Jack is here seen at the 1978 British Open.
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The late seventies were not a fruitful period for Nicklaus in terms
of majors and he won just the British Open in 1978 to add to his
phenomenal haul of 14 wins. This was due, in part,to the emergence of a
certain Tom Watson and it is fair to say that the younger man took on
Nicklaus' crown as the world's leading player. That is not to
say,however, that Jack faded from the scene,far from it,in fact,as he
and Watson were involved in some quite monumental battles. The 1977
Masters saw the pair go head to head in a stirring contest with Watson's
final round 67 giving him a two stroke winning margin at twelve under
par despite a splendid closing effort of 66 from the Golden Bear. If
that meeting produced a thrilling finale then their shoot-out later that
year in the Open at Turnberry was nothing short of breathtaking. After
three days the pair were inseparable afte matching rounds of 68,70 and
65 and it was all set for a last day to remember. The two gladiators did
not disappoint on a final day of great excitement but it was Watson who
finally prevailed thanks to a birdie,birdie finish. His round of 65
leaving him at twelve under par and one stroke clear of his great rival.
The Ryder Cup was retained that year but Nicklaus did not have the best
of times and had to settle for one point from his three appearances.
Being the great champion that he was Nicklaus was to bounce back at the
1978 Open to clinch his third claret jug with victory at St. Andrews.
His rounds of 71,72,69 & 69 gave him a total of seven under which
was two shots clear of his nearest rivals. (David Scranage)
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Photo of Jack Nicklaus taken at 1981 Open Championships.
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The year of 1979 was to be the worst of Jack Nicklaus' career,he
failed
to win a tournament for the first time and slid down the money list to
71st place having never been out of the top four previously. He did
manage a second place finish at the Open,alongside Ben Crenshaw on two
over par and three strokes back on winner Seve Ballesteros,but it had
still been a disastrous season. Those who felt that the glory years were
over should have known better,however,and Nicklaus bounced back in
style to win two more major championships in 1980. First up was the US
Open at Baltusrol where is eight under par total left him two shots
clear of Japan's Isao Aoki. That victory owed much to his scintillating
opening round of 63 and further rounds of 71,70 & 68 were sufficient
to clinch his fourth US Open crown. At the PGA Championship of that
year Jack was the only man below par with his total of six under. His
rounds of 70,69,66 & 69 saw him easily break the par mark whilst all
around him struggled,Andy Bean finishing second on one over followedby
Lon Hinkle and Gil Morgan on three over. After opening rounds of 70
& 65 Nicklaus threatened to add to his collection of Green Jackets
at the 1981 Masters but his closing efforts of 75 & 72 meant that he
finished two strokes back on that man Tom Watson in a tie for second
place with Johnny Miller on six under. Nicklaus returned to Ryder Cup
action in 1981 after missing the '79 match and his 100% record of four
points helped the Americans to a comfortable 18 1/2-9 1/2 success.
(David Scranage)
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Again Jack is pictured at the Open Championships - here in 1981 by G. Herringshaw ©
| The 1982 PGA Championship at Pebble Beach played host to another classic
Nicklaus-Watson contest and it was to end in heartbreak for the man
from Colombus,Ohio. With just two holes to play Nicklaus held a one shot
lead but then could only look on as Watson chipped in for birdie at the
17th followed by another birdie at the 18th. Jack could only manage a
par,par finish and the younger man had snatched an unlikely one stroke
victory. In doing so Watson deprived him of a record fifth US Open title
leaving him level on four victories with Jones,Anderson and Hagen. In
the PGA Championship of 1983 he produced a late charge with a sizzling
last round 66 but he was once again foiled by just one stroke,Hal
Sutton's success owing much to his superb opening rounds of 65 & 66.
Later that year Nicklaus had the honour of captaining the Ryder Cup
team and he led the American team to a 14 1/2-13 1/2 success in a
wonderful contest. In 1984 he won the Memorial Tournament and the
following year he finished in a creditable sixth place in the Masters
four strokes behind winner Bernhard Langer who closed with a pair of
68's. As Nicklaus was now in his mid-forties it appeared that his
winning days in majors were behind him but the great man thought
differently and,sure enough,there was to be one final hurrah. (David
Scranage) |
Jack Nicklaus pictured in 1995. Photo George Herringshaw. ©
| The 1986 Masters tournament at Augusta produced the kind of finish that
dreams are made of. Jack Nicklaus,at forty six years of age and six
years after his last major,came charging through the field with a
magnificent closing round 65 to snatch his sixth Green Jacket. Nicklaus
had not started the event in particularly auspicious fashion with a 74
but he gradually crept up through the field with rounds of 71 & 69
to set himself up for that grandstand finale. His nine under par total
was one shot clear of Australian Greg Norman and fellow American Tom
Kite and gave the Golden Bear his 18th major championship. The following
year Nicklaus was once again named as Ryder Cup captain as the USA
attempted to win back the trophy after their first defeat for 28 years
in the 1985 match. He was unable to inspire his troops to victory
however as Europe claimed a famous first ever win on American soil
courtesy of a 15-13 scoreline. As the years go by Nicklaus has continued
to battle away against much younger men rather than perform on the
Seniors tour and he has still managed to produce a couple of memorable
moments in his fifties. In the 1990 Masters he stood at five under par
after three rounds and there were thoughts of the unthinkable happening
again but it was not to be as he slipped back to sixth with a final
round 74. Eight years later he tied for sixth in the Masters,just four
strokes back from winner Mark O'Meara. Jack Nicklaus has achieved
incredible success during his career,setting records that will probably
never be beaten,and he will be remembered as one of the greatest golfers
of all time. (David Scranage) |