Jack Nicklaus is a legendary American golfer. Also known as ‘The Golden Bear,’ Jack has set a PGA Tour record of 18 career major Championships. Nicklaus achieved this record in 24 years and nobody has been able to challenge this.
Regarded as one of the best golfers of his time, Nicklaus has definitely made his mark by all that he achieved. The only player that has gotten closet to his achievements is Tiger Woods, who has won 14 major titles till now.
He was born in Columbus Ohio to Charlie Nicklaus and his wife Helen. Charlie was a very able athlete even though he was a pharmacist by profession. He played for the Ohio State University Buckeyes, and had even made it to semi-professional
football. This was for the team than in time became the Detroit Lions of the NFL. Jack’s father had also been fond of golf and was a tennis star in his youth.
Raised in Upper Arlington, Jack attended the Arlington High School. He attained an honorable mention not in golf but in the All-Ohio Selection in basketball. His honour was for his performance as a shooting guard during his senior
year. Due to his performance, he caught the attention of various college basketball programs. During his youth, he played in football, tennis, baseball and track and field as well. Being an all rounder, Nicklaus made sure he’d try out all the different sports.
The golf star took up the sport when he was only ten. He scored a 51 at the Scioto Country Club during the first nine holes he ever played. Jack’s father was also playing golf at the Club at the same time. Charlie suffered a volleyball
injury which took him off the green, leaving Jack to be guided at the club by the professional golfer, Jack Grout. Grout, who had played with and won against players such as Byron Nelson and Ben Hogan, became Nicklaus’s lifelong golf coach.
He won five consecutive Ohio State Junior titles by the age of twelve. Being so good right from the start, he broke 70 at the Scioto Country Club when he was only thirteen. Following which, he became that year’s youngest qualifier
for the U. S Junior Amateur Championship.
Nicklaus played through three rounds but couldn’t win it. However, just a year later, he won the Tri-State High School Championship and carded a 68 in the opening round. He set another amateur course record when he posted a 66
at the Scioto Country Club. This record hence made him qualify for his first U.S Amateur Championship. Winning the Ohio Open in 1956, he even beat the professionals and shot an amazing third round 64. During his amateur years, from age 10 to age 17, Nicklaus
won a total of twenty seven events in Ohio.
In 1957, he was triumphant at the U.S National Jaycees Championship. That year, he also competed in his first U.S Open. In the first of the forty four Opens Jack played in, he missed the cut and tied for 41st place.
In 1958, he won the Trans-Mississippi Amateurs twice, once at the Prairie Dunes Country Club and once at the Wood hill Country Club. In 1959, he took the North and South Amateur Title in North Carolina. At that time, this tournament was considered next in
line after the U.S Amateur Championship.
For University, Jack Nicklaus attended Ohio State from 1957 to 1961.He majored in pre-pharmacy in the first three years and had decent grades. Nicklaus wanted to become a pharmacist like his father. It was the success the player
had in golf that changed his mind about his career. He changed his programs to study insurance as he wanted to be an amateur golfer and an insurance agent at the same time. During his four years he made sure to make the most of his education and his passion
for golf.
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