SAN ANTONIO — It took 62 years to get Jack Nicklaus to make an appearance at the Valero Texas Open and we finally did arrive, he talked about the one that got away ... but not a golf tournament.
Nicklaus, who never played the San Antonio tour event while on the PGA Tour, was in town as part of the Night to Honor our Heroes banquet at the JW Marriott Resort and Spa that sits adjacent to the Oaks Course.
The Golden Bear said he thinks he never played the Texas Open because it simply didn't coincide with his schedule, as the event had previously been a staple on the Tour's fall schedule.
But with a big media group watching, Nicklaus insisted that he's got a new passion, one that also brings its share of heartbreak and pain. Now 85 years old, Nicklaus said he's used fishing as a means to fill the competitive void since his body won't hold up for golf these days.
"When I lost my ability to play golf, I lost my vehicle to competition, but the fish doesn't know how old I am," he said. "I'm just a fisherman. I'm a decent fisherman. I'm fairly decent with a fly rod, not fantastic, but I certainly don't rank with the top fishermen because, first of all, I never wanted to or tried to. I just enjoy it."
And Nicklaus was quick to share a story about how he recently had a large bonefish on, but couldn't keep it.
"See that little scar right there?" Nicklaus started. "I made that scar last week. I had a fish that came up a flat and I hooked him up and you've got fly line, and the line came up on my hand and the fish popped. I could see it was a pretty good-sized fish.
"About an hour later, I caught a fish and it was about a 9-pound bonefish, which is a really big bonefish. My guide was with me and we took a picture of it and he says, 'Jack, see that, I hate to tell you, but the fish you lost was another 6 to 8 inches longer,' which means it was 12- or 13-pound bonefish, which is the largest bonefish I ever held. But I lost it."
This article originally appeared on Golfweek: Jack Nicklaus was at the Valero Texas Open, talked fishing stories
