No one would have heard of Jack Nicklaus, the person who changed the golf scenario for the centuries to come. With voluminous records in his name, he explored and opened new avenues for the game.
It was a time when Bobby Jones was considered the king, who had achieved the highest peak a person could ever have, in golf. Things had just begun when Jack swung his club. The grace with which he completed his 18 holes, made the audience stare without a wink so as not to miss a single shot of the Golden Bear.
The Golden Bear would never be possible if a decision were not made in 1961. After getting married to Barbara, Nicklaus became a family man and golf, a hobby. Like every man with a wife, he wanted to take up a full-time job. He could not risk his economic state for a hobby, however good it be, since his family life had just taken off.
But the fans and many admirers of the game insisted that he turn professional. Nicklaus resisted, as he never knew of a player chasing golf as a full-time career with no good job on hand, as a stand by.
In 1961, he won his second Amateur, and it boosted his morale. Standing at the crossroads of job or golf, it was hard for him to choose either. Pondering over the pros and cons of becoming a full-time golfer, he opted for the game. Had he lost the 1961 Amateur, the world would not have this great golfer with more than 100 titles in his bag as of today.
It would be no exaggeration to say that the world would not have Tiger Woods at his best, if it were not for Jack whose list of records were kept under Tiger’s bed as a continual source of inspiration.
Birth of A Legend
Jack William Nicklaus was born in Columbus, Ohio, on January 21, 1940. His father, Charles Nicklaus, was a pharmacist who, by his hard work, had built up a chain of four chemist’s shops.
He was a live, extrovert person and a good amateur athlete too.
The amateur’s son had no interest in sports but destiny had other plans. Charles got an ankle injury when Jack was 10. When he recovered, the doctor advised him to walk for at least two hours a day to strengthen the leg muscles. Charles did not like to stroll idly. To fulfill the purpose of walking, he took up golf.
Jack adored his father and accompanied him on the course. Watching his father play daily, Jack soon learnt the nuances of the game. After his father completed his 'walk' playing golf, Jack would try it out with his club on the green course. Soon his interest in the game increased and so did the hours on the golf course. He shot a 51 for the first nine-hole he ever played and won the Scioto Club Juvenile trophy. The next year again saw him repeat the performance.
Displaying Qualities
One afternoon when 12-year-old Jack was accompanying his father on the ground, his father challenged him. Charles drove the ball at 240 meters and jokingly said to Jack : "If you can beat that, I’ll buy you a Cadillac convertible." Moonfaced and solemn, young Jack stepped up to the tee and hit 265 meters.
Though Jack could not get his Cadillac, his father bought him a smaller car when he completed his school. At 13, at his first national tournament, (the USGA Junior Championship for ages 17 and under), he had three on his side before being eliminated.
First Amateur
Year after year, as his affair with golf increased, his car drives frequented the golf course. Fortunately there was a good golf course near his house. He joined the Scioto Country Club, which was 6,485 meters in length. His performance on this course made him known locally as a Bobby Jones. Jack was 15 when he got an opportunity to play at the big national tournament, the US Amateur. The local ‘Bobby Jones’ was not aware that he was being watched by Jones himself, who had heard of this prodigy and was anxious to see him play.
Unaware of the presence of his dream hero with a lead in the first match at the tenth hole, Jack was rattled when he knew that the legendary Bobby Jones was watching him. He botched the next three holes and lost his chance of winning the match. The great Jones met and consoled this little wonder by saying : "You’ll do better another time."
First Major
Jones was right. The next time, Jack Nicklaus was at the top. The Ohio Open win, was the first major tournament to his credit at the age of 16. He had completed his schooling and colleges by then. For promoting golf, offers of scholarship were pouring in, to enlist the young champion. He was considering the offers, but his father suggested him to get enrolled at the Ohio State University, his Alma Mater and forget the fun and money playing golf. "Get yourself education," his father chided him. "You can play golf anywhere."
Jack turned down the scholarships and got himself enrolled at Ohio State for the pre-pharmacy course. Then, he had no thoughts of becoming a professional golfer. Instead, he got himself a junior pharmacist’s license. His schedule during his college days was attending the lectures and then helping out at one of his father’s shops after the lectures. Besides, Jack started spending hours on the course and grabbed his first US Amateur title in 1959, the youngest player to do so in 50 years.
