Jack Nicklaus took the opportunity to get in a cold shot at Phil Mickelson and LIV Golf ahead of the first major of the year.
Nicklaus once again got the Masters started on Thursday morning at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia, hitting ceremonial tee shots with Gary Player and Tom Watson to kick off the event.
Afterward, the six-time green-jacket winner spoke with the media, along with Player and Watson. During the news conference, Nicklaus was asked about Mickelson's longevity in the Masters compared to Tiger Woods, who isn't competing this year after surgery to repair a ruptured Achilles.
Before giving his full answer, Nicklaus got in a shot at Mickelson and LIV Golf, which drew approximately one-fourth the PGA Tour audience in the head-to-head final-round showdown between the tours last weekend.
"Well, you know, I don't know what level Phil is competing at. I guess he's still playing," said Nicklaus, insinuating the Saudi-backed league isn't legitimate competitve golf. "He's playing the LIV Tour, is he? I don't know if he's playing or not. I don't know, you never see that anymore."
Then Nicklaus made a bold prediction about Tiger Woods' future, particularly compared to Mickelson's.
"But Tiger is hurt. I think Tiger will get well and Tiger will be back and play -- Tiger will be 50 next year. I believe he'll probably play the Senior Tour and I believe he'll probably dominate the Senior Tour. Tiger is too much of a competitor to not play. I don't believe he will not play. I believe he will play. I don't think Tiger will play for money. He doesn't need money. Tiger will play for competition. He loves competition, and he's very good at it, obviously.
"As far as Phil, I think Phil has been competitive in an odd event here and there but not really in the last few years. You know, Phil has been a good player. There's no question about that. There's no question he's been a good player. But I don't really know what your question was about the two of them, but I think Tiger will -- Tiger has had his issues, and he's overcome most all of them each time he's had them. I fully expect him to do that again."
