Jack Nicklaus

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