| Talk to any golfer, or any knowledgeable sports | | | | as loud as they did that day.The golfers playing |
| person for that matter, and ask them who the | | | | behind Jack could not even set up and play their |
| greatest golfer of all-time is and they will most likely | | | | shots at times due to the noise. When Jack made |
| answer Jack Nicklaus. This is no dis-respect to Tiger | | | | par at 18 for a 30 on the back 9 at Augusta, all he |
| Woods, but Jack Nicklaus changed the world of golf | | | | could do was wait and see what the other golfers |
| for over 40 years. Jack's 20 majors are five more | | | | would do. Amazingly, Seve Ballesteros hit his ball in |
| than his closest challenger and is a tribute to his | | | | the water, took a double bogey on the 15th hole and |
| incredible desire to win. This will applies not only on | | | | took himself out of a chance at winning. Tom Kite |
| the course, but off of it as well. His work ethic and | | | | missed a crucial putt on 18 that would have tied him |
| dedication to golf are what others only dream | | | | with Jack. Next, Greg Norman, who was tied with |
| about.Born in Columbus, OH January 21, 1940, Jack | | | | Jack at the time, made a bogey on the finishing hole |
| Nicklaus burst onto the PGA Tour in 1962. Along with | | | | to give Nicklaus the win and the green jacket. It's a |
| his friend Arnold Palmer, they forever changed the | | | | tournament that will forever be remembered by |
| golf world as we know it. They brought golf to | | | | golfers and fans alike.The list of accomplishments in |
| television, and there classic duals changed the way | | | | the career of Jack Nicklaus is immense. He finished |
| people thought of golf. It helped to make it a | | | | with 73 PGA Tour wins and led the Tour in money |
| household word. Suddenly, golf became cool.One of | | | | earnings eight different years.An interesting story at |
| the things that separates Jack from other athletes is | | | | the end of Jack's career came at the 2005 British |
| that he did it the right way. You never heard about | | | | Open. Jack had announced earlier in the year that he |
| Jack being arrested for doing something he shouldn't | | | | would retire in 2005 at the British Open on the Old |
| have been doing. There were no scandals. There | | | | Course at St Andrews, the birthplace of golf. Well, |
| were no performance enhancing drugs. No alcohol | | | | the Open was not scheduled to be played at St |
| issues, etc. Jack Nicklaus exemplified the meaning of | | | | Andrews until 2006. So, the organizers of the Open |
| the word class.Jack is one of only two golfers who | | | | decided to move the schedule up one year and play |
| have won all four majors more than once. He is also | | | | the Open at St Andrews in honor of Jack's final |
| the only player to have won all of golf's majors in | | | | tournament.Today, Jack Nicklaus enjoys spending |
| both the PGA and Senior Tours.One of the most | | | | time with his family as well as his love of designing |
| memorable of Jack Nicklaus' performances came at | | | | golf courses around the world. His design company, |
| the 1986 Masters. At the age of 46 few, if any | | | | which he runs with his sons and other family |
| people had given the Golden Bear any hope of | | | | members, is responsible for the design of nearly 1% |
| playing well, let alone any chance at winning. But, for | | | | of all the golf courses in the world. He also owns his |
| Jack, winning is what runs through his heart.Trailing by | | | | own golf equipment company and runs the Memorial |
| 4 shots behind guys like Greg Norman, Tom Kite and | | | | Golf Tournament, an annual stop on the PGA Tour.It |
| Seve Ballesteros, things didn't look real good after | | | | was only fitting that Jack finished his final hole of his |
| nine holes. But, what followed on those final 9 holes | | | | last professional golf tournament with a birdie at St |
| will be forever remembered by anyone who loves | | | | Andrews. Sinking a 15 foot curling putt, Jack raised |
| golf. He birdied 9 - 10 - 11 and 13. Next came an eagle | | | | his arms an extended his putter high in the air as he |
| on 15 and the crowd, along with the TV audience | | | | has done for so many years when he would sink a |
| knew they were witnessing something special. Then | | | | critical putt.The golf world, and the world in general, |
| Jack nearly hit a hole-in-one on 16, making an easy | | | | has been blessed by having known Jack Nicklaus. |
| birdie. At 17, Jack made a 12 putt for another birdie | | | | Simply put, he is the greatest golfer of all-time. |
| that put him in the lead. The crowd had never roared | | | | |