Jack Nicklaus facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jack Nicklaus
Nicklaus in 2019
Personal information
Full name	Jack William Nicklaus
Nickname	The Golden Bear
Born	(1940-01-21) January 21, 1940 (age 85) Columbus, Ohio, U.S.
Height	5 ft 10 in
Nationality	United States
Residence	North Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
Spouse	Barbara Bash ​ (m. 1960)​
Children	5, including Gary
Career
College	Ohio State University
Turned professional	1961
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour Champions Tour
Professional wins	117
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	73 (3rd all-time)
European Tour	9
PGA Tour of Australasia	3
Champions Tour	10
Other	24 (regular) 7 (senior)
Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 18 (1st all-time))
The Masters Tournament	Won: 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986
U.S. Open	Won: 1962, 1967, 1972, 1980
The Open Championship	Won: 1966, 1970, 1978
PGA Championship	Won: 1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980
Achievements and awards
World Golf Hall of Fame	1974
PGA Tour money list winner	1964, 1965, 1967, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976
PGA Player of the Year	1967, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976
Bob Jones Award	1975
Payne Stewart Award	2000
PGA Tour Lifetime Achievement Award	2008
Congressional Gold Medal	2015

Jack William Nicklaus (born January 21, 1940) is an American retired professional golfer. He is also a famous golf course designer. Many people think he is one of the greatest golfers ever. His nickname is "the Golden Bear".

Nicklaus won 117 professional tournaments in his career. He holds the record for winning 18 major championships. These are the most important golf tournaments. He won three more majors than Tiger Woods, who is in second place. Nicklaus focused on these big events: the Masters Tournament, U.S. Open, Open Championship, and PGA Championship. He played in 164 major tournaments, more than anyone else. He also won 73 PGA Tour events, which is the third-highest number ever.

He won the U.S. Amateur in 1959 and 1961. In 1960, he finished second in the U.S. Open as an amateur. Nicklaus became a professional golfer at age 21 in 1961. His first professional win was the 1962 U.S. Open. He beat Arnold Palmer in a playoff, starting a big rivalry between them. In 1966, Nicklaus became the first player to win the Masters two years in a row. At age 26, he was the youngest to win all four major golf championships.

Between 1971 and 1980, Nicklaus won nine more major championships. He became the first player to win all four majors two or three times. In 1986, at age 46, he won the Masters. This was his 18th and final major championship, making him the oldest Masters winner. He joined the Senior PGA Tour (now PGA Tour Champions) in 1990. By 1996, he had won 10 senior tournaments, including eight major championships. He played in the four regular Tour majors until 2005.

Today, Nicklaus leads Nicklaus Design, a large golf course design company. He also runs the Memorial Tournament on the PGA Tour. This tournament honors people who have made a big impact on golf. Nicklaus has written many books, including Golf My Way, which is a very popular golf instruction book.

Jack's Early Life and Amateur Golf

Jack Nicklaus was born on January 21, 1940, in Columbus, Ohio. He grew up in Upper Arlington. His dad, Charlie Nicklaus, was a pharmacist and a great athlete. Charlie played football for the Ohio State Buckeyes. He was also a good golfer and tennis player. Charlie Nicklaus passed away at 56 from pancreatic cancer.

Nicklaus went to Upper Arlington High School. Their sports teams were called the Golden Bears, which later became his famous nickname. In high school, he was a good basketball player. He also played football, baseball, tennis, and ran track.

He started playing golf at age 10. His first nine holes at Scioto Country Club scored a 51. His coach at Scioto was Jack Grout, who stayed his golf instructor for life. When he was 13, Nicklaus had a mild case of polio.

Nicklaus won five Ohio State Junior titles in a row, starting at age 12. At 13, he shot under 70 at Scioto Country Club for the first time. He also became the youngest player to qualify for the U.S. Junior Amateur. He had a handicap of +3 at age 13, which was the best in his area. At 14, he won the Tri-State High School Championship. He also made his first hole-in-one in a tournament that year. At 15, Nicklaus shot a 66 at Scioto Country Club, a record for amateurs. He won the Ohio Open in 1956 at age 16, competing against professionals. Overall, he won 27 events in Ohio between ages 10 and 17.

In 1957, Nicklaus won the International Jaycee Junior Golf Tournament. He also played in his first U.S. Open but missed the cut. In 1958, at age 18, he played in his first PGA Tour event. He tied for 12th place at the Rubber City Open. Nicklaus also won two Trans-Mississippi Amateur tournaments in 1958 and 1959. In 1959, he won the North and South Amateur.

