CHICAGO -- Jack Nicklaus would just as soon skip his latest assignment for ABC Sports this weekend in his homestate of Ohio.
Nicklaus, who won the Masters earlier this year in dramatic fashion, is scheduled to appear live as a 'special commentator' for ABC's coverage this weekend of the 68th PGA championship.
But Nicklaus would just as soon pass up the broadcast assignment. He is looking to make the cut in the field at the Iverness Club in Toledo, Ohio, and win his second major championship of the year.
Nicklaus has won four PGA championships, 1963, 1971, 1975 and 1980 and remains a major ratings draw for his appearances on the links rather than behind the microphone.
'Of course we'd love to have Jack work with us,' said Jim McKay, who will again anchor the coverage. 'Jack is a magnetic personality on the course and off.'
Nicklaus was hired earlier this year by ABC after the Masters to serve as a special commentator, the same way Dave Marr got his start with the network as a part-time analyst, full-time golfer.
Marr won the 1965 PGA championship, the first year ABC had the rights to the final event of golf's grand slam. Marr is still the network's main expert commentator along with former pros Bob Rosburg and Ed Sneed. Rosburg is also a former PGA winner, having captured the event in 1959.
The PGA coverage begins Friday night at 11:30 p.m. EDT with a half-hour of highlights. Saturday and Sunday, ABC devotes 3 -hours beginning at 3:30 p.m., with or without Nicklaus. ESPN will team with ABC and provide coverage of the first two rounds of the PGA on Thursday and Friday preceding the ABC coverage.
Unlike the U.S. Open, in which ABC covers the tourney from the first through the 18th hole, ABC plans coverage of holes five through 18 on both the third and fourth round. However, because of the PGA's sudden-death playoff rule -- the U.S. Open has a full 18-hole playoff the following day -- ABC is set up to cover all 18 holes. A playoff would require the participants to begin sudden death on the first hole.
The rest of the weekend fare (all times EDT): Saturday Baseball
NBC Game of the week (2:15 p.m.). Los Angeles Dodgers at Cincinnati Reds or Kansas City Royals at New York Yankees.
San Francisco at Atlanta (7:40 p.m., WTBS). Golf
PGA Open (3:30-7 p.m. ABC). Live third-round coverage from Toledo, Ohio. General
ABC Wide World of Sports (2-3:30 p.m.). U.S. diving championships from Orlando, Fla; Pro beach volleyball.
CBS Sports Special (5-6 p.m.). International Race of Champions, fourth and final race of the series, from Watkins Glen International. Tennis
Volvo International (12:30-3:30 p.m. ESPN). Live from Stratton Mountain Sports Center in Vermont. Horse racing
United Handicap (10-11 p.m., ESPN). Live from Atlantic City, N.J.
Sunday Baseball
Philadelphia at Chicago (2:20 p.m. WGN).
San Francisco at Atlanta (2:10 p.m. WTBS).
New York Mets at Montreal (1:35 p.m.) WOR. Football
John Madden pre-season special (2-3 p.m. CBS). Analyst previews the NFL season.
Los Angeles Raiders at San Francisco 49ers (3-6 p.m. CBS). Pre-season interconference clash from Candlestick Park. Tennis
Volvo International (3:30-5:30 p.m. ESPN) Live from Vermont. Golf
PGA championship (3:30-7 p.m. ABC). Final-round coverage and playoff, if needed, live from Toledo. General
NBC Sportsworld (4:30-6 p.m.). Taped coverage of CART Michigan 500 from Brooklyn, Michigan; taped coverage of international pole competition from Bethpage, N.Y. advance for Friday, Aug.
