Nicklaus triumphs by seven strokes

Press, 12 August 1980, Page 32

Nicklaus triumphs by seven strokes

NZPA-AP Rochester Jack Nicklaus, all but written off as over the hill only two months ago, has added still another big title to his unmatched career with a seven-stroke triumph in the sixty-second P.G.A. national championship. Nicklaus’s winning margin, the biggest in the history of the tournament, was three strokes better than the previous record, and it left the runner-up, Andy Bean, completely out of the chase. Nicklaus, aged 40, who capped a comeback from the only real slump of his career with a record-setting victory in the United States Open in June, won the seventeenth important title of his career with a final round of 69, one under par on the Oak Hill Country Club course, and a 274 total. "What he has done is incredible, absolutely fantastic,” said the great South African golfer, Gary Player.

"It’s a lesson to the press and public, who had him finished. "He has proved without a question of a doubt that he is the greatest player who ever lived.”Nicklaus now has more big titles to his credit than Arnold Palmer and Player combined. He also has won more than Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, Hale Irwin, Johnny Miller, Tom Weiskopf, Hubert Green, and Lanny Wadkins combined. Watson, who has won the British Open and five American tour titles this year, never really got into this one after an opening 75. He finished with a 67 that came too late to do much but move him to the middle of the field, with a 288 total. Nicklaus opened the final day with a three-stroke lead, had. a five-shot margin after only three holes, and led by at least that much from, then on. While his two closest challengers, Andy Bean and

Lon Hinkle, were struggling through adventures in the deep grass and majestic trees, Nicklaus reeled off a

decisive string of nine consecutive pars, and had it well in hand at the turn, when he led by five. From that point on, it was simply a fight for second. Bean eventually secured that spot, with a closing 70 and a 281 total. Lon Hinkle and Dr Gil Morgan tied for third, another two shots back at 283. Morgan had a final round 72, and Hinkle 75, in the mild, breezy weather.

274—J. Nicklaus, 70, . 69, 66, 69. 281—A. Bean. 72,: 71, 68, 70. 283— L. Hinkle, 70, 69, 69. 75. G. Morgan, 68, 70, 73, 72. 284— H. Twitty, 68, 74, 71, 71. C. Strange, 68, 72, 72, 72. 285— L. Trevino, 74, 71, 71, 69. 286— B. Walzel, 68, 76, 71, 71. B. Rogers, 71, 71, 72 72. 288—T. Watson, 75, 74, 72, 67. 292—D. Grabar:, 69, 75, 73, 75. G. Player, 72, 74, 71,-75. . 298—8. Devlin, 76, 73, 78, 74.