Nicklaus, Jack (1940—)

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Nicklaus, Jack (1940—)

In the world of professional golf, no man has been more successful than Jack Nicklaus, the "Golden Bear." Winner of 20 major championships, Nicklaus has been a major part of the development of the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) Tour for the last 30 years. His name is cemented in twentieth century golf history not only as the best professional golfer to ever play the game, but also as one of golf's leading ambassadors.

Born Jack William on January 21, 1940 in Columbus, Ohio, the young Nicklaus first played golf at age ten and won his first tournament, the Scioto Club Juvenile Championship, later that same year. He progressed quickly in his pursuit of the game under the tutelage of professional Jack Grout, at the Scioto Country Club in Columbus. Nicklaus soon rose among the amateur ranks in Ohio, winning the Ohio State Junior Championship in 1953, 1954, and 1955, then the Ohio State Open Championship in 1956. Nicklaus took part in his first United States Amateur Championship in 1955 at Richmond, Virginia, in which he lost in the first round.

Nicklaus attended Ohio State University, where he played for the Buckeye golf team and enrolled in a pre-pharmacy program. He met his future wife Barbara Jean Bash while a student, and the couple married July 23, 1960. He had much success while at Ohio State, winning a number of collegiate tournaments. His first Major victory came at the Broadmoor Golf Club in Colorado in 1959, where he won his first United States Amateur Championship. Two years later he won his second, at the Pebble Beach Golf Course in California in 1961. This final victory convinced Nicklaus he was ready to forego his amateur status, which he did in November of 1961.

Success came rapidly to Nicklaus during his rookie year in professional golf. He won the United States Open—at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania—in a famed playoff against Arnold Palmer. Nicklaus went on to win four more PGA tournament events in his first year, earning him the "Rookie of the Year" title for 1962. He captured his first victory in the Masters Tournament, in Augusta, Georgia in 1963, the same year he won his first PGA Championship. His first British Open title was won in 1966, in Muirfield, Scotland, making him the winner of the four majors at the extraordinary age of just 26. Overall, Nicklaus won 30 tournaments in the 1960s. He evolved into the dominant golfer of his times, and became known for his aggressive play and prodigious length on the golf course. His success continued into the 1970s, when he won 36 tournaments. The golf world was shocked when at age 46 he won the Master's for a record sixth time in 1986. His dominance of professional golf slowly declined in the 1980s, when he won only five tournaments. Nicklaus began play on the Senior PGA Tour in 1990, and found success as quickly as he did in 1962, with a total of ten tournament victories since 1990.

Jack Nicklaus was the most dominant golfer of his times, and set several PGA Tour records including most Majors (20), most United States Open wins (four), and most Masters wins (six). He won 71 PGA Tour events and 19 international or unofficial tournaments in his career, and was named Player of the Year five times. He has parlayed his success into profitable business ventures such as golf course design and club manufacturing. Nicklaus operates a popular golf instructional school and has produced many instructional videos and books about the game of golf. His influence on the game as ambassador of the sport and as teacher continue to bring Jack Nicklaus to the forefront of professional golf over 40 years after he first picked up a club.

—Jay Parrent