Sports

PERRY WILL AUTHOR A NEW OLD STORY

AUGUSTA, Ga. — It seems almost sacrilegious that somehow Jack Nicklaus’ magical final round in 1986 will be upstaged. Well, maybe not upstaged, but certainly replaced in the record books.

Today, Kenny Perry will supplant Nicklaus as the oldest player to win the Masters. That’s what I see happening in the final round of the 73rd Masters at vulnerable Augusta National.

Nicklaus’ status as the oldest player to win the Masters seems like one of those marks that will stand forever, especially, after the National was lengthened by nearly 500 yards, making it a course for only the young and strong to challenge.

At age 48, Perry is two years older than Nicklaus was when he fired a 65 in the final round to win his sixth green jacket. But Perry hardly is ready for the old-folks home. He insists he never works out, but he has plenty of stamina, plenty of length and plenty of passion to emerge from a crowded leaderboard to win his first major championship today.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge,” Perry said late yesterday. “I’m looking forward to seeing what I got.”

He’ll be in the final group today alongside 2007 U.S. Open winner Angel Cabrera of Argentina. Both share the 54-hole lead at 11-under par after Perry shot a 2-under 70 yesterday and Cabrera a 3-under 69. Chad Campbell is two shots back at 9-under, while 2003 U.S. Open winner Jim Furyk is at 8-under. Those as far back as 4-under, including Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson, might think they have a chance to win, but this shootout is Perry’s to win.

Sure, Perry has never won a major after coming close in 1996 when he lost a playoff to Mark Brooks for the PGA Championship. His record at the Masters isn’t that great either, with a tie for 12th in 1995 among five missed cuts in eight previous appearances.

But Perry has gotten better with age. Nine of his 13 PGA Tour wins have come after age 40 and he had arguably his best season last year when he won three times and starred on the winning U.S. Ryder Cup team. He already has won the FBR Open this year. He knows how to finish.

“Forty-eight is just a number to me,” Perry said.

It will help that Perry doesn’t have to do anything spectacular today to win. He can simply do what he’s been doing all week, minimizing his mistakes and reaching greens in regulations, 43 of 54 so far to rank second best in the tournament. Perry said he didn’t have his “A” game yesterday, but still managed to shoot 2-under.

“We’ve got 18 holes to go and I’m in a great spot,” Perry said. “I’ve got something I can achieve that will move me up another notch on the totem pole. I go from being just a good player to being a better player.”

Thanks to decent weather, receptive greens and a course shortened by the moving up of three tee boxes, Augusta National has yielded plenty of red this weekend. It figures to be a fast track today where anyone going low, real low could steal the tournament.

Perry is looking for a fast start, and a good finish.

“You’ll definitely see something happen on the back nine where someone will win it,” he said.

The pick here is it will be Perry.

george.willis@nypost.com