Nicklaus picks three ‘winners’

Press, 13 April 1984, Page 36

Nicklaus picks three ‘winners’

NZPA-ReuterAugusta, Georgia Jack Nicklaus says if he were a betting man, he would back the two-time winners, Tom Watson and Severiano Ballesteros, plus the P.G.A. champion, Hal Sutton, as favourites to win the Masters golf tournament starting today. But after his final practice round on the 6318-metre Augusta National course, Nicklaus was quick to promote his own chances of increasing his record of five Masters victories. “I feel I’ve got every bit as good a chance as anyone else to win this week,” he declared. Assessing the strength of the 88-man field, Nicklaus said: “We have more players who are outstanding golfers than we have ever had. I would guess there are up to 25 who have a realistic chance to win.” Narrowing the field down, he calculated that “Seve, Watson and Sutton are the most dominant three to look at.” He warned against ruling Watson out even though the five-time British Open champion has had a disappointing year so far, adding: “I suspect Tom would be tough this week.” As for another widelymentioned favourite, the 1984 money leader, Fred Couples, Nicklaus agreed he was capable of recording low rounds but had doubts about how consistent he would be over Augusta’s slick, rolling greens. “These greens will separate a good putter and a great putter very quickly,” he said. “You can putt the ball off these greens verv easily. _____