Meeting Barbara
On the second day at the Ohio, he fell in love. While fetching a form for the daughter of mathematics professor, he delivered his heart along. The girl was Barbara, and before the end of their finals in July 1960, they got married.
Their honeymoon was accompanied by his passionate hobby – golf. On the next day of their marriage, they went to Hershey, a place where Nicklaus always wanted to play. Barbara accompanied her husband for 18 holes. The next day was at Winged Foot, New York. It was raining and no one was there on the course except Nicklaus playing and Barbara walking along. The next on the itinerary was Atlantic City, a place where Barbara wanted to go.
Pine Valley was on the way and Nicklaus didn’t want to miss it. On the way to the Atlantic City they went to Pine Valley. But, as per the rule of the club, Barbara could not accompany him on the course. She drove around the Pine Valley while Jack played on the course. At times, she drove near the course and exchanged glances with her hubby playing there. Later, at Atlantic City, they had a one-day stay and from there, they returned to Ohio. The two had great days and an envious devotion to each other. The couple had had five kids – Jack, Steve, Nancy, Gary and Michael.
The Great Turn
In 1961, he repeated his 1959 win of US Amateur. It was after this win that he was asked to give up his job and turn professional. Till then no player had taken golf as a full time profession and so Nicklaus was not very receptive to the idea. The main reason was that his idol Bobby Jones had never given up his amateur status. Soon, he realized that golfing had changed and it was no more a weekend pastime but a big-time sport. Nicklaus knew that if he wanted to play against the professionals, he needed to devote his full time to the game. To realize his dream, he finally made up his mind to quit his job and turned a pro.
Bear Winning
After turning a pro in 1961, he did not win any titles on the course.
On the personal front, Nicklaus and Barbara became proud parents of their first baby boy whom they named Jack, on September 23, 1961.
As a professional, he played his first tournament in 1962. It was not a success as he lost to the golfing giants. But later that year, he won his first major as a pro – the US Open. Nicklaus created an upset by defeating the dominator of the course, Arnold Palmer in the fourth round. Die-hard followers of Palmer were in for a great shock to see their hero losing out to a newcomer.
The people cold shouldered this new golfer, but Palmer sensed his talent. Before the game commenced, he had said : "Everybody says there’s only one favorite, and that’s me. But you better watch the fat boy." His words turned proverbially true, after Nicklaus made it with 71, three strokes better than Arnold’s 74. After losing, Palmer said : "Now, that the big guy’s out of the cage, everybody better run for cover."
Nicklaus received a different message from Bobby Jones this time. ‘Congratulations !’ it read, ‘I knew you could do better’.
First Legend
The next year brought success on both professional and personal fronts. On professional front, it was the Masters with a tough 12 footer for birdie on No. 16 and on personal front it was his second child – a baby boy christened Steve. Nicklaus had just triggered off his series of records. The year 1964 was not great for him, as far as any major titles were concerned, even though he had few locals to his credit, like the Phoenix Open, Portland Open, Australian Open, Canada Cup etc.
With an immense concentration level, he rarely took a wrong decision on the course. His swing was so sure that it surpassed Ben Hogan’s, who was a great golfer. It is said that if Nicklaus had not hit his best it would still be equal to Hogan’s best. In 1965, he earned the Master’s title again, making a mark in the history of golf, during the second half of the 20th century.
Jones, the ruler of the first half century, said after watching Nicklaus win the 1965 Masters : "Nicklaus played a game of which I am not familiar."
The Shining 60s
The 60s brought great success. In the beginning of the 70s, it was said that the Bear had forever robbed King Arnold off his throne. In 1965, he grabbed his Masters by nine strokes. Jones remarked it as "the greatest performance in golf history". His shot had shattered Hogan’s insurmountable Masters record of 274 by three strokes.
On home grounds, it was the arrival of a baby girl named Nancy on May 5. The Masters came along with Portland Open, Philadelphia Golf Classic etc. The following year, he managed to defend his Masters along with the prestigious British Open.
