."

Said Tiger Woods: "He's the greatest champion that's ever lived. Just to see him around is always special."

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And from Watson: "The warmth and the love that the crowds gave him was a wonderful example of how much they respect the man. I concur with that."

The respect shined through, because while many of them were done with their rounds, they waited behind the 18th green to shake hands with Nicklaus. Faxon was there. Vijay Singh was, too. Ernie Els stood on the balcony, Fred Couples at a clubhouse window. Mark Calcavecchia, Stuart Appleby, Kenny Perry, Todd Hamilton, Lee Westwood, Craig Parry. Pro golfers who are wealthy beyond their wildest dreams, each and every one of them, and for that they can thank icons such as Nicklaus.

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