While at Ohio State University, he won the U.S. Amateur twice (1959, 1961). He also won an NCAA Championship in 1961. In the 1959 U.S. Amateur, Nicklaus beat the two-time winner Charles Coe. He became the youngest champion in the modern era. In 1961, he was the first player to win both the NCAA Championship and the U.S. Amateur in the same year.

At the 1960 U.S. Open, 20-year-old Nicklaus finished second. He was two shots behind Arnold Palmer. This was the lowest score ever by an amateur in the U.S. Open until 2019. Nicklaus played the final 36 holes with Ben Hogan. Hogan said Nicklaus should have won by 10 shots. Nicklaus led by two shots with six holes left. In 1960, he also tied for 13th in the Masters Tournament. He tied for fourth in the 1961 U.S. Open. In all these major events, Nicklaus was the best amateur player.

Nicklaus played for the United States in the Walker Cup in 1959 and 1961. He won all his matches in both events. In 1960, he was part of the winning U.S. Eisenhower Trophy team. He won the individual title by 13 shots. For three years (1959–1961), Golf Digest magazine called Nicklaus the world's best amateur golfer.

College and Family Life

Nicklaus studied at Ohio State University from 1957 to 1961. He first studied pre-pharmacy, planning to join his father's business. As he became a better golfer, he changed his mind. He then studied insurance, hoping to sell insurance and stay an amateur golfer. For a while, he worked in insurance while still in college.

He married Barbara Bash in July 1960. She was a nursing student at Ohio State. Their first child, Jack Jr., was born in September 1961. The next month, Nicklaus wanted to be the first amateur to win the Masters. But in November, he decided to become a professional golfer to support his family. He left college just a few courses short of graduating. In 1972, Ohio State gave him an honorary doctorate.

Jack's Professional Golf Career

Becoming a Pro: 1962–1963

Nicklaus became a professional golfer in late 1961. He started playing on the PGA Tour in 1962. He had thought about staying an amateur like his hero, Bobby Jones. But he realized he needed to play against the best more often to be considered the best.

Soon after turning pro, his agent, Mark McCormack, described Nicklaus to a writer. The writer called the "large, strong, and blond" player "the Golden Bear." This nickname stuck with Nicklaus throughout his career. It might also come from his high school mascot, which was also the Golden Bears.

Nicklaus won his first PGA tournament in his 17th try. He and Arnold Palmer were tied at the 1962 U.S. Open at Oakmont. Nicklaus won the playoff by three shots (71 to 74). The crowd cheered more for Palmer, who grew up nearby. This win made Nicklaus the U.S. Open and U.S. Amateur champion. It was also his first PGA Tour win. At 22, Nicklaus was the youngest U.S. Open champion since 1923. This victory put Nicklaus in the national spotlight. It also started the famous Nicklaus-Palmer rivalry, which made golf popular on TV.

By the end of 1962, Nicklaus won two more tournaments: the Seattle Open and Portland Open. He also tied for third in his first PGA Championship. He earned over $60,000 in prize money and was named Rookie of the Year. He also won the first World Series of Golf, earning another $50,000.

In 1963, Nicklaus won two of the four major championships: the Masters and the PGA Championship. He became the youngest Masters winner and third-youngest PGA Championship winner. He also won three other events. He finished second to Arnold Palmer on the PGA Tour money list. He and Palmer also won the Canada Cup (now the World Cup of Golf) for the United States.

Business Success

Because Jack Nicklaus became famous so quickly, he got many chances to earn money from endorsements. Mark McCormack, who also managed Palmer and Gary Player, helped him with these deals. Golf was becoming very popular in the early 1960s, thanks to these three stars. McCormack started a company called International Management Group (IMG), which grew from golf into other sports. The rivalry between Palmer, Nicklaus, and Player became known as the "Big Three" of Golf. McCormack even set up televised golf matches around the world for them. In the early 1970s, Nicklaus started his own company, Golden Bear Inc.

Continued Greatness: 1964–1967

Even though he didn't win any majors in 1964, Nicklaus led the PGA Tour money list for the first time. He finished second in three majors. At The Open Championship at St Andrews, he set a record for the lowest score in the final 36 holes. But he still finished second to Tony Lema. In 1964, Nicklaus won six events, finished second seven times, and was in the top 10 twenty-one times. He and Palmer also won the World Cup team title again.

When Nicklaus won the Masters in 1965 and 1966, he was the first to win it two years in a row. He was also the youngest two-time and three-time winner. In 1965, he broke Ben Hogan's scoring record with a total of 271. This record stood for 32 years. He won by nine shots over Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. This was the biggest winning margin at the Masters until 1997. His third round of 64 was amazing, with eight birdies and no bogeys. Bobby Jones called this "the greatest performance in all of golfing history."

After his 1965 Masters win, the course was made tougher. But Nicklaus still defended his title in 1966. He won in an 18-hole playoff. He led the PGA Tour money list again in 1965. Nicklaus played in 28 events that year, winning five and finishing second seven times.

