Golf Hall of Fame treasures: Nicklaus' first green jacket

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Jun. 1, 2009
By Mark Cubbedge, Special to PGATOUR.COM

• NICKLAUS TREASURES PHOTO GALLERY: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6

Jack Nicklaus had the Masters green jacket slipped over his shoulders for the first time in 1963. But it took 35 years because he actually owned an official one.

After that first win at Augusta National in '63, Nicklaus was supposed to have a jacket made and ready for him when he returned in 1964. For some unknown reason, the jacket was never made and Nicklaus, just 24 years old and not knowing exactly what to say, remained silent about it.

Instead he borrowed Thomas Dewey's while on the grounds (yes, the same Dewey from the "Dewey Defeats Truman" headline) and did so each year until he practically wore it out. Then in the early 1970s, Nicklaus had his own made by a clothier with whom he'd had an endorsement deal.

That jacket wasn't quite the same shade of green, but it sufficed for about another 10 years. The jacket Bernhard Langer slipped onto Jack Nicklaus in 1986 was again borrowed, from someone whom Nicklaus does not recall.

Finally, in 1998, Nicklaus mentioned the oversight and a 44 regular green jacket was ready for Nicklaus that week, giving the six-time Masters champion his first real green jacket to call his own -- and one that guests to the World Golf Hall of Fame can see today.

Nicklaus and the Hall of Fame