In 1967, he bagged the US Open after a long stretch of five years. The professional Bear was not having much time with his family. He concentrated only on the golf course and home was shouldered fully by Barbara. Barbara always encouraged him and set him free of the domestic responsibilities. She never interfered with Nicklaus while he was playing his tournaments. She managed all her children’s problems and needs herself, and approached her husband only when he returned home.
A Dedicated Lady
One such event shows how Barbara contributed in the making of the successful Bear. It was in 1967, a Saturday night, when Nicklaus was playing his Sahara Invitational. Barbara was pregnant and had a miscarriage, in the middle of the night. She didn’t want to disturb Nicklaus’ sleep. In the morning when he woke up, she informed him saying, "Jack, I think I need to get to a doctor."
Nicklaus’ dedication for the game was also unbelievable. Along with this Major, he also had the World Series of Golf and Westchester Classic. The end of this wonderful decade brought him another happiness. On January 15, 1969 Barbara gave birth to their fourth child, a baby boy they named Gary. Gary was the only one who later followed his father’s footsteps.
The 70s
The turn of the decade saw a change in the Bear.
The beginning of the new decade saw a new Nicklaus – leaner and more fashionable. From early childhood Nicklaus was overweight and suffered from a complex. His success in the first decade was not easily accepted by the crowd because of his physique. Nicklaus’ unhappy experiences coupled with a few setbacks in business had made him 'eat more than he could chew.' This had ballooned him and on the golf circuit he became known as Blob O, Moby Dick and Barrel Bottom.
"One Whale of a Golfer" – shouted the Sports Illustrated headline. His size, blond hair and aggressive style of playing earned him the nickname ‘Golden Bear’. Nicklaus was hated for unseating the people’s eminent hero – Palmer. He remained stoical at the time, when Watson stung him that unforgettable chip at Pebble Beach’s Number 17. He withstood it all.
After finishing the Ryder Cup in 1969, as per his doctor’s advise, he decided to reduce weight. He survived on a diet and exercised vigorously. Within three weeks, he lost 20 pounds. The 70s show the 5 feet 11 inches Nicklaus, a slender person with changed looks. Nicklaus grew his hair and used colored club. He started becoming more popular at the galleries. He truly went from fat Jack to "the Golden Bear."
"He was not homespun like Sam Snead, funny like Lee Trevino. His pants didn’t need hitching like Palmer’s," Sports Illustrated’s Rick Reilly wrote, "Instead, he won over America with pure, unbleached excellence."
The next Major came in 1970, but the two years in between fetched him the American Golf Classic, Australian Open and Sahara Invitational. At St. Andrews, he had the British Open of 1970 and the same year, he had the National Four Ball against Arnold Palmer.
The 1972 British Open at Muirfield hurt Nicklaus as Lee Trevino snatched the entire game away from his grasp while playing his best golf during the first two legs.
This novice, though short of public acceptance was seen in the first half of 70s with one British Open, two Masters, three PGA Championship and a US Open apart from many national and international events. The years to come saw him do even better.
1975 – 1980
The satisfaction of 60s soon diminished. The 70s did not give Nicklaus any warmth. The second half of the 70s show the graphs declining sharply. Nicklaus’ average victories every year came down by two or three. The year 1976 won the Australian Open for a record fifth time and in 1977, he lost the British Open against American new star Tom Watson. But he fought back in ’78 to gain good position overall. By the end of the decade, the golfing world had started believing that Nicklaus was losing his charm, or at least for the majors.
The worst was yet to come. The year 1979 went without any victories. Nicklaus felt it was time to recharge the engine and reprimand the biggest weakness – the short game and tune in his strengths. Then in 1980, he won two Majors – US Open and PGA. The following three years were uneventful, with only a single win. Nicklaus had many regrets for his defeat in the ’82 US Open. He repented so much that he wanted to believe in a genie.
Master’s Masters
In 1986, before the Masters, an Atlanta journalist wrote that Nicklaus was "alone, washed up, through". Though Nicklaus was strong to weather such news, it was different this time. After several defeats Nicklaus had lost his confidence. After 1959, this was the first Masters where his mother was also present. With his son Jack and Barbara in the gallery and mother and sister in attendance, he shot a 65 in the final round. It was his most emotion-stirring victory and also the last one as a pro before he joined the senior golf in 1990.
