“I am super excited about playing,” Nicklaus said. “I have been looking forward to this tournament all year. I had a chance earlier this week in New York to get into the U.S. Open and I failed to do so. To come back just a few days later and do this at my home course means a great deal. “I think the whole scene today was punctuated by being able to enjoy such a moment at my home club, with my son on the bag and my parents and friends there in the gallery. It was a great day and hopefully I can carry it over to the championship at Notre Dame. I never thought a Buckeye from Ohio State could be this happy about going to Notre Dame.”