The greatest golfers of all time

Jack Nicklaus

Majors

Masters – 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986
US Open – 1962, 1967, 1972, 1980
The Open – 1966, 1970, 1978
PGA Championship – 1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980

Jack Nicklaus, nicknamed the ‘Golden Bear’, became the greatest golfers off all time during his career, winning a total of 117 professional events worldwide. He amassed a total of 18 majors, four ahead of, fellow countryman Tiger Woods who has 14 majors to his name. Nicklaus won a total of 73 times on the PGA Tour putting him in the all time list, behind Sam Snead and Tiger Woods.

There was a 26 year span between his first and last major triumph. His first was the 1962 US Open and was less than a year after turning professional. He defeated Arnold Palmer in an 18 hole play-off and Oakmont Country Club by three shots.

He holds the record for the most Masters victories, the joint most for the PGA Championship, and tied record for the most US Open victories with four. Nicklaus holds an incredible record for the 1970s majors, in the 40 majors he finished in the top 10 on 35 occasions, 25 those of those being inside of the top 5 and eight of those were victories.

Nicklaus’s playing style was based upon course strategy, he would plot his way around courses even though he was one of the longest and straightest hitters on tour. Playing towards the middle of the green was his main objective on each hole as this allowed him to avoid the majority of dangers should he draw or fade the ball slightly, and once on the green he would rather safely two putt than risk a three putt by being too aggressive. This was made clear when he won his first major and professional tournament at the 1962 US Open when he didn’t three putt for the entire tournament including the play-off.

Nicklaus is one of just five players to have won the career grand slam, he did this after winning The Open at Muirfield in 1966. His final major came at the 1986 Masters where he came from four shots behind to shoot a 65 on the final day to win his one shot and gain his 18th major title.

The Golden Bear retired from professional golf at the 2005 Open at St Andrews and received a 10 minute standing ovation from the crowd as he walked up the 18th, which he would go onto birdie, a fitting end to an illustrious career.

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