In 1966, Nicklaus also won The Open Championship at Muirfield in Scotland. This was the only major he hadn't won yet. This win made him the youngest player, at age 26, to win all four major championships. This achievement is called the Career Grand Slam. Nicklaus later won all four majors two and three times. He also helped the U.S. win the World Cup in Japan.

In 1967, Nicklaus won the U.S. Open for the second time. He broke Hogan's 72-hole record with a score of 275. He finished with a dramatic 1-iron shot on the 17th hole that landed three inches from the cup. He then made a birdie putt to finish with a final round of 65. Sports Illustrated featured him on their cover. He also finished second in The Open Championship and third in the PGA Championship. In 1967, Nicklaus led the PGA Tour money list for the third time. He and Palmer also won the World Cup in Mexico City. For most of his career, Angelo Argea was his caddie.

A Brief Dip and Strong Comeback

After winning the 1967 U.S. Open, Nicklaus didn't win another major until the 1970 Open Championship. His ranking on the Tour money list dropped a bit during these years. He finished second in both the 1968 U.S. Open and the 1968 Open Championship.

Nicklaus played in his first 1969 Ryder Cup at age 29. The rules at the time required him to be a PGA Tour member for five years. The competition came down to Nicklaus's match against Tony Jacklin. Nicklaus made a five-foot putt on the last hole. He then famously conceded Jacklin's putt, making the match a tie. This meant the overall competition also ended in a tie.

During this time, Nicklaus gained some weight, which affected his game. After the Ryder Cup, he lost 25 pounds in a month. His game started to improve. In February 1970, his father, Charlie Nicklaus, passed away. Five months later, Nicklaus won the 1970 Open Championship in Scotland. The wind was very strong, up to 56 MPH. He beat Doug Sanders in a playoff. On the last hole of the playoff, Nicklaus hit a huge drive. He then threw his putter in the air after sinking the winning putt. He was very happy to win at St Andrews, the home of golf.

He also won the Piccadilly World Match Play Championship in 1970. Even with a slight dip in performance, Nicklaus was ranked the No. 1 player in the world for 10 straight years, starting in 1968. These rankings were the first to consider results from tours worldwide.

Back on Top: 1971–1977

With his win in the 1971 PGA Championship, Nicklaus became the first golfer to win all four major championships twice. He was the only player to shoot under 70 in the first two rounds. He finished second twice and fifth in the other three majors that year. His performance at the Masters inspired a young Nick Faldo to take up golf seriously.

By the end of 1971, Nicklaus won four more PGA tournaments. He set a new record for single-season earnings with $244,490. He also won his third World Cup individual title. He won the team competition with Lee Trevino. In 1971, Nicklaus won eight events worldwide and had 17 top-5 finishes.

Nicklaus won the first two major championships of 1972: the Masters and the U.S. Open. This made people wonder if he could win a calendar-year Grand Slam. He led the Masters from start to finish. At the U.S. Open at Pebble Beach, he hit a famous one-iron shot on the 17th hole that hit the flagstick. This was Nicklaus's 13th career major, tying him with Bobby Jones. It also made him the first to win the U.S. Amateur and U.S. Open on the same course.

In 1972, Nicklaus won seven tournaments and was second in three. But he didn't win the Grand Slam. Lee Trevino won the Open Championship, and Gary Player won the PGA Championship. Nicklaus finished the year with a big win at the Walt Disney World Golf Classic.

Nicklaus broke Bobby Jones's major record in August 1973. He won the PGA Championship by four shots. This was his 12th professional major. That year, he won six more tournaments. He became the first PGA Tour player to win an event on a course he designed himself. Nicklaus won the PGA Player of the Year award for the third time. He was also the first player to earn over $300,000 in a single season. He became the first player to reach $2 million in career earnings. Nicklaus and Johnny Miller won another team title in the World Cup of Golf.

In 1974, Nicklaus didn't win a major. But he won the first Tournament Players Championship. He was also one of the first 13 people inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame. He still had four top-10 finishes in the majors that year. He finished second on the money list.

Nicklaus started 1975 very well. He won the Doral-Eastern Open, the Sea Pines Heritage Classic, and the Masters in a row. His Masters win was his fifth, a record he broke later. His 40-foot birdie putt on the 16th hole was key to his victory. He also won the PGA Championship in August. Having won the Masters and PGA Championship, he just missed playoffs in the U.S. Open and Open Championship. He was named PGA Player of the Year for the fourth time. He also won his fourth Australian Open.

