Did he ever think he would achieve the recognition and the support he has from, in particular, Scottish Golfers?

'No - it seems like every time I have come over here people have treated me as one of them. It was appropriate to finish my career at St Andrews. I was 19 when I first came over here. Now its 46 years later. Who would have thought it?

'I enjoyed the experience then and hopefully I am going to enjoy the one this summer.'

What about the course, was it love at first sight?

'Whilst I was at Muirfield (in 1959), a couple of friends went to St Andrews. They said it was the worst golf course ever, they were three putting 14, 15. 16 greens ?.., but I fell in love with it the first time I went round it. They were so far off base - they didn't understand what they were looking at!

'You take the town. It is just some bunch of old grey buildings - not very attractive.

'Then you add in the golf, the history.

It's a beautiful scene to me. The town comes out with a different look. I like the history, the competition, the way the course has matched itself to championship golf, until 2000. I?m worried about it now

'In 2000, Tiger never even saw a bunker. Tiger is 25 yards longer than in 2000.'

Had he ever had any problems with the infamous 17th, the Road Hole and its greenside bunker?

'The bunker on the 17th - I thought it was something I never wanted to be in. I always played to the front of the green - as a par four and a half.

'Have I ever had a disaster - I don't think so - Not yet!

'I was in Hell bunker in 1995. I took 10 in there. I just couldn't figure how to get out - find any direction to go.'

'Then (in 2000) Tiger was the longest - now he's not the longest. How many more guys are there now who will make the place obsolete? Maybe will it wake the R&A up, to realise the golf ball is way out of bounds. I think'

This is Nicklaus at his formidable best and he hasn't finished.

'The golf ball is way out of bounds just to satisfy some manufacturer's ego. I think we have a chance of that. St Andrews has stood the test of time, 150 years of Championship golf and now the golf ball goes so far it obsoletes everything, not just St Andrews

'We design by what the golf ball is doing in 2002/2003 in say (the year) 2000. I put in bunkers at say 265-275. Now I have to put them in at say 290-310 - what does that do for the average golfer? I have to adjust the back tees or I can go the other way and the average golfer never sees that bunker. Its why I design for the average golfer.

'The USGA reached a little agreement for 115-120 (clubhead velocity), on a voluntary basis. If they are not thinking about it, why is it bothering them? They are not blind or stupid.

'Their Legal department are telling them what they can do.

'We want to make sure the average golfer and the pro plays the same equipment. Ten years ago the average golfer hit it within 20-25 yards of a Professional with a good shot. Today its 100 yards.

'It's the design ultimate in technology, with high clubhead speed

'At 125 mph clubhead speed, if you hit the ball with a driver, in the rear end, you get that 'pop'. The average golfer never has that ability. They are testing in the 115-120 mph - never in the area where we have the problem.

'I don't want to see 2 golf balls. Using it (the difference in clubhead speed) as a reason is out of whack but you look at the places they hit a golf ball. Its all about power. You look at the Top 5 in the World and none is in the Top 120 in Driving Accuracy.

'I may be an old fuddy duddy - it's quite possible, quite likely! I have no axes to grind - I'm never going to play competitive golf again. I want to do the right thing for the game of golf.

'The game deserves the average golfer to play a very similar game as the professional. They are miles apart and its not very good for the game

'Mike Weir, Fred Funk, Jay Haas - they have to be miles ahead of their games to compete. Gary Player never had to be miles ahead to compete.

'Gary Player would not compete under modern conditions - he would probably compete because of his abilities as a player, as such a great competitor. The power equation takes him out of the game.

'Just because a player has the strength and ability to swing over 125-130 mph to play Tournament golf - that's wrong.

'Luke Donald - I don't know how far he hits, I've only played with him once - he?s not much past me - here is a guy who is a tremendous talent. You want a guy to compete on his talent not on his (physical) strength.

'I had tremendous strength which was to my advantage - when I needed it - when I used it - I had to be accurate. Today you don't.'

'Look at two years ago, at Mike Weir when he won at Augusta - he hits only 50% of the greens - that's incredible, phenomenal. Luke should not have to be phenomenal to win. He?s a very good player

And what about the thought of Tiger beating Jack's Major record?

'Not necessarily. 10 years ago we are talking about it and now 10 years on and he is half way there.

'I don't have the idea - he has the work ethic, the desire, but will he want to play in five years time?'

Is Woods Fallible - Was Augusta a sign of the future?

'He has the golf tournament won then suddenly he is hitting it places he shouldn't. Where he was on 16, how he hit it there I don't know then he makes two and then on 17, he is so far right he's in play.'

Having set the 'bar' for the modern professional, and having dominated the game for more than 20 years, Nicklaus will shed many tears as he take his final bow next Friday, or maybe even Sunday at the 2005 St Andrew Open. He will though continue to make his presence felt on the subject of technology and the future of the game, as the man who has done just about everything - except win the Canadian Open.