‘So What?’: Legendary Jack Nicklaus Staunchly Gave His Two Cents on a Persistent Golf Debate Earlier This Year

Time has changed, and so has golf. Unlike the old-generation golfers, young players now use modern equipment to play the sport professionally. The topic attracted a lot of opinions from the golf world, in which some supported the new system while some didn’t. Veteran golfer, Jack Nicklaus, also imparted his wisdom on the matter and made some strong statements to prove his point. 

Several types of equipment are available in the golf world now to help golfers to achieve their target without working harder. While the older generation players used to cover an average distance of 250 yards with their clubs, the new drivers and other gadgets help them cover at least 350 yards these days. 

The system helped golfers to score low in official tournaments. While many have adapted to the new changes, some traditionalists still don’t approve of it. 

Jack Nicklaus is on-board with the new-generation golfers’ strategy

“Might shoot low, so what?” Nicknamed the ‘Golden Bear’, Nickalus questioned why people have problems with players using gadgets to help them score better. “They’re shooting low now compared to what they shot 100 years ago. But times change,” he added. “Golfers get better, equipment gets better, conditions get better. So they shoot low scores.” 

Notably, the Old Course in St. Andrews, the home of golf, hosted the 150th Open Championship this year. And many expressed that scoring low using different types of equipment like ProV1 ball or custom-made drivers would be disrespectful to the legacy of the course. However, Nicklaus has the answer ready to shut the traditionalists up. 

Read more: Despite His Fierce Competitive Nature, Tiger Woods Once Bowed Down to His ‘Mentor’ Jack Nicklaus

“It’s St Andrews, and it is what it is,” the 18-time major champion said before the major. “And it will produce a good champion. It always has,” he added further. “That’s the way I look at it.” 

How many yards could the Golden Bear hit in his prime era? 

Bryson DeChambeau is one of the longest-hitters among young professional golfers at present. He hit 428 yards at the Travelers Championship in 2020 after bulking his body up and using custom-made drivers. 

Years ago, when no golfers cared about their physique at all and played golf with raw skills, Jack Nicklaus had covered 341-yard. He did at the PGA Championship Long Drive Competition held in 1963. He won the competition with that shot; notably, he won the PGA Championship in the same year as well. 

Do you like watching golfers cover more distance with their power and customized equipment? Or do you enjoy old-school golf when the world was not this advanced? 

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