Jack "The Golden Bear" Nicklaus (18 Time Professional Major Champion)

[Buckskin86]

It's 50 years since a chubby Jack the lad became the Master at Augusta
By Derek Lawrenson
PUBLISHED: 7 April 2013

The 1963 Masters has gone down in the annals for a number of things. It was the year the tournament began to feel more like a major championship than an invitation event, as two much-decorated veterans of Scottish descent, Jock Hutchinson and Fred McLeod, gave up their places in the field to become the first honorary starters.

It was the year Sam Snead made an extraordinary charge on the final day at the age of 50; when it rained so hard on the third day almost the entire course was awash in standing water.

And it was also the year America learned its charismatic darling Arnold Palmer had an authentic rival, as a chubby 23-year-old named Jack Nicklaus stepped off the 18th green, and, on the advice of Ralph Hutchinson, the man keeping the scores, gave the winning ball to tournament founder Bobby Jones.
The Master: Jack Nicklaus, who has won more majors than any other golfer ever, in action during his first of six wins at The Masters in 1963

The Master: Jack Nicklaus, who has won more majors than any other golfer ever, in action during his first of six wins at The Masters in 1963

Fifty years on, the man whose reputation as the greatest golfer of all time would be founded on a final total of six triumphs at Augusta National, reflected on that first one and initially could remember little more than the winning putt.

cont...

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/go...s-looks-1963-Masters-title.html#ixzz2Py5Hk95n
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[Buckskin86]

Jack Nicklaus loves the Masters
Updated: April 9, 2013
Associated Press

AUGUSTA, Ga. -- Jack Nicklaus loves absolutely everything about this place.

But being reminded how many years have elapsed since he won the first time, let alone the first time he made the drive up Magnolia Lane? Not so much.

Nicklaus sat in the interview room at the Masters for an hour Tuesday, and had more than enough material for two. He grimaced when club member Ed Herlihy introduced him by saying, "He returns to Augusta National 50 years removed from his first of a record six jackets," and turned wistful for a moment at the end.

?I can't imagine anybody having more fun doing what I've done and getting paid for it, and also being able to sit here in front of you guys at 73 years old, so I can spout a bunch of stuff that I had no idea whether you were listening or not, or care about. ? -- Jack Nicklaus at the Masters

"I can't imagine anybody having more fun doing what I've done and getting paid for it," Nicklaus said, "and also being able to sit here in front of you guys at 73 years old, so I can spout a bunch of stuff that I had no idea whether you were listening or not, or care about."

In between, Nicklaus had that same roomful of reporters eating out of the palm of his hand. He spun so many entertaining tales about the 55 years he's been coming to Augusta that there isn't room to recount them all here.

A quick sampling:

? Nicklaus was revered throughout the years for his willingness to advise young players at every level of ability. Thirty years ago, he responded to a letter from a 13-year-old left-handed player from Canada who wrote to ask whether he should switch and play right-handed. That kid, Mike Weir, went on to win the Masters in 2003.

Earlier this week, he helped the latest long-driving sensation, Nicolas Colsaerts. In a day or two, Nicklaus will do the same for Guan Tianglang, a 14-year-old Chinese player who will become the youngest competitor ever at the Masters and wrote to ask for tips. Asked whether he delivers the same message to everyone who seeks him out, Nicklaus simply smiled.

"I'm not smart enough to have different ones," he said.

? Several questions went back to his final Masters in 1986, perhaps the most famous win here ever. Nicklaus was 46 at the time and hadn't won a major in six years. He recalled slowly playing his way into contention on the back nine, talking with his son, Jackie, to relieve some of the pressure.

