Practice makes perfect, at least according to Jack Nicklaus and USGA executive director Mike Davis. The latter created a stir in April when he warned players to study this year's U.S. Open course at Chambers Bay thoroughly if players wanted a shot at winning.
Since his warning, both Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson went on Chambers Bay scouting missions, but others rejected the call for course study.
On Wednesday, Davis appeared to receive support from Jack Nicklaus for his April comments, as Nicklaus reflected on his own practice habits ahead of major tournaments.
"I always liked to go into Augusta, go in and play 72 holes, and I liked to shoot a score," Nicklaus told reporters. "I would go in the week before and I wasn't just hitting balls around, hitting a few extra shots, sure, I kept my first ball, and I always liked to keep a score, and say can I shoot 276, 275 on this golf course under the conditions it's in."
Nicklaus then told the media that he believes the aversion to practice these days is more about modern playing style than anything.
"Guys today don't even play practice rounds too much, and so it's a different day," Nicklaus said.
(h/t Golf Channel)
