Two years ago, Jack Nicklaus revealed that he regularly advised three current PGA Tour stars and two players who now play in the LIV Golf League.
The 18-time major winner is still objectively golf’s greatest-ever player, and what the Golden Bear says is widely respected.
Nicklaus’ knowledge of Augusta National is better than most. The now 84-year-old has won the Masters Tournament a record six times, so it’s no surprise that modern-day champions have sought his guidance in their pursuit of a green jacket.
The players Jack Nicklaus has shared advice with
In a 2022 interview with Today’s Golfer, Nicklaus revealed that Rory McIlroy, Justin Thomas, Jordan Spieth, Dustin Johnson, and Charl Schwartzel had all contacted him.
“I speak to Rory as much as anybody,” Nicklaus said. “I speak to Justin Thomas and Jordan Spieth quite a bit. Dustin Johnson, as well. One of the first players who came to me asking for advice was Trevor Immelman. He asked me how to play Augusta, I told him and he went away and won it. After that, Charl Schwartzel came to me, asked me the same thing, and he won.”
Schwartzel shared lunch with Nicklaus just before his 2011 Masters Tournament win, the same event in which McIlroy collapsed during the final round.
Nicklaus, host of the Memorial Tournament at Muirfield Village – named after the iconic Open Championship venue – also revealed that Patrick Cantlay reached out to him about how to play the testing Ohio course.
Cantlay emerged as a genuine golfing force six seasons ago. After finishing inside the top ten at the Masters Tournament – which Tiger Woods won – Cantlay landed the most significant victory of his career at the 2019 Memorial Tournament.
“It’s funny because Patrick Cantlay asked me how to play my Muirfield, and he’s won twice, so maybe I have helped some of them,” Nicklaus added. “It amazes me that they want to listen to me, but I get flattered by that. And it keeps me current.”
Can Patrick Cantlay win in 2025?
Cantlay’s 2024 PGA Tour season was statistically one of his worst. The American’s strokes gained were down half from his best form.
After failing to win since the 2022 BMW Championship, optimism surrounding Cantlay is relatively low.
Cantlay finished tied for 15th at The Sentry on 21 under – 14 shots back of red-hot victor Hideki Matsuyama. Clearly, there’s still room for the eight-time Tour winner to improve if he’s to mix it with the very best in the world once more.
Cantlay isn’t playing this week’s Sony Open and will likely return to action at the American Express as the PGA Tour heads to California.
Receive exclusive golf news and updates twice a week to your mailbox
