Jack Nicklaus offers Masters praise for Willett, sympathy for Spieth

In the wake of the outcome of the Masters, 18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus felt compelled to issue a statement on Jordan Spieth’s meltdown on the par-3 12th and Danny Willett’s bogey-free, final-round 67 that clinched his first major championship.

“I think the whole golfing world feels for Jordan Spieth,” the statement started. “He had a chance to do something truly special and something very few have done before—and be the youngest to accomplish that—and he just didn’t pull through. My heart goes out to him for what happened, but I know that Jordan is a young man who will certainly learn from this experience and there will be some good that comes out of this for him. He’s a wonderful talent and a wonderful young man.”

With every sports meltdown, there’s also a winner who benefits. Willett, however, played the final 21 holes without dropping a shot and was spectacular in taking the lead and nursing it with three holes remaining.

Nicklaus was impressed.

“What impressed me so much is that when he realized he was in a position to win, he finished it—and that’s the mark of a champion: To finish a good round; give yourself an opportunity to win; and when the other fellow doesn’t finish, you’ve got to be there,” Nicklaus wrote. “Danny Willett was and kudos to him.”

Ryan Ballengee is a Yahoo Sports contributor. Find him on Facebook and Twitter.

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