In 1976, Nicklaus led the PGA Tour money list again, even though he played in only 16 events. He won two tournaments: Tournament Players Championship and World Series of Golf. He won the PGA Player of the Year award for a record fifth time. He also had a streak of 105 consecutive cuts made on the PGA Tour.

In 1977, Nicklaus didn't win any majors. But he had four top-10 finishes in the majors. He finished second to Tom Watson at the Masters. Their battle at the Open Championship at Turnberry was called the "Duel in the Sun." Nicklaus shot 65–66 in the final two rounds, but Watson shot 65-65 to win.

In 1977, Nicklaus won his 63rd tour event, passing Ben Hogan for second place in career wins. He also became the first player to earn over $3 million in PGA Tour earnings. He won his own Memorial Tournament for the first time, calling it the most emotional moment of his career.

Changing the Ryder Cup

During the 1977 Ryder Cup, Nicklaus suggested making changes to the competition. He wanted to include players from all over Europe, not just Great Britain and Ireland. This change was approved and helped make the Ryder Cup much more competitive and exciting, as it is today.

Winning the Triple Grand Slam (1978)

When Nicklaus won the 1978 Open Championship at St. Andrews, he became the only player to win each major championship three times. Tiger Woods later tied this record. Nicklaus felt his performance in the 1978 Open was his best ever. He was very proud to win at St. Andrews, his favorite golf course.

Nicklaus won three other tournaments on the PGA Tour in 1978. One was the Jackie Gleason-Inverrary Classic, where he made five birdies in a row at the end. He also won his third Tournament Players Championship. He was named Sportsman of the Year by Sports Illustrated. He also won his sixth and final Australian Open.

A Small Dip and a Big Comeback

In 1979, Nicklaus didn't win any tournaments. This was the first year in his professional career without a PGA Tour win. He came close at the 1979 Masters, finishing fourth. He also tied for second at The Open Championship.

During the off-season, Nicklaus worked on his game. His coach, Jack Grout, helped him fix his swing. He also worked with Phil Rodgers to improve his short game.

Record Wins in 1980

In 1980, Nicklaus only had four top-10 finishes in 14 events. But two of these were record-setting wins in major championships: the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship.

Nicklaus set a new scoring record at the 1980 U.S. Open with a total of 272. This broke his own record from 1967. He started with a record-tying 63 in the first round. He beat Isao Aoki by two shots. Nicklaus's win was his fourth and final U.S. Open victory, tying him with three other legends. He called this win "the most emotional and warmest reaction to any of my wins in my own country."

In the 1980 PGA Championship, Nicklaus set another record. He won the tournament by seven shots. He was the only player to finish under par for 72 holes. This was Nicklaus's fifth and final PGA Championship win. This made him the record-holder for most wins in the stroke-play era. He was also the only player since 1948 to win the U.S. Open and PGA Championship in the same year.

1981–1985

Between 1981 and 1985, Nicklaus had seven more top-10 finishes in major championships. He finished second three times. He won only two PGA Tour events during this time. He won the Colonial National Invitation in 1982. He also won his own Memorial Tournament for the second time in 1984.

In 1983, Nicklaus finished second in the PGA Championship and World Series of Golf. Even without a PGA Tour win in 1983, he finished 10th on the money list. He also became the first player to earn over $4 million in career earnings.

In 1985, Nicklaus finished second in the Canadian Open. This was his seventh and final second-place finish in that tournament.

The Ryder Cup matches were highlights for Nicklaus during these years. In 1981, he had a perfect 4–0–0 record. In 1983, he was the captain of the United States team that won by one point.

Winning the Sixth Masters at Age 46 (1986)

In 1986, Nicklaus won his sixth Masters title. He was 46 years old, making him the oldest Masters winner ever. This record still stands. He shot an amazing six-under-par 30 on the back nine for a final round of 65. On the 17th hole, he made an 18-foot birdie putt. He then made a solid par on the 72nd hole. He waited as other players, like Tom Kite and Greg Norman, failed to catch him. Nicklaus played the final ten holes seven under par.

This victory was his 18th and final major title. It was also his last win on the PGA Tour. A golf historian called it "the most important accomplishment in golf since Bobby Jones's Grand Slam in 1930."

At the 1998 Masters, Nicklaus was 58 years old. He tied for sixth place despite a painful hip. His score of 283 was the lowest 72-hole score by a player over fifty at the Masters.

Over 25 years (1962–1986), Nicklaus won 18 major championships. He also finished second 18 times. He placed third nine times and fourth seven times. He was just one shot away from a playoff five times. His total of 73 top-10 finishes in majors over 39 years is a record.

Jack's Senior Golf Career

Nicklaus could join the Senior PGA Tour (now PGA Tour Champions) when he turned 50 in January 1990. He said, "I'm never satisfied. Trouble is, I want to play like me—and I can't play like me anymore." He quickly won his first event, The Tradition, which is a Senior Tour major. Nicklaus went on to win The Tradition three more times.

