Jack Nicklaus

Jack Nicklaus has been married to Barbara Jean Bash since July 23, 1960, and they have five children. His family life has also been connected to his philanthropic work.

In 2004, Jack and Barbara Nicklaus co-founded the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. The foundation is dedicated to children’s health and welfare, and its work contributed to the rebranding of Miami Children’s Hospital and Miami Children’s Health System as Nicklaus Children’s.

Nicklaus grew up in Columbus, Ohio, where his father, Charlie, introduced him to golf at age 10. He also excelled at basketball and tennis, but his progress in golf accelerated at Scioto Country Club and the Upper Arlington club. Jack Grout became his first and only coach.

While attending The Ohio State University, Nicklaus won the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1959 and 1961. In 1961, he set a scoring record of 282 for an amateur in the U.S. Open. He turned professional in 1961 and began his professional career on the PGA Tour in 1962.

Nicklaus won the Masters Tournament six times, in 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, and 1986. He won the U.S. Open four times, the PGA Championship five times, and The Open Championship three times. His six Australian Open victories were among his major successes outside the United States.

In 1966, Nicklaus won The Open at Muirfield, completing the career Grand Slam at age 26. He later won The Open at St Andrews in 1970 and at St. Andrews in 1978. In 1986, at age 46, he shot 65 in the final round of the Masters to secure his sixth green jacket and his 18th professional major title.

Nicklaus also won 73 PGA Tour events, was named PGA Player of the Year five times, and was a member of six winning United States World Cup teams. He was a record three-time individual World Cup winner and finished among the top three in 45 of his first 100 major championships.

Nicklaus joined the Senior PGA Tour, later renamed the Champions Tour, in 1990 and retired from tournament golf in 2005. He finished his professional career at The Open at St Andrews, a course he had identified as the place where he wanted to conclude his major career.

Beyond competition, Nicklaus designed several golf courses, including Muirfield Village Golf Club in Ohio. The course has hosted the Memorial Tournament, which he sponsored beginning in 1976. He also wrote Golf My Way with Ken Bowden, Nicklaus by Design with Chris Millard, and Jack Nicklaus: Memories and Mementos from Golf’s Golden Bear with David Shedloski.

Nicklaus was elected to the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974. He received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, the Congressional Gold Medal in 2015, and the Lincoln Medal in 2018.

He was recognized by major golf publications and media outlets as the golfer of the 20th century or the golfer of the millennium. Sports Illustrated named him Individual Male Athlete of the Century, while ESPN included him among the 10 greatest athletes of the century.