Senior Nicklaus
As a senior tour player he has won 10 of the 39 events. Eight of them are considered major. The Tradition four times, US Senior Open twice and once each, the Senior Tournament Player Championship and PGA Senior Championships. After entering the senior, he wrote an autobiography under the title My Story, which appeared in 1997.
His career took off after his first pro. Jones dominated the 20s. The 60s and 70s were to the Bear’s credit.
"How many other champions have become so identified with their sport, with the very essence of it, that it is impossible to think of one without the other ?" Frank Deford wrote in Sports Illustrated.
Bear Completing 60
On January 21, 2000, Nicklaus turned 60 with his eyes set on the future and an occasional extraordinary past. He still has many plans for his future. "What is in the past I’m proud of, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I want to live my life looking forward. I want to compete, I still can."
"I think he might surprise some people. He has never lost his desire to do well. He won’t lose that," said Barbara, his biggest fan. He hopes that now majors are not that easy except Masters and he knows the courses so well that it won’t be hard for him to compete. Nicklaus feels that now at 60 if he finished in the top 10, it would be a grand achievement.
Pains of 60s
To be fit and play a reasonable good golf he underwent a hip-surgery, but it hindered his swings. He had the hip problem from the mid-70s, which gradually became a major problem. His hip was cured but aging has brought many other ailments. "It seems I wake up every day with something else wrong," says Jack. Presently, braving minor physical ailments, he is employing the magnet therapy for cure. Yet, the Bear is still hopeful to play more golf once he is fit enough because for him, it’s more fun not to play than to play badly.
As for Barbara, after their fifth child Michael went to the college, she was free. Nicklaus had promised Barbara that he won’t be away from home for more than two weeks and he kept it. After their youngest son Michael went off to college, he’s changed his rules about tournament. He told once at an interview, "If she doesn’t go, I don’t go. I don’t think she’s missed one since." The two are seen together ever since.
Today, with all the children settled in their life and staying within 10 minutes distance, he is satisfied. He spends his leisure time with his children and grandchildren. Jack and Steve Ballestros are today their next door neighbors.
The senior golfer would not trade his trophies for all but Barbara and the five kids grew up well despite his absence during their growing up time. He gives full credit to Barbara for her perfect parenting. Nicklaus appreciates her so much that he attributes his success to her. He recalls : "Once when I started on the tour, there were four or five really good young players. Phil Rodgers and Richard Crawford were more advanced then I was. Neither of those guys was married then, and I think Barbara gave me a steadying influence that lot of other players didn’t have."
Barbara, a content wife and a happy mom, has many things to be proud of; she praises Nicklaus’ quality to control whenever he felt necessary. She says that on the course, he never smokes though at times off the course, he smokes two packs a day. His power to control things is his forte. But Barbara complains that he cannot abstain from ice-cream. Nicklaus has something in this regard : "That’s where I get lax, sloppy. I will sneak into the refrigerator at night."
Gary, The Next Nicklaus
Of all the five, Gary has stepped into his father’s shoes. Barbara used to drive the little child to play golf. When Gary was six, he was playing a little four-hole event – the International PeeWee Championships.
In those days Gary used to hit the ball and run down after it on an outright sprint. When Barbara inquired about it, Jack replied : "That’s the way I taught him, I don’t ever want him to play slow." Gary broke 80 for the first time, when he was 11. "The Next Nicklaus" were the words with which Sports Illustrated had him on their cover when he turned 16. Gary seemed to fill his father’s shoes when he enrolled at his father’s Alma Mater, Ohio State. Being a Nicklaus was not always good, as at the junior tournaments, the public expectations were very high along with the ever-following press.
At 30, the high trajectory, Popeye-forearmed, blond-haired, steely-eyed Gary finally stepped out of the tall shadow of his famous father. Today, Nicklaus senior is observing the junior’s swings and playing marvelous strokes. Apart from golf he could be seen skiing, fishing, hunting, or playing tennis. He enjoys being with the family.
If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings – nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you,
If all men count with you, but none too much;
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds’ worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that’s in it.
