Nicklaus Released From Hospital

February 1, 1999 / 5:17 PM EST / CBS/AP

Jack Nicklaus left the hospital Monday with a new ceramic hip and hopes of playing golf again and dancing at his son's wedding.

"Postoperative recovery to date has been right on track," said Dr. Benjamin Bierbaum, who performed the surgery Wednesday at New England Baptist Hospital.

The 59-year-old golf great will be on crutches for six weeks and plans to follow the strict instructions of both his doctors and wife.

"My wife told me the one thing I'm going to do is dance at my son's wedding," he said, referring to the Feb. 20 marriage of his youngest son Michael. "Other than that, I'm going to do nothing for six weeks."

Nicklaus will miss the Masters in April for the first time in 40 years and possibly the U.S. Open in June, but doctors have said he should be able to play competitively again.

"I don't have any illusions, at the age of 59 or 60, of coming back and competing with the Tiger Woods 's and David Duvals," Nicklaus said.

Nicklaus, winner of a record 18 majors, had a degenerative left hip for years. He tried to avoid a hip replacement with a rigorous exercise routine, but finally yielded when the hip began to affect his quality of life as well as his game.

Bierbaum said Nicklaus will be on crutches so the bone and soft tissue can heal. After that, he will go through a rehabilitation program that could take at least six more weeks.