Later in 1990, Nicklaus won the Senior Players Championship by six shots. The next year, in 1991, he won three of the five events he played. These included the U.S. Senior Open (winning a playoff against Chi-Chi Rodríguez), the PGA Seniors Championship, and The Tradition again. All of these were major championships on the senior tour.

Nicklaus has won all the senior majors except the Senior Open Championship. He didn't play in that event until he was over 60.

After a year without wins in 1992, Nicklaus won the U.S. Senior Open for the second time in 1993. He also teamed up with Chi-Chi Rodríguez and Raymond Floyd to win the Wendy's 3-Tour Challenge.

In 1994, Nicklaus won the Senior PGA Tour's Mercedes Championship. In 1995, he won The Tradition again. He finished in the top 10 in all seven tournaments he played that year. His 100th career win came in 1996 when he won The Tradition for the fourth time. He made a double eagle in the final round. This was his last win on the Senior PGA Tour and his last official win overall.

End of His Playing Career

In 2000, Nicklaus played in his 44th and final U.S. Open. He missed the cut. This was the same tournament where Tiger Woods won his first U.S. Open by 15 shots. Nicklaus was given Payne Stewart's spot in the opening pairings, as Stewart had died. Nicklaus asked for a moment of silence for Stewart before his first shot.

Later that year, he played in his final PGA Championship. He missed the cut by one shot, just days after his mother passed away. In both tournaments, Nicklaus had exciting moments on the final hole.

Nicklaus played in the 2005 Masters without much practice. This was a month after his 17-month-old grandson, Jake, died in a drowning accident. Nicklaus said his family was devastated. He and his son Steve played golf to help with their grief. Steve suggested his father return to the Masters. This was his last time playing in the tournament.

Later in 2005, Nicklaus finished his professional career at The Open Championship at St Andrews on July 15. He turned 65 that January, which was the last year he could play in The Open as an exempt player. He played with Luke Donald and Tom Watson in his final round. After his tee shot on the 18th hole, he received a ten-minute standing ovation. On the 18th fairway, he said goodbye to professional golf while standing on the famous Swilcan Bridge. Nicklaus ended his career with a birdie on the 18th green. He missed the cut.

The last competitive tournament Nicklaus played in the United States was the Champions Tour's Bayer Advantage Classic in June 2005.

One memorable moment happened after his retirement. At the opening of a course he designed in 2010, Nicklaus played with Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, and Johnny Miller. Miller wondered how to make a very difficult uphill putt. Nicklaus walked over and asked, "Want me to show you how to putt it?" He then casually hit the 102-foot putt, which curved and dropped perfectly into the hole.

On April 8, 2015, Nicklaus made his first hole-in-one at Augusta National Golf Club. This happened during the Masters' Par 3 Contest. He was 75 years old. He had made 20 holes-in-one in professional tournaments before this.

Jack's Activities Off the Course

Golf Course Design

Nicklaus spends a lot of time designing golf courses. His company, Nicklaus Design, is one of the biggest in the world. He sees golf course design as another fun challenge. His first design, Harbour Town Golf Links, opened in 1969. Another important design was Muirfield Village Golf Club in Ohio, which opened in 1974. This course has hosted the Memorial Tournament since 1976.

His first solo design was Glen Abbey Golf Course in Canada, which opened in 1976. It hosted the Canadian Open for many years. In 1983, he redesigned the oldest golf club in the U.S., Saint Andrew's Golf Club. In 2000, he worked with Arnold Palmer to design the King & Bear course in Florida. In 2006, he designed the Concession Golf Club with Tony Jacklin.

Nicklaus works with his four sons and son-in-law through Nicklaus Design. By 2005, their company had designed 299 courses around the world. Most are in the United States, but they have also designed courses in Asia, Europe, and other places.

Books and Media

Nicklaus has written several golf instruction books. He also wrote an autobiography called My Story. He has produced golf videos too. His book Golf My Way is a classic golf instruction book. Nicklaus has also written golf columns for Golf Magazine and Golf Digest. He also worked as a TV commentator for golf broadcasts.

Golf Computer Games

Between 1988 and 1998, Nicklaus lent his name to the popular Jack Nicklaus computer game series. Many of the golf courses he designed were included in these games.

Other Interests

Nicklaus still manages the Memorial Tournament, which he started in Ohio. The tournament is played at Muirfield Village, a course he designed. The tournament honors people who have made a big impact on golf.

The Memorial Tournament also supports charities in Ohio. Its main partner is Nationwide Children's Hospital. The tournament has raised millions of dollars for the hospital.

