Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 17, 1990 TAG: 9006170162
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Associated Press
DATELINE: MEDINAH, ILL. LENGTH: Short
That would be Nicklaus, of course, and the idea is not just an aging golfer's folly.
Never mind that no 50-year-old has ever done it, that no one has ever won five Opens, that no one has won opens in four decades.
Nicklaus won in 1962, 1967, 1972 and 1980, and he is serious about his chances now, especially after a bogey-free, 4-under-par 68 on Saturday that put him on the leader board at 3-under 213 after 54 holes.
"I think I've got a chance of winning unless somebody runs away," he said. "I'm thinking that a 64 would put me 11 under par, and 11 under par can win the championship. And 64 can be shot on this golf course."
That in itself is remarkable, but the 7,195-yard Medinah layout - longest ever for an Open - was left defenseless by rain-softened greens and a lack of wind.
"No question about it," he said. "Your mental approach at the U.S. Open is not to shoot 65, but par or a little under to be in it. I could not believe that 2-over didn't even make the cut."
Because of the conditions, "a lot of guys have a chance to win this thing. A lot," Nicklaus said. "A lot of things can still happen."
Nicklaus, who corrected a flaw in his swing this week, hit 17 greens in the third round, missing only the 18th when he put a 5-iron approach into the rough. He chipped on and made a 6-footer for par.
Keywords:
GOLF
by CNB