Jack Nicklaus
Jack William Nicklaus ( born January 21, 1940 in Columbus, Ohio, United States), also known as The Golden Bear ( The Golden Bear ), was one of the 1960s until the late 1980s, to the best golfers in the world. He is currently a leading golf course architect with his company Golden Bear International.
1996 Jack Nicklaus became the first golfer in the history of the PGA (now Champions Tour ) won the Senior Tour four times. He is also the only person in the history of the PGA, who won all the major tournaments of the PGA Tour and the Senior Tour.
Jack Nicklaus began in 1961 his professional career and his performance at major tournaments is unbeaten to date: three Players Championships, three Open Championships (1966, 1970, 1978), four U.S. Opens (1962, 1967, 1972 and 1980 ), six Australian Opens ( 1964, 1968, 1971, 1975, 1976 and 1978 ), five PGA Championships (1963, 1971, 1973, 1975 and 1980 ) and six U.S. Masters (1963, 1965-66, 1972, 1975 and 1986). Since 1986, he is the oldest player (46 ) ever to win the Masters.
1974 Nicklaus was among the first golfers who were included in the newly created World Golf Hall of Fame.
Sports Illustrated in 1978 awarded him the prize for the Sportsman of the Year. In 1980 he got from the BBC Sports Award for the foreign sports personality of the year awarded.
The Open 2005 were, according to his announcement, his last professional golf tournament, including as former Open champion are automatically started only until age 65. To him, the host sequence of the tournament was changed to honor and found at the traditional Old Course at St. Andrews instead. The Royal Bank of Scotland also honored him with a special edition of the 5- pound note.
Jack Nicklaus united in his best years, the very unusual in golf combination to be both one of the greatest putters of all time as well as the golfer with the most impact. He preferred the Power Fade, who was his characteristic ball flight.
Together with his sons leads Nicklaus Jack Nicklaus Companies that focus in addition to various merchandising articles on the design of high-profile golf courses.
Major victories (18 )
Note: Jack Nicklaus, for itself 20 Major victories to complete because in his opinion, at that time the U.S. Amateur Championship, which he won in 1959 and 1961, still counted as a major. The modern definition of the four major championships, which is based on the following table, was introduced in 1960 by Arnold Palmer.
1 victory over Arnold Palmer in an 18 - hole playoff - Nicklaus (71 ), Palmer (74 ) 2 victory over Tommy Jacobs & Gay Brewer in 18- hole playoff - Nicklaus (70 ), Jacobs ( 72), Brewer (78 ) 3 victory over Doug Sanders in an 18 - hole playoff - Nicklaus (72 ), Sanders ( 73)
Major Tournaments
LA = Best Amateur DNP = not started WD = Withdrawn CUT = cut at the failed "T " = split rank
Honors
2005 U.S. President George W. Bush presented the Medal of Freedom Nicklaus ("The Presidential Medal of Freedom" ), the highest civilian award in the United States.