Nicklaus and his wife Barbara lead the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation in Florida. This foundation helps hospitalized children and their families for free. The Nicklauses started "The Jake" golf tournament to raise money for the foundation. It is named after their grandson who passed away.

Nicklaus also helps with the American Lake Veterans Golf Course in Washington. This course is designed for wounded and disabled veterans. Nicklaus donated his design services for new holes. He said he was "moved to see the amazing efforts" at the course.

Nicklaus owns Nicklaus Golf Equipment, which he started in 1992. The company makes golf equipment for different skill levels.

He is known for giving advice to younger golfers. In 1984, a teenage Canadian golfer asked him for advice. The golfer played left-handed but was told he might be better right-handed. Nicklaus told him not to change if he was comfortable. That golfer, Mike Weir, stuck with left-handed play and later became a Masters champion. He still keeps Nicklaus's letter framed in his home.

Nicklaus also has a line of flavored lemonades with Arizona Beverage Company. He also partnered with Terlato Wines to make a collection of wines.

How Jack Played Golf

In his best years, Nicklaus hit the ball very long and straight. In 1963, he won a long-drive contest with a shot of 341 yards. He liked to hit a fade shot (a shot that curves slightly from left to right). This helped the ball stop quickly on hard greens. His fades could reach long holes in two shots. He said his longest drive was at the 1964 Masters, where he had less than 160 yards left on a 500-yard hole.

Nicklaus could hit the ball very high or lower, depending on what was needed. He also learned to hit a controlled draw (a shot that curves slightly from right to left).

In 1968, statistics showed Nicklaus led in driving distance (275 yards) and hitting greens (75%). He was much better than his rivals. Even though official stats weren't kept until 1980, Nicklaus was usually the leader in hitting greens. He was great with long and middle irons. He was also known for his smooth swing tempo, which helped him control his shots.

Nicklaus was also very smart about playing the course. He would plan each shot to get the best position for the next one. He often used less power to be more accurate. He was the first player to carefully measure distances on the course. He wasn't known for his short wedge shots, so he often tried to avoid them. Gary Player said Nicklaus had "the greatest mind the game has ever known."

Nicklaus wasn't famous for being an amazing putter, but he often made the important putts when it mattered most. His rivals respected his putting. He was also a careful player, only taking risks when necessary. He often chose to play safe on the greens to make sure he got an easy two-putt.

Awards and Honors

After his first year on the PGA Tour in 1962, Nicklaus received the PGA Tour Rookie of the Year award. He won the PGA Tour Player of the Year five times and topped the PGA Tour money list eight times. He also received the Bob Jones Award and the Payne Stewart Award.

Nicklaus was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in its first class in 1974. He was also inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 1995. His picture was on a special five-pound note in Scotland. This made him the first living person outside the Royal Family to appear on a British banknote. In 1999, he was on the short list for the BBC's Sports Personality of the Century.

In 2001, Nicklaus received the "Lombardi Award of Excellence." This award honors people who show the spirit of Coach Lombardi.

There is a Jack Nicklaus Museum at Ohio State University in his hometown of Columbus. The museum opened in 2002. It shows his life and career in golf and celebrates the history of the game.

Nicklaus had the special honor of "dotting the 'i'" for the the Ohio State University Marching Band in 2006. This is a very high honor for someone who is not in the band.

In 2008, Nicklaus was named a Global Ambassador for the International Golf Federation. He helped bring golf back to the Olympics for the 2016 and 2020 Games. Golf had not been an Olympic sport since 1904.

Nicklaus joined Arnold Palmer as an honorary starter for the 2010 Masters. Gary Player also joined them in 2012.

Nicklaus is often named the "Most Powerful Person in Golf" by Golf Inc. magazine. He has been number one for six years in a row. The magazine says he keeps adding to his legend in golf course design and business.

On May 19, 2014, the United States House of Representatives voted to give Nicklaus the Congressional Gold Medal. This award recognizes his service to the nation and for promoting good sportsmanship.

He was given the Freedom of the Royal Burgh of St Andrews on July 11, 2022.

Jack's Career Achievements

Jack Nicklaus holds the record for winning 18 major championships. Tiger Woods is second with 15. Nicklaus has the third most PGA Tour victories with 73. He also holds the record for most wins at the Masters (six) and The Players Championship (three). He played on six Ryder Cup teams and captained the team twice. He also captained the Presidents Cup team four times. He topped the PGA Tour money list and scoring average eight times each. For 24 years in a row (1960 to 1983), he had at least one top-ten finish in a major championship.

