Nicklaus still mum on retirement plans

DUBLIN, Ohio – Jack Nicklaus wouldn’t say it was his last competitive round – and he wouldn’t say it wasn’t.

If the Golden Bear’s 1-under 71 in Sunday’s final round of the Memorial Tournament is indeed his swan song, the 64-year-old legend said he will walk away with a smile.

“I would like to have shot under par here, yes,” he said after finishing four rounds at Muirfield Village Golf Club in 7-over 295. “If I play again, then it won’t make much difference. But if I don’t play again, I’ve shot under par in the last tournament round I’ve played.”

Nicklaus has won more than 100 tournaments around the world, and realizes it is highly unlikely he will ever win again.

Nicklaus, with 18 major championships, has always played to win. Now that goal has been taken out of the equation.

“It was a good round for me. I’m quite pleased to shoot 71 on this golf course, where the pins were today in the last round ,” he said.

Few believe that Nicklaus is done, however.

St. Andrew’s will host the 2005 British Open, largely because Nicklaus had indicated an interest in playing at one of his favorite courses. Officials moved St. Andrew’s up a year in the Open rotation to accommodate the man who won the tournament there in 1970 and 1978.