Nicknamed Golden Bear, this prolific sports person touched Himalayan heights in the game of Golf. His record of over 100 wins, is an incredible achievement that defies any description. With his assets like self-control and concentration, he has always played respectable golf.
In 1986, when it was thought that Jack Nicklaus has finished with majors, he surprised the world by winning the Masters. Jack Nicklaus is among those few luminaries of the ilk, Babe Ruth, Bobby Jones, and Mohammed Ali, who excelled at the games they played.
He pocketed most of the major titles like PGA, Masters, British to his credit. After having retired as a pro, he became a senior player in 1990 and the world even today watches his marvelous swings with anticipation. The long journey on the green course has taught him and many that the road never ends for those who have a will to move on in search of new and greener pastures. He's become one of the greatest driving force in Golf, today.
January 21, 1940
Jack William Nicklaus was born. 1950
First Victory at Scioto Club 1959
First US Amateur title 1960
Married to Barbara. 1961
Second US Amateur. First baby boy Jack Junior was born. 1962
Turned Professional at US Open. 1963
Masters, PGA Championship. Second baby Steve was born. 1965
Masters, Baby girl Nancy was born. 1966
Masters, British Open. 1967
US Open 1969
Gary, The next Nicklaus, was born. 1970
British Open 1971
PGA Championship 1972
Masters, US Open 1973
PGA Championship, fifth baby Michael was born. 1975
Masters, PGA Championship. 1978
British Open 1986
PGA Championship 1980
Masters 1990
Turned Senior Player, Tradition. 1993
US Senior Open 1995
Playing and enjoying golf while carrying out successful business venture.
The 70s
The turn of the decade saw a change in the Bear.
The beginning of the new decade saw a new Nicklaus – leaner and more fashionable. From early childhood Nicklaus was overweight and suffered from a complex. His success in the first decade was not easily accepted by the crowd because of his physique. Nicklaus’ unhappy experiences coupled with a few setbacks in business had made him 'eat more than he could chew.' This had ballooned him and on the golf circuit he became known as Blob O, Moby Dick and Barrel Bottom.
"One Whale of a Golfer" – shouted the Sports Illustrated headline. His size, blond hair and aggressive style of playing earned him the nickname ‘Golden Bear’. Nicklaus was hated for unseating the people’s eminent hero – Palmer. He remained stoical at the time, when Watson stung him that unforgettable chip at Pebble Beach’s Number 17. He withstood it all.
After finishing the Ryder Cup in 1969, as per his doctor’s advise, he decided to reduce weight. He survived on a diet and exercised vigorously. Within three weeks, he lost 20 pounds. The 70s show the 5 feet 11 inches Nicklaus, a slender person with changed looks. Nicklaus grew his hair and used colored club. He started becoming more popular at the galleries. He truly went from fat Jack to "the Golden Bear."
"He was not homespun like Sam Snead, funny like Lee Trevino. His pants didn’t need hitching like Palmer’s," Sports Illustrated’s Rick Reilly wrote, "Instead, he won over America with pure, unbleached excellence."
The next Major came in 1970, but the two years in between fetched him the American Golf Classic, Australian Open and Sahara Invitational. At St. Andrews, he had the British Open of 1970 and the same year, he had the National Four Ball against Arnold Palmer.
The 1972 British Open at Muirfield hurt Nicklaus as Lee Trevino snatched the entire game away from his grasp while playing his best golf during the first two legs.
This novice, though short of public acceptance was seen in the first half of 70s with one British Open, two Masters, three PGA Championship and a US Open apart from many national and international events. The years to come saw him do even better.
1975 – 1980
The satisfaction of 60s soon diminished. The 70s did not give Nicklaus any warmth. The second half of the 70s show the graphs declining sharply. Nicklaus’ average victories every year came down by two or three. The year 1976 won the Australian Open for a record fifth time and in 1977, he lost the British Open against American new star Tom Watson. But he fought back in ’78 to gain good position overall. By the end of the decade, the golfing world had started believing that Nicklaus was losing his charm, or at least for the majors.
