Nicklaus back on top

Press, 7 September 1976, Page 40

Nicklaus back on top

NZPA Akron ] Jack Nicklaus, who says it has not been a very good season, salvaged some satisfaction with a two-under-par 68 and a convincing, fourstroke victory yesterday in the enriched World Series of Golf, the Associated Press reported. David Graham of Australia, finished fourth. “I never count it a good year if I don’t win one of the majors,” (the U.S. and British Opens, the Masters and P.G.A.), Nicklaus said, then smiled. “I didn’t win one of those so it’s not a good season from that standpoint. But if you can’t win a major, it’d be nice to be the leading money-winner.” ; And the sAustBo,ooo he collected — matching the largest prize the game has evei offered — from the total purse of; sAust243,ooo put Nicklaus in his customary position on

'top of the season’s moneystandings with $Au5t212.032. He won his second tournament of the year, and the sixtieth of hit unmatched career, with some brilliant putting that produced a 275 total five under pa., for the expanded 72 holes of this event over his favourite hunting grounds, the south course at the Firestone Country Club in Ohio. His career winnings on this course alone now total an amazing 5Au5t396,843. Hale Irwin took second place in the elite, international field of 20 with a strong, three-under-par 67. He finished with a 279 total and a SAust4o.ooo cheque that made him only the twelfth man to surpass SUSI million in career earnings. The veteran Dave Hill was third alone with a hard-won par 70 and a 280 total. David Graham. who qualified for this event with a victory last week in thei

:American Golf Classic “across the street” on the (north course, took fourth (place with a 69-281. for ! SAust 12,250. i Hubert Green had a share lof third until he bogeyed the final hole for a 73-282. Toir ‘Watson and Lee 1 revino — |who scored a nine on the (sixteenth hole on Sunday — were next a. 283. Each matched par 70 over the last 18 holes. Jerry Pate, the sensational rookie who won the United States and Canadian open, shot a 71 for a 286 total. Ray Floyd, the U.S Masters champion, blew to a 77 and 288. The P.G.A. king Dave Stockton, had 77-303. The British Open champion, Johnny Miller, nevet really recovered from the four-stroke penalty he incurred in the opening round for earning his son’s putter in his bag, finished with a 71 and 293.