A Nicklaus Returns

BOCA RATON, FLORIDA | At 11:47 a.m. Friday, golf saw something it hadn’t seen in almost two decades: The name “Nicklaus” alone atop a leader board.

But not Jack.

Gary Nicklaus, Jack’s third-oldest son, birdied four consecutive holes on the front nine to take the early Oasis Championship lead at 4-under.

With his dad quietly watching from outside the ropes, blending in as much as a GOAT can, Gary added a birdie at No. 11 on The Old Course at Broken Sound to regain the lead at 5-under.

Could the Golden Cub win his first PGA Tour Champions event?

OK, maybe we’re getting a little ahead of ourselves here.

Playing on a major tour for the first time since he walked away from the sport in 2003, Gary was even-par on his last seven holes and scored a first-round 67, four shots behind leader Jesper Parnevik.

A day after saying he was not nervous, Gary admitted he was “shaking like a leaf” on the first tee. His drive on the second hole was 40 yards right of the fairway.

“I was out of my element,” Nicklaus said. “But I was ...