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The golf legend Jack Nicklaus

Jack Nicklaus was arguably the greatest golfer of the twentieth century. He faced strong challenges from the likes of Bobby Jones, Arnold Palmer and of course more recently Tiger Woods, but the amount of time Nicklaus remained at the highest echelon of golf singles him out for me. Bobby Jones never had to face the intense pressure brought about by professional golf, the popular Palmer didn’t stay at the peak for as long and Tiger Woods… well, although the very last years of the 1900’s belonged to him, it was too early to compare him to the all time greats.

Born in Ohio, 1940, Jack Nicklaus was introduced to golf by his father, who took up the sport in an attempt to restore an injured ankle to full working order. The young Nicklaus began as a caddy for his father, but soon took up the game himself, and was shooting very impressive scores from an early age.

His hero then was Bobby Jones, the American golfer who so dominated the game in the 1920s. Just as his hero had remained amateur, so Nicklaus vowed to do, playing for the love and challenges of the game, rather than a fast buck.

The 1959 US Amateur Championship was Nicklaus’ stepping-stone into the spotlight. He won the event then, and again in 1961. A year later he went back on his word and turned pro. Who could blame him though? Amateur golf wasn’t going to give him financial security for life, and at the age of twenty-one, that must have been one of his foremost thoughts.

A year after turning pro, Jack Nicklaus won the US Open Championship, and he had truly arrived on the world stage. The press were not endeared to him though. Because of his bulky physique he was given nicknames such as ‘Whale Boy’ and ‘Fat Jack’. He was also seen as a young upstart challenging the huge popularity of Arnold Palmer, who had a cult following known as ‘Arnie’s Army’. Gradually though, Nicklaus won over many critics with the sheer excellence of his golf. He had many strengths - lengthy, controlled drives that were matched by no other golfer of the time, a fail safe putting technique, and perhaps most importantly an outstanding temperament; Jack Nicklaus very rarely beat himself.

Having acquired the kinder nickname of ‘The Golden Bear’ (because of his blonde hair and bear-like stature), Nicklaus set about winning major after major. In total he amassed eighteen – three Open Championships, four US Opens, five USPGA Championships, and an incredible six US Masters titles. As this is what most experts judge the quality of a golfer by, Nicklaus stands head and shoulders above the rest. His crowning glory came in 1986, when he won his final major (the US Masters) at the age of forty-six, when many had written him off.

Most importantly, Jack Nicklaus always lost graciously. He came second in several major championships, but was always the first to congratulate the winner, not wishing to take any of the credit away from them. That is why he was not only a fabulous golfer, but also a true sportsman.

Written by Simon Heseltine