Nicklaus

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by Denise I Smithson

Even before he was old enough to drive a car, it was obvious that Jack Nicklaus (also known as The Golden Bear) was destined to become a golf legend. At the age of 13, this son of a Columbus, Ohio pharmacist broke 70 while playing 18 holes.

He won the 1956 Ohio Open while only 16 and the US Amateur twice, in 1959 and 1961 - and in the 1960 open, he came in second only to Arnold Palmer. In the same year, Nicklaus was part of the team which won the Eisenhower Trophy, scoring a still-standing 269 four round score.

Nicklaus was playing on the pro circuit by 1962, when he won his first US Open. Defeating Arnold Palmer in this tournament made him a household name overnight. He would win the Masters twice in the 1960's even though it would be 1970 before he would win his next US Open. He took nine more major titles in the 1970s, breaking the 13 title record held by Bobby Jones. His last major tournament can in 1986, when he was 46; the oldest player to win this tournament.

In 1990, Nicklaus joined the PGA Senior tour. He would win 10 tournaments on the tour by 1996. Eight of these were major tournament wins, no less. His last appearance in a major tournament would be in 2005. Since then, he has stayed active in the golf world - designing courses, holding his own PGA tournament (the Memorial Tournament) and writing both autobiographies and instructional books - on how to play his way, of course.

Nicklaus, like Palmer came to fame with the advent of televised golf games. By 1962, he had won an unprecedented $60,000 as a pro golfer, becoming the third-highest paid player in the sport as well as winning the Rookie of the Year award. The following year was one of his best, winning bith the Maters and the PGA championships.

His records include one for lowest score in the last 36 holes (in the 1964 British Open) and his 1965 Masters winning tournament record of 271 (which stood until 1997 when until Tiger Woods hit 270).

Once asked about himself and his career during 1970, Nicklaus said, "I was playing good golf, but it really wasn't that big a deal to me one way or the other. And then my father passed away and I sort of realized he had certainly lived his life through my golf game. I really hadn't probably given him the best of that. So I sort of got myself back to work. So 1970 was an emotional one for me from that standpoint-it was a big boost." Perhaps this is true, as Jack became known as the "Record Setter," being the first golfer to win all four major tournaments twice in a career.

In 1974, Jack Nicklaus became one of the first inductees to the World Golf Hall of Fame which he followed up on the next year by winning his 5th Masters Tournament and 4th PGA championship, as well as being named Athlete of the Year by ABC's Wide World of Sports. It would be impossible for anyone but The Golden Bear himself, but Nicklaus took his 6th and final Masters Title in 1986. He still shares a record (with Tiger Woods) for having won all of the major championships three times). Nicklaus will always be a legend in the game for is amazing achievements and his work to support and popularize the game, something which he continues to do to this day. Jack Nicklaus may have retired, but it seems he's still an unstoppable force in the golf world.

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