Jack's swansong

GM's Jezz Ellwood reflects on The Golden Bear's final Open the last time it visited St Andrews in 2005

Jack Nicklaus' open farewell in 2005
(Image credit: Getty Images)
Jeremy Ellwood
By
published

Driving up to The Open this year on the M6 I availed myself of the impressive DVD facilities in the back of editor Mike Harris's substantial Volvo to watch an R&A film called ‘The Spirit of the Game' reflecting on 150years of Open history.

Among all the incredible nostalgia, the moment that stood out most for me was Jack Nicklaus playing his final ever hole in The Open on Friday afternoon in 2005, decked out in a classy white shirt/red slipover combo.

I remember it vividly because I followed his group for the last few holes, where he still had half a chance of making the cut if he could have holed a couple of putts. It wasn't to be, but both Nicklaus and playing partner Tom Watson - a mere youngster at just 55 - were constantly outdriving the group's third member, Luke Donald. Mixed memories for the Englishman; getting a front row seat on such an occasion, but being outdriven by a pensioner and a veteran - though to be fair I couldn't always see what clubs they were each using off the tee.

When we reached the 18th the combined forces of the press were meant to relinquish their ‘inside the ropes' status upon reaching Granny Clark's Wynd but in a brazen mass trespass everyone pressed on regardless up to somewhere near the green to watch the final moments of The Golden Bear's 43 year Open career unfold.

And how did it end? With a curling 15-footer for birdie of course. Pure nostalgic magic.

Jeremy Ellwood
Jeremy Ellwood
Contributing Editor

Jeremy Ellwood has worked in the golf industry since 1993 and for Golf Monthly since 2002 when he started out as equipment editor. He is now a freelance journalist writing mainly for Golf Monthly. He is an expert on the Rules of Golf having qualified through an R&A course to become a golf referee. He is a senior panelist for Golf Monthly's Top 100 UK & Ireland Course Rankings and has played all of the Top 100 plus 91 of the Next 100, making him well-qualified when it comes to assessing and comparing our premier golf courses. He has now played 1,000 golf courses worldwide in 35 countries, from the humblest of nine-holers in the Scottish Highlands to the very grandest of international golf resorts. He reached the 1,000 mark on his 60th birthday in October 2023 on Vale do Lobo's Ocean course. Put him on a links course anywhere and he will be blissfully content.

Jezz can be contacted via Twitter - @JezzEllwoodGolf

Jeremy is currently playing...

Driver: Ping G425 LST 10.5˚ (draw setting), Mitsubishi Tensei AV Orange 55 S shaft

3 wood: Srixon ZX, EvenFlow Riptide 6.0 S 50g shaft

Hybrid: Ping G425 17˚, Mitsubishi Tensei CK Pro Orange 80 S shaft

Irons 3- to 8-iron: Ping i525, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Irons 9-iron and PW: Honma TWorld TW747Vx, Nippon NS Pro regular shaft

Wedges: Ping Glide 4.0 50˚ and 54˚, 12˚ bounce, True Temper Dynamic Gold 105 R300 shafts

Putter: Kramski HPP 325

Ball: Any premium ball I can find in a charity shop or similar (or out on the course!)

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