Jack Nicklaus and his wife, Barbara, had the coronavirus from mid-March through mid-April but have fully recovered, Jack Nicklaus revealed Sunday during the Memorial Tournament broadcast on CBS.
"Barbara was asymptomatic. I had a sore throat and a little bit of a cough. It didn't last very long. We were both very lucky," Nicklaus told CBS golf host Jim Nantz.
The Nicklauses, both 80, tested positive for COVID-19 on March 13 and stayed in their south Florida home until April 20.
"We have the antibodies, so we can't get it and can't give it," said Nicklaus, who grew up in Upper Arlington.
The World Health Organization, however, posts on its website that "there is currently no evidence that people who have recovered from COVID-19 and have antibodies are protected from a second infection."
Nicklaus, who has been wearing a mask at Muirfield Village Golf Club, plans to stick with tradition and shake the hand of the Memorial winner, if the champion is comfortable doing so.
"Our hearts go out to the people who did lose their lives and their families. We were just a couple of the lucky ones, so we feel very strong about working with those who are taking care of those who have COVID-19," Nicklaus said.
Tiger Woods, whose 15 career wins in major championships are second to Nicklaus' 18, said he had been aware of the Golden Bear and his wife having COVID-19.
"The fact that they got through it and they're safe and here and healthy, it's all good news for all of us who are a part of golf and who looked up to Jack and been around Barbara all these years," Woods said. "The fact that they're healthy is nothing but positives."
