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Jack Nicklaus, conscionable 2 years removed from dominating amateur play arsenic a student astatine The Ohio State University, bested a star-studded section of nan game's top professionals to seizure his first Masters Tournament title connected this time successful history, April 7, 1963.
The triumph sparked an enduring emotion matter betwixt nan assemblage astatine Augusta National successful Georgia, America’s astir celebrated play course, and nan sport’s astir celebrated player.
The 23-year-old phenom was handed nan greenish overgarment for nan first clip astatine nan 1963 Masters by defending champion Arnold Palmer aft Nicklaus' two-under capacity and one-stroke triumph complete Tony Lema.
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The section that time besides included all-time athletics luminaries Sam Snead and Gary Player.
The speech of nan trophy blazer betwixt golf legends was portion of a five-year streak successful which only Nicklaus aliases Palmer donned nan greenish overgarment (1962-1966) astatine Augusta.
Arnold Palmer, left, helping victorious Jack Nicklaus pinch nan greenish blazer astatine Augusta National Golf Course, Augusta, Georgia, April 7, 1963. (James Drake /Sports Illustrated via Getty Images)
"In his prime, nan Golden Bear was nan 1 everyone chased," Golf Digest declared successful 2020, successful a ceremony of Nicklaus's 80th birthday.
"Drop that golfer into today's game, and it would beryllium nan lawsuit still."
"The Golden Bear was nan 1 everyone chased. Drop that golfer into today's game, and it would beryllium nan lawsuit still."
Nicklaus is wide regarded coming arsenic nan top golfer of each time, routinely topping lists of nan champion players successful history.
He dominated amateur play by winning nan U.S. Amateur Championship doubly (1959, 1961) and nan NCAA title erstwhile (1961) earlier turning pro successful 1962.
Jack Nicklaus, left, of Columbus, Ohio, won nan U.S. National Amateur Championship astatine Pebble Beach, California, successful 1961; he's congratulated by rurnner-up H. Dudley Wysong, McKinney, Texas. Nicklaus defeated Wysong, 8 up and 6 to go. Nicklaus besides won nan amateur title successful 1959. (Getty Images)
He instantly proved himself among nan sport's elite, overcoming a two-shot shortage erstwhile entering nan last information earlier edging Palmer by 1 changeable successful a playoff to seizure nan 1962 U.S. Open.
It was nan first of his grounds 18 awesome titles. Nicklaus besides holds records pinch 73 PGA Tour wins and an unthinkable 56 top-five finishes successful majors, among galore different best-ever achievements.
The Masters astatine Augusta National proved nan tourney astatine which nan Golden Bear's fearsome brilliance shined brightest.
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Nicklaus became nan first subordinate to triumph consecutive Masters titles successful 1965 and 1966. He besides won astatine Augusta successful 1972 and 1975, earlier donning a last greenish overgarment astatine nan expansive aged property of 46.
"Never successful nan history of nan Masters did nan crushed shake, cheers resound and emotions detonate arsenic they did for Jack Nicklaus successful 1986."
Several sources mention that Nicklaus triumph astatine Augusta successful 1986, his grounds sixth Masters title, arsenic nan top infinitesimal successful nan history of nan storied tournament.
Nicklaus sunk a spectacular 18-foot putt connected nan 17th spread of nan last round, amid a delirious guidance from nan gallery, past held connected astatine 18 to triumph by 1 stroke.
Jack Nicklaus watches his putt during nan 1986 Masters Tournament astatine Augusta National Golf Club successful April 1986 successful Augusta, Georgia. (Augusta National/Getty Images)
The show of Nicklaus leaning guardant intently, pursuing his putt crossed nan greenish pinch focused eyes, past raising his nine triumphantly complete his caput arsenic nan shot dropped successful nan spread is 1 of nan astir celebrated images successful nan annals of golf.
"Never successful nan history of nan Masters did nan crushed shake, cheers resound and emotions detonate arsenic they did for Jack Nicklaus successful 1986," enthused U.K. play outlet Links Magazine.
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In summation to his power atop nan leader committee successful golf’s biggest events, nan Golden Bear vanished 2nd successful awesome tournaments an unthinkable 19 times.
"It has been and will proceed to beryllium nan utmost grant to person won your awesome tourney and to beryllium everlastingly called a Masters champion." — Jack Nicklaus
Nicklaus, now 83, is still revered astatine Augusta National.
He's been an honorary starter astatine The Masters each twelvemonth since 2010, teeing disconnected yesterday pinch chap play legends Gary Player and Tom Watson.
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He returned nan affection pinch a alleged "love missive to nan Masters" successful 2019 — 60 years aft he first competed astatine Augusta arsenic an amateur successful 1959.
Honorary starter and six-time Masters champion Jack Nicklaus plays his opening tee changeable from nan first tee during nan opening ceremonial anterior to nan commencement of nan first information of nan Masters astatine Augusta National Golf Club connected April 7, 2022, successful Augusta, Georgia. Nicklaus has been a ceremonial starter astatine The Masters each twelvemonth since 2010. (Andrew Redington/Getty Images)
"Thank you for a life of memories. Thank you for providing nan cleanable inheritance for 60 years and six opportunities to consciousness nan overwhelming restitution of slipping connected nan greenish jacket," Nicklaus wrote.
"The Masters astatine Augusta National proved nan tourney astatine which nan Golden Bear's fearsome brilliance shined brightest."
"It has been and will proceed to beryllium nan utmost grant to person won your awesome tourney and to beryllium everlastingly called a Masters champion."
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"Nicklaus’ beingness astatine Augusta National is overmuch much than ceremonial," Golfweek wrote successful 2019.
"He is nan game’s ranking surviving fable — pinch those 18 fields — and continues to beryllium an influential and respected play presence."
For much Lifestyle articles, sojourn www.foxnews.com/lifestyle.
Kerry J. Byrne is simply a manner newsman pinch Fox News Digital.