"At 16, I hit a 5-iron in there, it was 175 yards, and I just threw a soft 5-iron up in the air. And I remember when I hit the shot, Jackie said, 'Be right, be right.' And I said," Nicklaus paused for effect, 'It is.' "

"It was the cockiest remark I ever made."

cont...

http://espn.go.com/golf/story/_/id/9153538/masters-2013-jack-nicklaus-recalls-55-years-masters

 

[Buckskin86]

 

[Buckskin86]

11 reasons Jack Nicklaus is better than Tiger Woods
Game On!
Chris Chase, USA TODAY Sports
April 15, 2013

We've been debating the Jack Nicklaus vs. Tiger Woods question ever since that historic 1997 Masters and we'll be debating it for decades to come. But what if we had to have that discussion today? No predictions for the future or presumed milestones. What if Tiger Woods suddenly announced his retirement from golf after the Masters and never played again. Who would go down as the best in history?

Woods' highs have been greater. The Tiger Slam. Those dominating wins at Augusta National, Pebble Beach and St. Andrews. An unprecedented run of seven majors in 11 starts. A record-setting streak of cuts made.

He still can't touch Nicklaus. If we're comparing two careers, one that's complete and one that's complete for the sake of this discussion, Nicklaus is an easy winner. So, with the following caveats ? Nicklaus and Woods are 1A and 1B on the all-time list; these facts pro-Jack, not anti-Tiger; and that all of this can change over the next 15 years ? USA TODAY Sports presents 11 reasons why Jack Nicklaus is greater than Tiger Woods.

Who do you think is better? Join the conversation

1. Jack was second-best the most

Nicklaus finished second in 19 majors, and Woods has six runner-up results. Nicklaus had 48 top-three finishes at Slams, twice as many as Woods.

2. The competition

Overall, the current depth of fields and reach of international talent exceeds that in the days of Nicklaus. There are more talented golfers coming from more diverse locales, but very few of Woods' contemporaries have stepped up in majors. The two active players with more than three major titles ? Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els ? are rarely direct rivals for Woods. Nicklaus, on the other hand, played with Gary Player (nine majors), Tom Watson (eight), Arnold Palmer (seven), Lee Trevino (six) and Seve Ballesteros (five). While Nicklaus finished second more than 10 times to players on that list, Woods' runner-up finishes have been to one-hit wonders like Trevor Immelman, Zach Johnson, Rich Beem, Y.E. Yang and Michael Campbell. There have been few worthy adversaries.

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http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/04/15/tiger-woods-jack-nicklaus-comparison/2083049/

 

[cincibuck]

http://www.usatoday.com/story/gameon/2013/04/15/tiger-woods-jack-nicklaus-comparison/2083049/

Jack Nicklaus' Green Jacket Story - YouTube

I sent Buckskins link onto a good friend and Nicklaus fan who forwarded it and got this hilarious response: (warning, not funny to anyone younger than 50)

11 Reasons Why "Sarge" is Better Than Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods

1.) I was the only true American - - ( part Choctaw Indian ).




2.) I proudly served my country for 14 years in the U.S. Army; not like them draft dogin' wussies.




3.) In my career I only won ( 1 ) tournament - - and it was a freakin' MAJOR !!




4.) I was PGA Player of the Year - - and I only won ( 1 ) freakin' tournament !!




5.) Personality - - need I say more ?




6.) No sponsors




7.) No clothing line




8.) No golf course design business




9.) No multi - million dollar home in Florida




10.) No money




11.) No blondes








So stick that in your Hall of Fame !!





Sincerely,




Orville ( Yes, I'm a little bit ) Moody

 

[colobuck79]

Awesome!

 

[Buckskin86]

Ohio lawmakers want to honor Jack Nicklaus with Congressional Gold Medal
By Jessica Wehrman
Washington Bureau

WASHINGTON ?

Sen. Rob Portman, R-Ohio, and Columbus-area Rep. Pat Tiberi, R-Genoa Twp., are renewing their push to give golfer Jack Nicklaus the Congressional Gold Medal.

The duo introduced the measure timed to the 38th Memorial Tournament this week in Dublin.

