Jack Nicklaus - Simply The Greatest Golfer Of All Time

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