Jack Nicklaus

Some question whether Tiger Woods' slump in major tournaments is attributable to the fact that his girlfriend may be a distraction. Jack Nicklaus always said that marrying his wife, Barbara, added stability to his life, settled him down, and made him a better golfer. It seems to me the answer for Tiger is clear: If he wants to win another major, he should marry Barbara Nicklaus. Kevin Park North Hollywood The only thing better than watching a golf event without Tiger Woods on the leaderboard is waiting for the excuses that he has for why he is not on the leaderboard.

The $600,000 Chrysler Team Invitational in December will feature four members of golf's first family--Jack Nicklaus and three of his four sons. The tournament is Dec. 11-14 at Boca West and Broken Sound in Palm Beach County. Jack Nicklaus and son Jackie Nicklaus will compose the pro half of the team. Steve, 23, and either, Gary, 17, or Michael, 13, will make up the amateur half. "I figured with Jackie turning pro, it would be kind of fun to team up," said Jack Sr.

Well, we're all 20 years younger today. You always want Jack Nicklaus to win golf tournaments. The way you always want Ruth to get homers, Rose to get hits, Dempsey to get knockouts, Koufax strikeouts and Mays fly balls at the fence. It brings a sense of order, stability to our world. The rest of it may be in ferment, change and chaos but you think, 'Well, it can't be too bad. Jack Nicklaus just won the Masters.' It's 1963 again and there's no Kadafi, inflation, Central America.

If Jack Nicklaus seemed distracted during the International tournament, he had good reason. His son Gary is hospitalized at Swedish Medical Center in suburban Denver for treatment of a virus of the heart that left him in a semi-coma Thursday. Gary Nicklaus, 21, was in good condition Saturday night, according to a nursing supervisor. He was expected to be released as soon as tonight. Jack Nicklaus failed to qualify for today's final round of the International.

Jack Nicklaus, who finished second to Hal Sutton in the 1983 PGA at Riviera, said he got his inspiration from Times columnist Jim Murray. "He said 'Jack probably had played one tournament too many,' " Nicklaus said. "Anyway, the article sort of gave me a bit of a kick in the rear and [I] said 'Hey, I'm not ready to be out of here yet.' " Apparently not. Three years later, Nicklaus, 46, won the Masters.

Jack Nicklaus announced a deal today with the Mitsubishi Corp. and Suntory Ltd. to build a network of golf schools in Japan. Nicklaus said he signed an exclusive contract giving Mitsubishi and Suntory the right to develop the schools. He said each school will have three holes and a driving range, adding that there also are plans for several driving ranges in urban areas.

Jack Nicklaus has decided to have hip replacement surgery and will not play in the Masters. Nicklaus, who will be 59 in a week, has an arthritic condition in his left hip that has become increasingly painful and affected his play. "I am not strong enough to play the best golf I possibly can," Nicklaus said Wednesday. "This is also a quality-of-life issue." Nicklaus said the surgery is scheduled this month at an undisclosed hospital.

When Jack Nicklaus won his first tournament on the PGA Senior Tour two weeks ago, it was on a course he designed. Nicklaus didn't design the PGA National Golf Club where the PGA Seniors' Championships starts today, but he knows his way around since he lives 10 minutes away. The Seniors' championship has been played on PGA National since 1982, but the veterans will see a different course since dramatic alterations have been made in the last year.

What: "Nicklaus: a Final March Through the Majors" Where: Channel 2, Sunday, 11:30 a.m. If you're a golf fan, and particularly if you're a Jack Nicklaus fan, you won't want to miss this 90-minute documentary. And set the VCR. This is a keeper. The program was the brainchild of Terry Jastrow, president of Gaylord Event Television, formerly Jack Nicklaus Productions.