?His accomplishments on the golf course are amazing, but the work the Golden Bear does to help those in need, especially children, is truly remarkable,? said Tiberi. ?His work to raise funds and further causes to improve children?s health, support the well-being of less fortunate children, and help improve the lives of wounded and disabled veterans is inspirational.?

If he were awarded the Congressional Gold Medal, Nicklaus would join a group that includes Bob Hope, George Washington, Robert Frost, Joe Louis, and Mother Teresa. He wouldn?t be the first golfer awarded: Arnold Palmer received the honor in September 2012. Nor would he be the first Ohioan to receive the award: Ohioans Neil A. Armstrong, the first man to walk on the moon and former Sen. John Glenn, the first man to orbit the earth, received the honor with fellow astronauts in 2011. Nicklaus himself was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in November, 2005 by former President George W. Bush.

Nicklaus, a five-time PGA Player of the year and Columbus-area native, founded the Memorial Tournament, a PGA Tour golf tournament played on a Nicklaus-designed course in Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio.

Nicklaus, 73, campaigned heavily for Republican presidential nominee Mitt Romney in Ohio in 2012, with Romney calling the famed golfer the ?greatest athlete of the 20th century.?

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news...rs-want-to-honor-jack-nicklaus-with-co/nX3DT/

 

[Buckskin86]

One-on-One With Jack Nicklaus- 10TV WBNS video

 

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[Buckskin86]

 

[Buckskin86]

 

[Buckskin86]

December 02, 2013
Nicklaus says he'd cheer for FSU over Ohio State in BCS
by Mike Walker

For Jack Nicklaus, family has always come before golf. But what about college football?
According to the Palm Beach Post, Nicklaus said he would cheer for Florida State -- the team of his grandson Nick O'Leary -- over Ohio State -- his alma mater -- in the event those two teams play in the BCS Championship game.

“I’m an Ohio State guy, but blood is thicker than anything else,” said Nicklaus, who along with wife Barbara attended a kickoff cocktail party Sunday night at The Bear’s Club for the two-day Celebrities Fore Kids Golf Classic.

Nicklaus has deep ties with Ohio State. He grew up in Columbus, Ohio, he played Big 10 golf for Ohio State in college, he's had the honor of dotting the "i" during the Ohio State band's halftime performance, and the Jack Nicklaus Museum is on the Ohio State campus. However, Nicklaus' grandson is a star tight end on Florida State, and that's enough to tilt the scales toward Florida State. Nicklaus left this year's Presidents Cup at his Muirfield Village course (near Ohio State of course) to watch O'Leary play.

In a recent appearance at the Atlanta Athletic Club, Nicklaus said, “Golf has always been a game to me. Not my life. My life is my family. Golf is a game.”

He means it.

Read more: http://blogs.golf.com/presstent/201...fsu-over-ohio-state-in-bcs.html#ixzz2mM1yXttW

 

[Buckskin86]

Jack NicklausVerified account ‏@jacknicklaus
"I’m a #Buckeye and I'll always be a Buckeye, but you don't root against your blood and that's Nick (O'Leary)."

https://twitter.com/jacknicklaus/status/408633218792181760

 

[BUCKYLE]

Buckeyes don't root against the Buckeyes. He can root for Nick and against FSU.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Tiger Woods on Jack Nicklaus: 'He did it better than anyone in history'

On Sunday as you tune into the NFL's conference championship games make sure you get to your television a little bit early.

That's because a documentary entitled Nicklaus: The Making of a Champion will air at noon Eastern, shortly before the Green Bay Packers and Seattle Seahawks play.

The documentary will look back on the historic career of Nicklaus and include some amazing interviews including one from the man chasing him.

"To have the desire to do it that hard for that long isn't easy to do," Tiger Woods said in the documentary, "and he did it better than anyone in history.”

Entire article: http://www.cbssports.com/golf/eye-o...klaus-he-did-it-better-than-anyone-in-history