Diary: Weir thrilled to practice with Nicklaus July 12, 2005 By Mike Weir Although I haven’t been playing the sort of golf I know I can, I’m really glad to be in St. Andrews again. It doesn’t get any better than playing the Open Championship on this course, and it doesn’t get any better than playing with Jack Nicklaus in a practice round in what will be Jack's last Open. I played with Jack on Tuesday, along with Tom Watson and Kenny Perry. Advertisement I asked Jack at the Memorial in May if I could play a practice round with him during the Open, and he agreed and organized the other guys. On Tuesday, I walked off the tee behind Jack during the round. I was thinking about the shots he’d pulled off here, the great guy he’s been here and what a great guy he’s been to me. I watched every shot he hit, closely, taking in as much as I could. Jack can still compete. The Old Course is playing firm and fast, so he can play here, and I think he has a great chance to make the cut. He and I were partners in a match with Tom and Kenny. We won on the front nine but we got dusted on the back. It was really cool to play with Jack. We talked about little things, like how the course has changed, and I picked his brain a little bit about what his teacher Jack Grout told him years ago. But we also talked about our kids, and about fishing. I just love this place. It lets you use your imagination, and the wind is everything. For the first time I had a chance to drive the 18th green yesterday, but then the wind turned around and I didn’t have a chance. That’s the Old Course. It can change in a minute. I’ve played in every Open since 1999 at Carnoustie, and I liked the style of golf right away. I remember coming over to qualify for Carnoustie, and having to learn quickly to hit these long running shots. The ball could go forever downwind, or not very far at all into the wind. I enjoy figuring out what I need to do, like on the Road Hole in my round with Jack. I hit a 4-iron and pretty much just ran it along the ground and onto the green. The idea was to keep the ball out of the wind.