Nicklaus implores youth to protect elderly: 'Be smart, be safe'

Jack Nicklaus used Florida Sen. Rick Scott's social media account Sunday to deliver a message to young people regarding the important role they have in preventing the spread of the coronavirus.

"Many of you kids, you're going to a lot of places that may bring (the virus) home to a senior citizen," Nicklaus said. "I don't think that's what you want to do."

The 80-year-old Nicklaus acknowledged he and his wife, Barbara, are in a higher-risk demographic of those contracting COVID-19 and urged fellow Americans to take the necessary steps to keep each other healthy.

"We need to be smart, be safe," Nicklaus said. "The coronavirus is going to hurt a lot of people."

He continued, "Let's all make sure we wash our hands, let's make sure we're very smart about where we go and when we go, let's try to stay away from public places. ... Americans have always gotten through these things, and we'll get through this one."

Nicklaus added that while he's disappointed to see all the cancellations and postponements, professional sports should take a back seat to the health of people across the country.

The 18-time major winner supported Augusta National's decision when it postponed the 2020 Masters and said he might not have attended had it been played at its originally scheduled time, according to Golfweek's Julie Williams.