Masterly Golf By Nicklaus: Three-Stroke Leader

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31030, 9 April 1966, Page 13

Masterly Golf By Nicklaus: Three-Stroke Leader

(N.Z. Presy Association—Copyright) AUGUSTA (Georgia). The defending champion, Jack Nicklaus, although shaken by the death of four close friends in a plane crash, scored a four-under-par 68 yesterday to take a three-stroke lead in the first round of the United States Masters golf tournament, Associated Press reported.

While his two chief rivals, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player, each included a two-over in their rounds of 74, Nicklaus put together four birdies and 14 bogeys on the wandswept Augusta national course. Nicklaus, who won last year by nine strokes with a record 72-hole score of 271, finished three strokes ahead of three other Americans: Don January, Mike Souchak and BiUy Casper, all on 71. Four players were level on 72—Peter Butler (Britain) and three Americans, Jay Herbert, Randy Glover and Raymond Floyd. I Palmer, who is seeking his

fifth Masters title, took a five on the treacherous, par-three twelfth hole. Player, the little South African who dominated international goif in 1965, got a six at the eleventh where he hit his second into the water, and had to pull off what he called "the miracle shot of my career” to finish with a 74. The three Australians and one New Zealander were well behind the leaders. Bruce Crampton was on 74. Bruce Devlin 75, and Kel Nagle 78. PLAYER IN WATER R. J. Charles also had a 78 after being penalised four strokes for playing the first two holes with an extra club in his bag. Although the only player to beat 70, Nicklaus was not

(satisfied with his drives in the gusty wind. “I hit a few bad shots, which fortunately didn’t hurt me much,” he said. “I wasn’t playing as well even in the wind as I was last year. And talk about being lucky,” said Nicklaus.

“I drove into the trees on the thirteenth and the ball went right through on to the fairway. “On another I hooked my shot into the ninth fairway, then hit a 4-iron 25ft from the pin and sank the putt for a birdie.” Palmer hit his tee shot into a trap on the twelfth, failed to get it out with his second and went two-over for the hole. His 74 was the worst round he has played since 1963. Player reeled off 10 successive bogeys until he came to the eleventh, with a small pond to the left which puts a premium on the second shot. MADE MISTAKE The South African said he thought the pond was a lateral hazard, permitting a drop with a penalty on the green but found it had been made into a water hazard since last year. He took a chance, hit into the water and then had to hit his third from about 90 feet. On the next hole, he buried bis tee shot into some mud at the back of the green. “I could barely see the ball,” Player said. “I only wanted to try to hit into the trap in front of me, knowing I had no chance to get on the green. I lashed into it and the ball went into the hole for a birdie two. “You could take a million shots and never get on the green from where my ball lay. It was the greatest and luckiest shot I ever saw.”