• PGA Tour wins (73)
• European Tour wins (9)
• PGA Tour of Australasia wins (3)
• Other wins (24)
• Senior PGA Tour wins (10)
• Other senior wins (7)

Major Championship Wins (18)

Year	Championship	54 holes	Winning score	Margin	Runner(s)-up
1962	U.S. Open	2 shot deficit	−1 (72-70-72-69=283)	Playoff1	Arnold Palmer
1963	Masters Tournament	1 shot lead	−2 (74-66-74-72=286)	1 stroke	Tony Lema
1963	PGA Championship	3 shot deficit	−5 (69-73-69-68=279)	2 strokes	Dave Ragan
1965	Masters Tournament (2)	5 shot lead	−17 (67-71-64-69=271)	9 strokes	Arnold Palmer, Gary Player
1966	Masters Tournament (3)	Tied for lead	E (68-76-72-72=288)	Playoff2	Tommy Jacobs (2nd), Gay Brewer (3rd)
1966	The Open Championship	2 shot deficit	−2 (70-67-75-70=282)	1 stroke	Doug Sanders, Dave Thomas
1967	U.S. Open (2)	1 shot deficit	−5 (71-67-72-65=275)	4 strokes	Arnold Palmer
1970	The Open Championship (2)	2 shot deficit	−5 (68-69-73-73=283)	Playoff3	Doug Sanders
1971	PGA Championship (2)	4 shot lead	−7 (69-69-70-73=281)	2 strokes	Billy Casper
1972	Masters Tournament (4)	1 shot lead	−2 (68-71-73-74=286)	3 strokes	Bruce Crampton, Bobby Mitchell, Tom Weiskopf
1972	U.S. Open (3)	1 shot lead	+2 (71-73-72-74=290)	3 strokes	Bruce Crampton
1973	PGA Championship (3)	1 shot lead	−7 (72-68-68-69=277)	4 strokes	Bruce Crampton
1975	Masters Tournament (5)	1 shot deficit	−12 (68-67-73-68=276)	1 stroke	Tom Weiskopf, Johnny Miller
1975	PGA Championship (4)	4 shot lead	−4 (70-68-67-71=276)	2 strokes	Bruce Crampton
1978	The Open Championship (3)	1 shot deficit	−7 (71-72-69-69=281)	2 strokes	Ben Crenshaw, Raymond Floyd, Tom Kite, Simon Owen
1980	U.S. Open (4)	Tied for lead	−8 (63-71-70-68=272)	2 strokes	Isao Aoki
1980	PGA Championship (5)	3 shot lead	−6 (70-69-66-69=274)	7 strokes	Andy Bean
1986	Masters Tournament (6)	4 shot deficit	−9 (74-71-69-65=279)	1 stroke	Tom Kite, Greg Norman

¹Defeated Palmer in 18-hole playoff; Nicklaus (71), Palmer (74).
²Defeated Jacobs (2nd) & Brewer (3rd) in 18-hole playoff; Nicklaus (70), Jacobs (72), Brewer (78). 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes awarded in this playoff.
³Defeated Sanders in 18-hole playoff; Nicklaus (72), Sanders (73).

Major Championship Results Timeline

Tournament	1957	1958	1959
Masters Tournament			CUT
U.S. Open	CUT	T41	CUT
The Open Championship
PGA Championship

Tournament	1960	1961	1962	1963	1964	1965	1966	1967	1968	1969
Masters Tournament	T13LA	T7	T15	1	T2	1	1	CUT	T5	T24
U.S. Open	2LA	T4LA	1	CUT	T23	T32	3	1	2	T25
The Open Championship			T34	3	2	T12	1	2	T2	T6
PGA Championship			T3	1	T2	T2	T22	T3	CUT	T11

Tournament	1970	1971	1972	1973	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979
Masters Tournament	8	T2	1	T3	T4	1	T3	2	7	4
U.S. Open	T49	2	1	T4	T10	T7	T11	T10	T6	T9
The Open Championship	1	T5	2	4	3	T3	T2	2	1	T2
PGA Championship	T6	1	T13	1	2	1	T4	3	CUT	T65

Tournament	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989
Masters Tournament	T33	T2	T15	WD	T18	T6	1	T7	T21	T18
U.S. Open	1	T6	2	T43	T21	CUT	T8	T46	CUT	T43
The Open Championship	T4	T23	T10	T29	T31	CUT	T46	T72	T25	T30
PGA Championship	1	T4	T16	2	T25	T32	T16	T24	CUT	T27

Tournament	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
Masters Tournament	6	T35	T42	T27	CUT	T35	T41	T39	T6
U.S. Open	T33	T46	CUT	T72	T28	CUT	T27	T52	T43	CUT
The Open Championship	T63	T44	CUT	CUT	CUT	T79	T45	T60
PGA Championship	CUT	T23	CUT	CUT	CUT	T67	CUT	CUT

Tournament	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005
Masters Tournament	T54	CUT		CUT	CUT	CUT
U.S. Open	CUT
The Open Championship	CUT					CUT
PGA Championship	CUT

     Win      Top 10      Did not play LA = Low amateur
CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place.

