Jack Nicklaus, host of the 2025 Memorial Tournament, expressed strong disapproval of on-course interviews during play. He emphasized that such distractions wouldn’t have been tolerated in his era, highlighting the seriousness with which past golfers approached competition.
Nicklaus, a golf legend with 73 PGA Tour wins and 18 major titles, commented after Ben Griffin participated in a walk-and-talk interview. He found it inappropriate, especially with Griffin facing a difficult shot under tournament pressure.
Nicklaus remarked that past players like Ben Hogan would have reacted aggressively to such interruptions. He believes the intense focus required in professional golf should be respected during competitive rounds.
Despite the controversy, Griffin maintained his lead at 7-under, tying with Nick Taylor. Meanwhile, Nicklaus paid a heartfelt tribute to his wife, Barbara, this year’s tournament honoree, celebrating her decades-long, behind-the-scenes contributions to the event.
