Masters of the Game: Nicklaus

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By Helen Ross, PGATOUR.COM Chief of Correspondents

You probably saw him first as a chubby kid from Ohio with the blond crew cut. Eventually, Jack Nicklaus would change -- he slimmed down and those golden locks grew out to a more fashionable length. What didn't change, though, was his ability to dominate on a golf course. Nicklaus was the consummate shot-maker and he had the propensity for making putts at exactly the right moment -- can anyone ever forget the birdie he stalked, putter raised in the air, on the 16th hole on Sunday at Augusta National in 1986? What set Nicklaus apart from the rest, though, was his incredible focus and enormous will. The Golden Bear simply did not beat himself. He likes to say that when other players started complaining about the course conditions or the weather, he knew he already had them beat. Then his clubs spoke for him. Nicklaus simply did not let anything get in the way of his single-minded goals. His 18 major championships set the standard still chased today and that number could have been so much greater -- Nicklaus finished second in an equal number of golf's four crown jewels. Now that his competitive career is over, his legacy endures far beyond the golf course. Nicklaus, a devoted family man who raised five children with his wife Barbara, concentrates on his Memorial Tournament, his golf course design business and charitable endeavors that have raised millions over the years for needy children.
• VIDEO: Nicklaus growing up | Family man

By Craig Dolch, PGATOUR.COM Contributor

1986 Masters - Not only did this extremely popular victory enable Nicklaus to become the oldest winner (46) of a green jacket, it pushed his number of career professional major championships to 18. That unexpected victory may keep Tiger Woods chasing for a while longer.

1962 U.S. Open - A 22-year-old Nicklaus didn't take long to serve notice of his greatness, as he outdueled Arnold Palmer in the King's back yard (Oakmont Country Club) in front of some tough fans to make the national championship his first professional victory.

1975 Masters - Even though Nicklaus obliterated the Masters' scoring record with a 17-under 271 to win 10 years earlier, he considered this one-shot victory over Tom Weiskopf and Johnny Miller more memorable because he believed this was the best down-the-stretch major duel that he won. Who can forget those Bear Tracks he made on the 16th green?

1980 U.S. Open - After re-dedicating himself to the game following -- for him -- a lackluster 1979 season, Jack proved he was back by outdueling Isao Aoki at Baltusrol. Two months later, Nicklaus also won the PGA Championship for his 17th career major title.

1970 British Open - While many remember this championship for Doug Sanders' short miss on the final hole that would have won him a Claret Jug, this was more memorable because Nicklaus won for the first time at St. Andrews -- where his idol, Bobby Jones, said he had to win to put the proper stamp on his career.
• VIDEO: Nicklaus and the British Open

By Melanie Hauser, PGATOUR.COM Contributor

1. He hates driving in the middle lane on a freeway because he likes to go faster than most of the traffic and doesn't like to feel boxed-in.

2. He and Barbara chose their wedding date (July 23, 1960) because Nicklaus, the 1959 U.S. Amateur champ, wasn't eligible to play in the tournament that week -- the PGA Championship.

3. When asked by either Jack or Barbara how many times Jack had won the Masters, Cali -- one of the long line of Nicklaus dogs -- would bark six times.

Of all the numbers in professional golf, Nicklaus' total of 18 major victories may be the most sacred. It's what all other pros strive for, and until Tiger Woods came along, it was thought to be out of reach. Woods may one day pass Nicklaus' total, but just like with Babe Ruth's 714 home runs, no one will forget that Nicklaus won 18 majors.

MASTERS (6) U.S. OPEN (4) BRITISH OPEN (3) PGA CHAMPIONSHIP (5) 1963 1962 1966 1963 1965 1967 1970 1971 1966 1972 1978 1973 1972 1980   1975 1975     1980 1986

• For a complete list of Nicklaus victories, click here

Year Number of events Number of rounds 1st 2nd 3rd Top 10 Top 25 Cuts made Cuts missed Total 594 2151 73 58 34 286 389 506 81 2005 3 6             3 2004 2 6           1 1 2003 4 8             4 2002 1 4             1 2001 4 8             4 2000 8 21           2 6 1999 2 6           1 1 1998 5 16       1 1 3 1 1997 7 22       1 1 4 3 1996 6 18           3 3 1995 11 28       1 1 4 6 1994 8 19           1 7 1993 10 27       1 1 4 6 1992 8 21           3 5 1991 8 31       1 4 7 1 1990 9 24       1 1 6 2 1989 10 34       2 4 9 1 1988 9 23         2 5 4 1987 11 36       1 5 9 2 1986 15 48 1     4 7 11 3 1985 15 58   2 1 4 8 14 1 1984 13 52 1 2 1 6 12 13   1983 15 58   3 1 8 11 14   1982 15 52 1 3 2 7 11 12 3 1981 16 62   3   8 13 15 1 1980 13 49 2 1   3 8 12 1 1979 12 49     1 3 6 12   1978 15 56 4 2   10 12 13 2 1977 18 69 3 2 1 14 16 16 2 1976 16 63 2 2 1 11 15 15 1 1975 16 65 5 1 3 14 16 16   1974 18 67 2 3   12 17 18   1973 18 70 7 1 1 16 17 18   1972 19 73 7 3   14 16 19   1971 18 65 5 3 3 15 15 18   1970 21 73 3 2 2 10 14 19 2 1969 23 90 3 1   10 15 21 2 1968 19 76 2 3 1 12 18 19   1967 21 85 5 2 3 13 14 19   1966 18 68 3 3 3 12 16 18   1965 23 89 5 4 1 17 17 23   1964 25 96 4 6 3 17 24 25   1963 22 87 5 2 2 17 21 21 1 1962 26 105 3 3 4 16 22 26