Nicklaus and Woods win Bighorn battle

The two greatest players of their generations -Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods - combined for a made-for-television golf show last night that was the nearest we’ll get to comparing these icons of the game.

Though the result was immaterial – a 3 & 2 matchplay betterball victory over Lee Trevino and Sergio Garcia – this clash in the California Desert at Bighorn Country Club at least proved that golf can span the decades and even at 62 with back problems, the veterans can still pull out the shots.

While Tiger contributed nine birdies in the 16 holes it took to unseat their Mexican and Spanish rivals, Nicklaus hit the flagstick at the ninth with his 7-iron approach and watched the ball fizz to a stop a foot from the hole. He also holed from 10 feet for a winning birdie at the 12th.

In sweltering conditions Woods would have appreciated on the Saturday of the Open Championship, he finished nine under par before the game ended under floodlights at the 16th green.

Trevino contributed three birdies and most of the wise-cracking, prompting Woods to comment "all you can do is shut up and listen.’

As for Garcia, he made his share to keep his team in touch and accepted some advice from Nicklaus on his re-gripping habit which has caused much controversy, but which he is gradually improving.

Nicklaus told him he had been guilty of slow play earlier in his career but after being given a couple of penalty times he learned to play faster.

Nicklaus also said he had no regrets in pulling out of top-class competition on the main Tours.

"I know now that I have no business playing on the Tour. If you see the way Tiger and Sergio play, there’s no such thing as a par-5 anymore."