He had a lot of talent, but didn't have much dedication, wasn't organized, didn't know how to learn, didn't know how to comprehend what he was doing, didn't try to learn how to get better.

I played competitive golf all my life. Then all of a sudden, when I quit playing the game, I've got all this spare time and this energy. And certainly I wasn't ready to pack up my bags and go sit in front of the television with a shawl on.

When I fly in a helicopter, I insist there be two sets of controls, one for me in case something happens to the pilot. I'm no expert, but I know enough to at least get the thing on the ground. Nothing scares me like the thought of not being in control.

I've never set up any golf course that would favor anybody. I try to make it exactly the opposite, which is what we did at Valhalla when we modernized it to accommodate the lengths players are hitting it today.

You have to trust your kids. They have to experience life, and you just hope you've provided them a foundation for what's right and what isn't.

Did you know there's probably more golf played in Iceland than most places in the world? They play 24 hours a day in the summertime and the northern part is warmer than the southern part.

I learned early in my career, where you get so wrapped up and so excited, that all of a sudden you don't think. So I worked very hard to keep myself suppressed. And that's one of the reasons I wasn't gregarious with the gallery.

A big part of managing a golf course is managing your swing on the course. A lot of guys can go out and hit a golf ball, but they have no idea how to manage what they do with the ball. I've won as many golf tournaments hitting the ball badly as I have hitting the ball well.

I never worried about money, except that I knew that all I had to worry about was golf. As long as I could play, I was going to make money.

The longer you play, the better chance the better player has of winning.

Writers have told me more than once that I'm a better interview in defeat than in victory, which is a compliment I am extremely proud of.

I have said many times that most people work all their life to retire to play golf, while I played golf all my life to retire to work. I enjoy working. It has kept me young and on the move, and I have had a good time with it.

Whether it's pool or Ping Pong, I can't stand to have my kids beat me. Especially Ping Pong! And when they beat me, they just needle the devil out of me. That's fine. I'd rather have that than let them win a shallow victory.

The fact is, I diet every day of my life. I have to work at it. But I diet so I can pig out.

I might cook occasionally, but I'm not a good cook. That's not my passion.

Golf is a better game played downhill.

I like trying to win. That's what golf is all about.

Pete Dye introduced me to golf course design back in the 1960's. He came to my hometown Columbus, Ohio to work on The Golf Club.

I've been fortunate over my career to make a little history on the 16th hole at Augusta National.

All I ever wanted to do was play competitive golf against the best players in the world.

I'm probably the only bottom-heavy golfer in the country.

I've wanted to design golf courses ever since I was a kid. I suppose it comes from the way I've played the game. To find the proper way to play any hole, I've always begun by asking myself what the architect has tried to do with it.

Public appearances are a headache. I hold mine down to a minimum.

A Nicklaus Design golf course is done by the guys in my company that I work with, that have been trained in my vision, and they do what they think I might do. They might come in the office and ask me questions and I'd certainly answer their questions, but I'm not involved in the site visits or anything else.

The Senior Tour is a good concept, although frankly I'm not astounded at its continued success. It gives a lot of guys an opportunity to extend their careers.

The way I pack is I look at how long I'll be gone and I pack day for day. If I'm going on a three-day fishing trip, I plot each day. I put most of that in a little bag. If I'm going from there to work on golf courses for a few days, I plot that trip.

If I were to look back on my work, I think I accomplished probably about 70 to 75 percent of what I could have. Maybe 60 percent. Somewhere in that area; two-thirds of what I could have accomplished. If I had been a really dedicated person, and really worked hard, I think I could have accomplished more.

Golf was my vehicle to competition, and I can't play if I can't compete.

Loyalty is a big part of football, and it shows if you are a real man or not.

To be playing against people like Xavi and Iniesta is brilliant.

The aim every season is to challenge for the top four and try to win a trophy.

When you go to the training ground day after day, there's times when you don't want to do it, especially when you see all the boys go out to training.

My perfect formation would be 4-3-3 with one holding and then the two going forward. I would be one of the ones going forward.

Football never stops, and that's why you need a big squad.

I think every manager is the same. Three days before the Premier League starts, every manager is selfish that way. They want the players fit and ready.

To put on an England top is a dream.

If you've lived in England for five years, for me, it doesn't make you English.

You can help build momentum in training by keeping the pace and intensity high. Make things happen in training, and then you can transfer that onto the pitch.

It's every kid's dream to represent their country at a World Cup.

Teams want the best players. If the best players come through your academy, you can play.

I've had a bond with West Ham since growing up as a kid, going to Upton Park, looking up to the players.

It is important to start winning international tournaments early and get that mentality into you. Then, hopefully, you can take it on to the world stage.

When you are injured - and injured for a while - it is hard. You have to go to the training ground and watch everyone go out to play.

Once I'm at the training ground, I'm focused, preparing for the next game.

I'm not really a defensive midfielder.

I haven't eaten junk food since I was 11, but I'm not teetotal: I have a drink maybe once a month.

I prefer playing in a 4-3-3.

The best player I ever played with is probably Cesc Fabregas. I only got to play with him for a year before he went back to Barcelona, but I learned so much from him - the way he knew what he was going to do with the ball before he got it and his passing - and he scored goals.

I'll take criticism. I know that's part and parcel of football. But when it's just reckless and aggressive, I don't listen.

To spend 17 months on the sidelines is tough for anyone, and it's hard to see everyone go out training and then to go and watch games at the Emirates Stadium.