Nicklaus getting older, but he's as hip as ever

There have been 97 U.S. Opens and Jack Nicklaus, who has played in 41 of them, finished his latest one with a 74. Nicklaus also passed another milestone Sunday when he played his 10,000th

hole in a major championship. It was No. 10 and Nicklaus made an eight-foot putt for par. His total of 293 was 13 over par, but Nicklaus is encouraged by the state of his game. “I’m playing

maybe the best golf I’ve played in 10 years,” he said. “I seem to be getting back into it. I’m healthier, my hip is working and I’m having fun.” Nicklaus, 57, has arthritis in his hip. “I

had been playing on one leg for the last three or four years,” he said. “I feel good. I’m able to get out of my own way. The problem is that I haven’t been playing enough golf. So who knows?

Maybe I’ll play another 20 years.” * So much for all that grand slam talk. After Tiger Woods closed with a 72 and a four-round U.S. Open score of six-over 286, he said he’s glad he doesn’t

have to go out there and play Congressional again right away. “I’m glad the suffering is over,” Woods said. “That course wore me out. It took its toll on me and it’s taken a lot out of other

players as well.” If there was any one factor that hurt him most, Woods said it was his putting. He three-putted three times on the back nine Saturday, when he shot 37 after getting back to

even-par through 11 holes. “Oh, man, I putted horrible this week,” Woods said. “I just need to work on my mechanics and hopefully a better feel.” Woods said he didn’t notice that President

Clinton and his daughter, Chelsea, were watching the tournament from a booth near the 16th green. Woods birdied the hole. He laughed when told that Chelsea was cheering for him. “Was she?”

Woods said. “That’s great. That’s the only putt I made all week.” Next for Woods is the Buick Open this week, his fifth tournament in a six-week stretch that began with the GTE Byron Nelson

Classic on May 15. * Paul Goydos, who played with Nicklaus the last two rounds, was asked if he had learned anything. “You can’t learn talent,” Goydos said. * Justin Leonard arrived at the

first tee and playing partner Hale Irwin got the crowd to sing happy birthday to Leonard, who turned 25 on Sunday. * Hale Irwin finished with a 74 and wound up 13 over par for 72 holes. In

two weeks, Irwin will play in the U.S. Senior Open. Irwin said he will take something with him from this U.S. Open experience: “A beaten body.” MORE TO READ