BELLSOUTH CLASSIC

April 2, 2000

Gary Nicklaus

GARY NICKLAUS: Well, I had -- I was playing 163 yards, a little downwind, off to the left. I chose an 8-iron, just trying to hit a nice, smooth 8-iron. I caught it about, you know, an eighth inch, quarter inch heavy, but I still thought it might get there. But it ended up obviously right in the lip, and I didn't have -- not much I could do from that position. I tried to get it out, tried to get real steep on the ball, but it caught the top and came back in the bunker.

GARY NICKLAUS: It was right on the edge, yeah, where it pitched. When I watched it from the tee, I thought it was plugged, but it came out of the plug lie and was sitting on the edge of it.

GARY NICKLAUS: If it would have gone a foot more, it would have made the green. Might not have, because there's kind of a little roll on the front of the green. If it was three feet farther, it's right next to the hole.

GARY NICKLAUS: Yeah, I mean, it was -- you know, it was kind of -- you know, it was kind of a Catch-22. Yeah, I'd like to play 18. Worst that could have happened today was second place. A lot worse could have happened if I had to go out and play 18 which, you know, I wasn't anticipating. You know, I finished in second place. I had a chance to win against one of the greatest players in the world right now, and I think it just lets me know that there's good things to come, good things coming down the road.

GARY NICKLAUS: Well, I mean, basically I have to sit back and reflect a little bit about it when I get back home and see what exactly happened this week, what I could do to improve. But I would say that the weeks prior to this kind of have helped my patience. Yesterday I started out with, you know, a bogey on the 1st hole and 3rd hole. I was 2-over after three. I came back real strong and played 6-under the last 15 holes. It could have gone the other way, but I was patient with myself and things went my way. I made a lot of birdies and played solid.

GARY NICKLAUS: I thought I made the putt. Actually from the fairway, I knew the weather forecast, I knew there was a chance we weren't going to play today. Really wanted to make birdie on that hole. I hit a great shot into the green, hit a good putt, it just didn't go in. You can look back at Phil's putt on 17 or 16 that he missed -- 17, right?

GARY NICKLAUS: He missed about a 4-footer there. Either of those putts, you know, it could go either way. If "if and buts" were candy and nuts, every day would be Christmas.

GARY NICKLAUS: Yeah. But he didn't have a whole lot of pressure on his putt. I mean, if I would have hit a good shot in there, who knows what he would have done on his putt. I was looking at 4 at best. He just kind of stepped up, hit it, let it go. I mean, I wish my shot from the tee would have been a little better so it would have been a little more interesting.

GARY NICKLAUS: Yeah.

GARY NICKLAUS: Just very happy for me. Just, you know, rooting me on, wanting me to do my best.

GARY NICKLAUS: You're correct (laughter).

GARY NICKLAUS: I hope so. I mean, this is a big milestone for me. I mean, I came out, you know, I proved to myself that I can win out here. You know, I was one shot away from winning the tournament, one putt away yesterday. Playing one hole against one of the best players in the world away from winning the tournament. You know, it gives my confidence a boost. I'm looking forward to playing in the MCI in two weeks.

GARY NICKLAUS: Well, I think I played a lot better in this tournament. When I did have some, you know, trouble along the way, it didn't bother me. So, I mean, yeah, I was patient, but I played better as well.

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