Nicklaus Picked To Win U.S. Open

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31088, 17 June 1966, Page 11

Nicklaus Picked To Win U.S. Open

(N Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) SAN FRANCISCO. The South African holder of the title, G. Player, fears the American. J. Nicklaus, in the United States Open golf championship which begins at San Francisco today.

“If there’s an individual favourite, it has to be Nicklaus,” Player said.

“He has the game for this course—in fact he has a game for any course—but this one particularly.

“Those greens are very hard to hold.” The American, A. Palmer, also thinks highly of Nicklaus’s chances.

“Jack has the highest shot in golf.” he said. “It could make the difference.”

Nicklaus, the 1966 Masters champion, said that he did not mind being favourite, at six to one. “I’m playing well," he added. The Olympic Country Club course, where the open will be played, has rough, small greens, and narrow, tree-lined fairways which look like tunnels. The par for the 6727-yard course is 70 (35-35). Australia's hopes for the title rest on B. Devlin —in fine form recently—K. D. G. Nagle and B. Crampton. The

British Open champion, P. W. Thomson (Australia) withdrew early this week because of a sore hand. New Zealand is represented by the tall, left-hander, R. J. Charles. While Palmer and Player believe the stiffest competition will come from Nicklaus, there are many others who believe this type of course favours the South African and those who play his brand of golf.

“Someone of the style ol Player, Casper, Venturi, Marr and Boros will have an edge because of their type of game and experience,” said one professional familiar with the course. A total of 151 golfers will tee off.