Capelle On Golf

I’ve been following Jack Nicklaus’ career since before he turned pro, both in person and on TV – I only missed a couple of majors during his prime. I remember watching him hit towering bombs on the range at the Bob Hope Desert Classic in 1963. Later that day on the ninth hole he hooked a drive behind some trees, which left me wondering what he would do next. He aimed his short iron approach to the right of the right hand greenside bunker and played a low sweeping hook that stopped on the green within 30 feet of the cup.

At the 1977 TOC at La Costa I watched him shoot a trouble free third round 70 which featured 16 greens in regulation. I remember that when the pin was on the left side of the green, his ball would be 20-30 feet to the right of the hole, and vice versa for a right hand hole location. He never brought bogey into play. And for those who say he has no short game, I say who needs one when you miss two greens! Still, I vividly remember a bunker shot he played on the 14th hole. Nicklaus overshot the green and had very little room to work with thanks to the pin position, which was about 15 feet from the fringe. He gently lofted a sand shot onto the edge of the green and the ball trickled down to within a foot of the hole. He won the event the following day.

By 1985 Nicklaus’ best days were well behind him (except for a few notable exceptions at Augusta National), but he was still the game’s leading ambassador, something he proved to me beyond a doubt at the LA Open. As Nicklaus approached on a path leading from the putting green to the first tee at Riviera, Jimmy (my stepson) and I waited nervously for our big chance . I held out a program and Nicklaus stopped, gave us a friendly greeting, and signed Jimmy’s program. You can just imagine how that made our day!

I always felt proud to be a fan of Jack Nicklaus. He was The Man and a joy to watch play. So to you, Jack Nicklaus, I say, Happy 70th Birthday and thanks for the memories and for the opportunity to watch your fantastic career unfold in its entirety.

Nicklaus through the Years
1940 – Born: January 21.
1950 – 60 years ago he took up golf.
1959 – 51 years ago he won the first of two U.S. Amateur titles over the great Charles Coe.
1960 – 50 years ago Nicklaus came in second to Palmer at the U.S. Open – (see Eternal Summer).
1960 – 50 years ago (in July) he married Barbara Bash. They went on to have five children.
1962 – 48 years ago Nicklaus beat Arnold Palmer in a playoff in front of a hostile gallery for his first major at Oakmont.
1970 – 40 years ago he won his second British Open, but first at St. Andrews, breaking out of a two year slump.
1972 – 38 years ago Nicklaus’ bid for the third leg of the Grand Slam ended by a shot at the British Open.
1973 – 37 years ago in is mind, Nicklaus set the new record for majors, passing Jones’ 13 majors, pro and amateur .
1974 – 36 years ago Golf My Way was published. The book has sold millions of copies.
1975 – 39 years ago Nicklaus won his 14th major at the PGA.
1977 – 33 years ago Nicklaus and Watson engaged in their epic Duel in the Sun at Turnberry
1980 – 30 years ago Nicklaus enjoyed his last double major winning season, capturing the U.S. Open and the PGA, the later by seven shots.
1986 – 24 years ago Nicklaus was seven under on the last 10 holes (and four under on the last four) to win by a shot in golf’s ultimate curtain closer.
1997 – 13 years ago Jack Nicklaus: My Story was published. It remains the definitive work on his life. A must read!!
1999 – 11 years ago Sports Illustrated names Nicklaus the Best Individual Male Athlete of the 20th Century
2005 – 5 years ago Nicklaus made his last appearance in a major at St. Andrews
2009 – Last year – Putting My Way is published

The Gold, Silver, and Bronze
In 2009 golf became an Olympic sport. So now, perhaps, the game will start giving sufficient credit to golfers who have come so close to winning. While Nicklaus obviously owns the record for major titles, it is high time the golf world gave him credit for his silver and bronze medals as they do in the Olympics. As it stands, Nicklaus currently enjoys a 2-1 lead over Tiger Woods in major “medals.”
(Nicklaus’ record in the majors with Woods’ record in parentheses.)

Wins: 18 (14)
Seconds: 19 (6)
Thirds: 9 (3)
Top 3s: 46 (23)