| Before Tiger Woods came along to | | | | title twice and an NCAA Championship |
| re-define what golf dominance is all | | | | once while he was still a student at |
| about, the man who used to stand head | | | | Ohio State University. |
| and shoulders over everybody else in the | | | | He made his pro debut in 1962 and went |
| world of golf was Jack Nicklaus. They | | | | on to win 18 major tournaments (three |
| called him "The Golden Bear" and his | | | | British Open Championships, four U.S. |
| shadow loomed large over professional | | | | Opens, five PGA Championships, and six |
| golf, specifically on the PGA Toiur for | | | | Masters) a record that still holds to |
| over two decades, from the sixties to | | | | this day, despite the recent assault of |
| the late-eighties. After retiring from | | | | Tiger Woods on the record books. |
| the Tour, he then lorded it over the | | | | Nicklaus is only one of five golfers to |
| Champions Tour for retired golf pros, | | | | win all four majors golf tournaments in |
| from the late-eighties to the nineties. | | | | their career (the "Career Grand Slam" as |
| Woods may be closing the gap fast but, | | | | it is known). He is only one of two |
| for now, the Golden Bear is still widely | | | | golfers (the other being Tiger Woods) |
| regarded as the greatest golfer of all | | | | who has won all four major tournaments |
| time. | | | | more than once. However, he stands alone |
| Born in Ohio, Nicklaus attended public | | | | as the lone golfer to ever win all four |
| schools as a young child and had to | | | | major tournaments at least three times. |
| overcome a mild case of polio. He | | | | Nicklaus also owns the distinction of |
| started playing golf at the age of 10 | | | | being the oldest player to ever win The |
| and shot a score of 51 for his first | | | | Masters which he set in 1986 at the age |
| nine holes, which is phenomenal for a | | | | of 46. Overall, Nicklaus won 46 top-3 |
| first timer, whether adult of child. He | | | | finishes in major tournaments (including |
| won the Ohio Junior State title at age | | | | 19 second-place finishes and nine |
| 12 and went on to win the same title | | | | third-places), 56 top-5 finishes, and 73 |
| five more times. He won the US Amateur | | | | top-10 finishes. |