Jack Nicklaus was born on 21st January 1940 in Columbus, Ohio. His competitive career spans five decades and he has been named Golfer Of The Century or Golfer Of The Millenium by almost every major golfing publication in the world. Success came early to Nicklaus when he carded 51 in the first nine holes he ever played and won the Scioto Club Juvenile Trophy at the age of ten. At the age of twelve he won the Ohio State Junior Championship and continued to win this tournament for the following five years from 1952 to 1956. Aged seventeen he qualified for the US Open for the first time and at the age of twenty he came runner-up to Arnold Palmer in the US Open by two strokes and in the process established a record 282 for an amateur entry. Since joining the PGA Tour in 1962 he has established himself as the most successful golfer ever. His impressive array of Professional Titles include 6 Masters (1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986), 5 PGA Championships (1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980), 4 US Open Titles (1962, 1967, 1972, 1980) and 3 British Opens (1966, 1970, 1978). He won on his debut in the US Senior Tour (over-50) in 1990 and continued to win the title. He is the only player in history to have won each of the games majors at least twice and is the only player to have completed the career Grand Slam on both the regular and senior tours. Arguably his finest hour in golf came in 1986 when he won the Masters by playing the last 10 holes in seven under par. He was then aged 46 and regarded by many as past it. In summary his major championship statistics comprise of 20 wins, 19 second place and 9 third place which is a truly remarkable career history. Jack Nicklaus has also enjoyed huge success as a Golf Course Architect and has gained a number of honours in this field including: Architect of the Year 1993 (Golf World), Environmental Recognition Awards 1996 (John James Audubon-Links Magazine), Environmental Leaders in Golf Award 1998 (Golf Digest), ING Achievement in Golf Course Design 2000-2001 (International Network of Golf), Donald Rossi Award 2001 (Golf Course Builders Association of America) and the Donald Ross Award 2001 (American Society of Golf Course Architects). He has been involved in the design of 243 courses worldwide, some of the highest calibre including Muirfield Village and Glen Abbey. His business Nicklaus Design has 294 courses open for play around the world. Jack Nicklaus played his 38th and final British Open in 2005 and to commemorate his incredible career achievements the Royal Bank Of Scotland issued a 5 Bank Note bearing his image and recognising his Open Championship victories at St Andrews in 1970 and 1978. Two million Jack Nicklaus Bank Notes were issued into circulation in Scotland on July 14th 2005, the first day of the Open Championship. Apart from Her Majesty The Queen and the late Queen Mother, Jack Nicklaus is the only living person ever to have appeared on a Scottish Bank Note. In November 2005 after leading the United States to a victory in The Presidents Cup he was honoured by President Bush at the Whitehouse with the Presidential Medal Of Freedom the highest US honour given to any civilian. Jack Nicklaus lives in North Palm Beach, Florida with his wife Barbara. They have 5 children and 19 grandchildren. |