Major Championship Summary

Tournament	Wins	2nd	3rd	Top-5	Top-10	Top-25	Events	Cuts made
Masters Tournament	6	4	2	15	22	29	45	37
U.S. Open	4	4	1	11	18	22	44	35
The Open Championship	3	7	3	16	18	21	38	32
PGA Championship	5	4	3	14	15	23	37	27
Totals	18	19	9	56	73	95	164	131

• Longest streak of consecutive majors played – 146 (1962 Masters – 1998 U.S. Open)
• Most consecutive cuts made – 39 (1969 Masters – 1978 Open)
• Longest streak of top-10s – 13 (1973 Masters – 1976 Masters)
• At the Open Championship, from 1966–1980, Nicklaus finished in the top-6 for 15 years in a row.
• At the Masters, from 1970–1979, Nicklaus finished in the top-8 for 10 years in a row.

The Players Championship Wins (3)

Year	Championship	54 holes	Winning score	Margin	Runner-up
1974	Tournament Players Championship	3 shot deficit	−16 (66-71-68-67=272)	2 strokes	J. C. Snead
1976	Tournament Players Championship (2)	Tied for lead	−19 (66-70-68-65=269)	3 strokes	J. C. Snead
1978	Tournament Players Championship (3)	1 shot lead	+1 (70-71-73-75=289)	1 stroke	Lou Graham

The Players Championship Results Timeline

Tournament	1974	1975	1976	1977	1978	1979	1980	1981	1982	1983	1984	1985	1986	1987	1988	1989	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995
The Players Championship	1	T18	1	T5	1	T33	T14	T29	CUT	T19	T33	T17	CUT	CUT	CUT	T29	CUT					CUT

     Win      Top 10      Did not play CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place.

Senior Major Championship Wins (8)

Year	Championship	Winning score	Margin	Runner(s)-up
1990	The Tradition at Desert Mountain	−10 (71-67-68=206)	4 strokes	Gary Player
1990	Mazda Senior Tournament Players Championship	−27 (65-68-64-64=261)	6 strokes	Lee Trevino
1991	The Tradition at Desert Mountain (2)	−11 (71-73-66-67=277)	1 stroke	Jim Colbert, Jim Dent, Phil Rodgers
1991	PGA Seniors' Championship	−17 (66-66-69-70=271)	6 strokes	Bruce Crampton
1991	U.S. Senior Open	+2 (72-69-70-71=282)	Playoff1	Chi-Chi Rodríguez
1993	U.S. Senior Open (2)	−6 (68-73-67-70=278)	1 stroke	Tom Weiskopf
1995	The Tradition (3)	−12 (69-71-69-67=276)	Playoff2	Isao Aoki
1996	The Tradition (4)	−16 (68-74-65-65=272)	3 strokes	Hale Irwin

¹Defeated Rodríguez in 18-hole playoff; Nicklaus, (65), Rodríguez (69).
²Defeated Aoki with a birdie on the third extra playoff hole.

Senior Major Championship Results Timeline

Tournament	1990	1991	1992	1993	1994	1995	1996	1997	1998	1999
The Tradition	1	1	2	T9	T4	1	1	T25	T25
Senior PGA Championship	T3	1	T10	T9	9	8	T22	T2	T6
Senior Players Championship	1	T22		T22	T6	2	T24	T8	6
U.S. Senior Open	T2	1	T3	1	T7	2	16	T5	T13

Tournament	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004
The Tradition	T9	T29	69	T10
Senior PGA Championship	T12	12	WD	CUT	WD
Senior Players Championship	T34	WD		T40
U.S. Senior Open	T21	4		T25
Senior British Open				T14

     Win      Top 10      Did not play CUT = missed the half-way cut
WD = withdrew
"T" indicates a tie for a place. Note: The Senior British Open was not a Champions Tour major until 2003.

Senior Major Championship Summary

Tournament	Starts	Cuts made	Wins	Second place finishes	Top-three finishes	Top-five finishes	Top-10 finishes	Longest streak of top-10s
Totals	50	46	8	5	15	18	30	10

See also

In Spanish: Jack Nicklaus para niños

• Career Grand Slam Champions
• List of golfers with most PGA Tour wins
• List of men's major championships winning golfers
• List of golfers with most PGA Tour Champions wins
• List of golfers with most Champions Tour major championship wins
• List of golfers with most wins in one PGA Tour event
• List of golfers with most European Tour wins
• List of golf courses designed by Jack Nicklaus
• People on Scottish banknotes