Jack Nicklaus Biography

Jack William Nicklaus, born on January 21, 1940, is an American retired professional golfer and golf course designer known as the Golden Bear. He is widely considered to be one of the greatest golfers of all time based on his career achievements and impact on the sport. Nicklaus won the U.S. Amateur in 1959 and 1961 and finished second in the 1960 U.S. Open, two shots behind Arnold Palmer. In 1966, he became the first player to win the Masters Tournament in back-to-back years and also won the 1963 PGA Championship and the 1966 Open Championship. By 1980, he had won 17 major championships and was named the AP Athlete of the Decade for the 1970s. At age 46, Nicklaus won his final major championship at the 1986 Masters Tournament, securing a record sixth Masters title. He won the Ryder Cup with the United States five times as a player and also captained the team in 1983 and 1987.