This year has been a difficult one for one of the most respected sports figures in the country — golf legend Jack Nicklaus. He's endured a family tragedy and made the decision to stop competing in the game he dominated for so many years. Nicklaus says the British Open that began today will be his final tournament. Recently, “Today” host Matt Lauer got a chance to spend some time with the golf star.
Jack Nicklaus: It's a game I dearly love. It's been a big part of my life.
He's known as "The Golden Bear."For five decades, Jack Nicklaus has been prowling fairways around the world.
Matt Lauer: Tom Weiskopf, who's a great golfer — I love the quote he had about you. He said "Jack knew he was going to beat you. You knew Jack was going to beat you. And Jack knew that you knew that he was going to beat you!" Did you like being feared on the golf course?
Nicklaus: Frankly, I actually work the other way. I usually try to get somebody relaxed 'cuz I really wanted a competitor in the competition. And I enjoyed … I hated going out and blowing somebody out by 10 shots.
Lauer: Oh, I love that!
Nicklaus: Oh, I don't.
Lauer: It never happens for me, but I love it!
Nicklaus: I honestly didn't like that!
But time has taken its toll. Now 65 years old, his game is not what it used to be. The last official tournament he won was a senior tour event nearly a decade ago.
Lauer: You don't want polite applause anymore. As you're walking up the 18th, you know you're gonna get an ovation.
Nicklaus: It's based on a career, not what I'm doing today. To go out and have somebody go out and — and pay $20 or $30, 40 bucks for a ticket and come out to see Jack Nicklaus, I want 'em to see Jack Nicklaus. I don't want 'em to see what's left of me.
Once he retires, Nicklaus will have no problem filling his days. One priority — golf course design. He's already worked on more than 200 courses. And took the time to show me around his latest one, called "Sabonic." The course will be located in Long Island, New York, and is scheduled to open early next year.
Lauer: How important is legacy to you?
Nicklaus: To be able to leave a piece of ground better than when I got there, and leave it with an expression of how to play the game of golf and how I thought the game should be played on that piece of ground, will be here for generations to come, and I think that's fun!
But the number one priority for Jack Nicklaus will remain what it has always been — family. He's been married to wife, Barbara, for nearly 45 years.
Nicklaus: That's my rock. She's been with me for a long time, and she's the one that's kept our family together.
They have five children and 17 grandchildren.
Nicklaus: I was never away from home more than two weeks my whole career.
Lauer: But graduations, birthday parties, were you there for most of those?
Nicklaus: I didn't miss any of 'em. I didn't miss football games. I didn't miss basketball games. I arranged my schedule around their schedule.
Earlier this year, tragedy struck the Nicklaus family. Jack's grandson, 17-month-old Jake Walter Nicklaus, drowned in his family's hot tub. His parents are Jack's son, Steve, and his wife, Krista.
Nicklaus: They're both having a hard time, I think. They cry themselves to sleep every night. But they're doing all right. They've got a good support system, and you know, it's tough for all of us. Barbara and I have a hard time. We always will.
Lauer: What did you learn about family through that?
Nicklaus: Well, it's a pretty important thing. The support system we had. All the friends we had and all the people that contacted us and talked to us. It was a tough time.
The sun may be setting on an incredible career, but the memories will be there forever.
Lauer: You're so much a part of golf in this country. Can you say good-bye?
Nicklaus: I think so. I don't really have a problem saying good-bye to things. All things come to an end. I remember when I won the Masters in '86.
I said in the press room, I said, "If I had any common sense, I will quit right now." But I've never had any common sense! So I couldn't do that. I can do that now.