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