YOU’D BE SMILING, TOO: Tiger Woods, with girlfriend Lindsey Vonn looking on, seems content as he lines up a putt on No. 18 as he finishes off a round of 2-under-par 70. (AP)
Jack Nicklaus. (AP)
AUGUSTA, Ga. — It was yet another fascinating, eventful day in the life of Tiger Woods yesterday and so little of it had to do with the relatively uneventful 2-under-par 70 he shot in the Masters opening round.
Hours before Woods — with his girlfriend, skier Lindsey Vonn, in the gallery essentially making her first public appearance with him — took to the first tee for his 10:45 p.m. starting time, the great Jack Nicklaus dropped a bit of a bomb about Woods’ apparent disinterest in getting to know him or picking his brain over the years about golf.
“I never really had a conversation with Tiger that lasted more than a minute or two — ever,” Nicklaus said after hitting the ceremonial tee shot to start the Masters. “He stayed away from me from a conversation standpoint. Never had a conversation on the Masters in general. I’ve said, ‘Hello, how are you doing? Nice playing this year. You’ve played very well.’ End of conversation. People ask me, ‘Has Tiger ever talked to you about his record?’ Never one word.”
Woods, asked after his round about Nicklaus’ comments, said, “Well, we actually have probably had more conversations in the years at the Presidents Cups when he was captain. We talked quite a bit then.
“But I see him at Memorial and we’ll chit-chat here and there. We have a few conversations here and there, but he’s right, we haven’t spent much time. Here is a totally different week. When it’s a major championship we’re all very busy and we’re all in our own little worlds. And he gets it. He was there himself.’’
Nicklaus, who has helped Rory McIlroy and others, said he was surprised Woods hasn’t talked to him about the Masters over the years, but added, “He’s got his own focus and what he does, and I respect that.’’
As for Woods’ round yesterday, which he played in front of Vonn — who was resplendent in a beige dress and a matching Kentucky Derby-like hat, along with a brace on the right knee she recently injured and had surgery on — he said he was pleased with the result, which has him just four shots out of the lead.
If you believe in omens as much as you believe what your eyes have told you about Woods’ hot start to 2013, then the 70 he shot yesterday bodes well for him winning a fifth green jacket this week.
Before yesterday, Woods shot 70 to start the Masters four times and won the tournament three of those times (1997, 2001 and 2002).
“I felt like I putted well, made some good par saves,” he said. “I didn’t leave myself the easiest of putts today, so I’m very satisfied.’’
mark.cannizzaro@nypost.com