The worst was yet to come. The year 1979 went without any victories. Nicklaus felt it was time to recharge the engine and reprimand the biggest weakness – the short game and tune in his strengths. Then in 1980, he won two Majors – US Open and PGA. The following three years were uneventful, with only a single win. Nicklaus had many regrets for his defeat in the ’82 US Open. He repented so much that he wanted to believe in a genie.
Master’s Masters
In 1986, before the Masters, an Atlanta journalist wrote that Nicklaus was "alone, washed up, through". Though Nicklaus was strong to weather such news, it was different this time. After several defeats Nicklaus had lost his confidence. After 1959, this was the first Masters where his mother was also present. With his son Jack and Barbara in the gallery and mother and sister in attendance, he shot a 65 in the final round. It was his most emotion-stirring victory and also the last one as a pro before he joined the senior golf in 1990.
Senior Nicklaus
As a senior tour player he has won 10 of the 39 events. Eight of them are considered major. The Tradition four times, US Senior Open twice and once each, the Senior Tournament Player Championship and PGA Senior Championships. After entering the senior, he wrote an autobiography under the title My Story, which appeared in 1997.
His career took off after his first pro. Jones dominated the 20s. The 60s and 70s were to the Bear’s credit.
"How many other champions have become so identified with their sport, with the very essence of it, that it is impossible to think of one without the other ?" Frank Deford wrote in Sports Illustrated.
Bear Completing 60
On January 21, 2000, Nicklaus turned 60 with his eyes set on the future and an occasional extraordinary past. He still has many plans for his future. "What is in the past I’m proud of, I wouldn’t trade it for anything. I want to live my life looking forward. I want to compete, I still can."
"I think he might surprise some people. He has never lost his desire to do well. He won’t lose that," said Barbara, his biggest fan. He hopes that now majors are not that easy except Masters and he knows the courses so well that it won’t be hard for him to compete. Nicklaus feels that now at 60 if he finished in the top 10, it would be a grand achievement.
Pains of 60s
To be fit and play a reasonable good golf he underwent a hip-surgery, but it hindered his swings. He had the hip problem from the mid-70s, which gradually became a major problem. His hip was cured but aging has brought many other ailments. "It seems I wake up every day with something else wrong," says Jack. Presently, braving minor physical ailments, he is employing the magnet therapy for cure. Yet, the Bear is still hopeful to play more golf once he is fit enough because for him, it’s more fun not to play than to play badly.
As for Barbara, after their fifth child Michael went to the college, she was free. Nicklaus had promised Barbara that he won’t be away from home for more than two weeks and he kept it. After their youngest son Michael went off to college, he’s changed his rules about tournament. He told once at an interview, "If she doesn’t go, I don’t go. I don’t think she’s missed one since." The two are seen together ever since.
Today, with all the children settled in their life and staying within 10 minutes distance, he is satisfied. He spends his leisure time with his children and grandchildren. Jack and Steve Ballestros are today their next door neighbors.
The senior golfer would not trade his trophies for all but Barbara and the five kids grew up well despite his absence during their growing up time. He gives full credit to Barbara for her perfect parenting. Nicklaus appreciates her so much that he attributes his success to her. He recalls : "Once when I started on the tour, there were four or five really good young players. Phil Rodgers and Richard Crawford were more advanced then I was. Neither of those guys was married then, and I think Barbara gave me a steadying influence that lot of other players didn’t have."
Barbara, a content wife and a happy mom, has many things to be proud of; she praises Nicklaus’ quality to control whenever he felt necessary. She says that on the course, he never smokes though at times off the course, he smokes two packs a day. His power to control things is his forte. But Barbara complains that he cannot abstain from ice-cream. Nicklaus has something in this regard : "That’s where I get lax, sloppy. I will sneak into the refrigerator at night."
• The older you get the stronger the wind gets – and its always in your face.
• Be very sharp in your focus and then hit a shot.
• Achievement is largely the product of steadily raising one’s levels of aspiration and expectation.
• Nobody ever remembers who finished second at anything.
• I think I fail just a bit less than everyone else.
• The 2000 season was great year for him. It was partly because Gary after his Q School tournament secured his first PGA Tour Card. At Dolar’s Gold course he made it through.
• The Bear still wants to play golf and one reason is Gary of course !.
