Nicklaus Shows Some Snap at Turnberry

By ROBERT MILLWARD, AP Sports Writer

Jack Nicklaus is playing golf again.

Teeing it up alongside leader Carl Mason and longtime rival Tom Watson, Nicklaus shot a 3-under 67 Friday to put him six shots back at the Senior British Open at Turnberry.

"I'm in good shape, the best shape I've been in a tournament for a long time," Nicklaus said. "It's the first time this year I've felt like I'm playing golf. "I've participated, but I haven't really played golf."

Nicklaus has been plagued by back and hip injuries for several years and hasn't won a tournament since 1996.

"I have actually played quite a bit of golf this year because I've felt reasonably healthy and I felt like I could go out there and hit it," Nicklaus said. "But I haven't been able to put a score on the board. I started to score a little bit today and kept my game good and played the shots I wanted to and not get myself into trouble."

"I was very proud of that and it was a very good round of golf." Nicklaus' playing partners were also sharp. Mason shot a 64 to take a one-stroke lead at 9-under 131, and Watson finished with a 67. His two-day total of 133 puts him one stroke behind D.A. Weibring, who was in second after shooting a 63 Friday.

"Mason holed a ton of putts. Tom holed a flood of putts today," Nicklaus said. "But that's what you've got to do. It's the first time I've seen Carl play and he played very nicely."

Watson was delighted with his putting but appalled at his play off the tees. "I putted very well today but my golf swing was held together by bailing wire and duct tape today," said Watson, a five-time British Open winner.

"I played a very scratchy round and I watched Carl Mason play a very, very good round of golf. He was very precise in what he was doing and I need to pick up on that and do the same."

Tom Kite also shot a 67 and is tied with Watson and another American, Bruce Summerhays (65), at 133.

Mason, who made six birdies in a bogey free round, didn't make many waves as a pro on the regular European Tour, winning just two titles after 20 years without a victory.

"It feels great, absolutely great," he said after walking off with the lead. "I felt a little bit nervous on the first tee. That's pretty normal with the company I was keeping."