Jack Nicklaus has revealed he and his wife Barbara were stricken with positive Covid-19 diagnoses in March, but have since been given the all-clear.
The 18-time Major winner was speaking to Jim Nantz on CBS yesterday after a rain delay to the final round of the Memorial tournament, which Nicklaus hosts every year in Dublin, Ohio.
'The Golden Bear' said they were both very lucky, considering the high coronavirus fatality rate across the United States.
"Back in mid-March Barbara and I both contracted the coronavirus. Barbara was asymptomatic, (while) I had a sore throat and a cough. It didn't last very long and we were very, very fortunate.
Press conferences look a lot different in 2020. Glad we were able to pull off another successful @MemorialGolf Tournament. Be well, and be safe! pic.twitter.com/50iOX3PotS
— Jack Nicklaus (@jacknicklaus) July 20, 2020
"We were very lucky and our hearts go out to the people that did lose their lives and families.
"We were home from the 13th of March until we were done with it by about the 20th of April. We just stayed at home for the next month and made sure that we were well. We got the antibodies and theoretically we can’t give it, and can't get it, and that's a nice position to be in."
Tiger Woods gave his backing to the couple, saying he was just glad they got through it okay.
"The fact that they got through it and they're safe and here and healthy, it's all good news for all of us who are a part of golf and who looked up to Jack and been around Barbara all these years.
"The fact that they're healthy is nothing but positives."
Nicklaus has also managed to raise $250,000 for the Nicklaus Children's Hospital COVID-19 Relief Fund, helping frontline workers with PPE equipment.
"We have a little Golden Bear with a mask on a hat and we’ve sold a lot of them and it’s been wonderful because we’ve raised a lot of money for protective equipment," Nicklaus said.
"We were just a couple of the lucky ones so we feel very strong about trying to work with the people that are working with those that who have COVID-19."
Jon Rahm won the PGA Tour event at Muirfield Village by three shots on nine under par. The victory sees the Spaniard replace Rory McIlroy as world number one.
2016: Jack Nicklaus Award winner
2020: @MemorialGolf winner pic.twitter.com/M7HeiyIAc8— PGA TOUR (@PGATOUR) July 20, 2020
25-year-old Rahm is just the second Spanish player ever to top the global rankings, joining Seve Ballesteros.
Rahm was thrilled with the manner of his win, as he saw off American Ryan Palmer in second.
"[It was] one of the best performances of my life. Yesterday was probably one of the best rounds of my life and finished today with some clutch up-and-downs. And as a Spaniard, I'm kind of glad it happened that way. Every shot counts, and I tried every shot and got those two last up-and-downs, as a true Spaniard would.
"My short game has been unbelievable all week. It's been so good, and I've gotten close to chipping in a couple times. You always hear about people saying champions make it happen, and at that point I made it happen.
"I'm a person who unfortunately I'm fully aware I learn from mistakes. I act, foolishly or not. I'll do my action, and I'll learn from it, good or bad."
For information or to donate to the “Wear the Bear. Show You Care” campaign, visit nchcf.org/wearthebear.
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