Jack Nicklaus.

Jack Nicklaus. Jack Nicklaus, born in 1940, American professional golfer, who many consider the most talented golfer of the 20th century. Between 1959 and 1986, Nicklaus set a record for most career victories at major golf tournaments by capturing 20 championships. Eighteen of Nicklaus's titles were at tournaments known as grand slams, professional golf's premier events: the Masters, the Professional Golfers' Association (PGA) Championship, the United States Open, and the British Open. Nicklaus also won two United States Amateur titles (1959 and 1961) during a period when the championship was considered a major tournament. Nicklaus's size, blond hair, and aggressive play earned him the nickname the Golden Bear. Jack William Nicklaus was born in Columbus, Ohio. He began playing golf at the age of 10, and at the age of 16 he won his first major tournament, the Ohio Open. His next important victory came in 1959 when he won the U.S. Amateur championship. Two years later, in 1961, he won the U.S. Amateur title again and captured the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) championship while playing for Ohio State University. From 1959 through 1961 Nicklaus won all but one of the 30 amateur tournaments he entered. Nicklaus turned professional in 1962 and won three tournaments that year. The victories included his first major professional title, the 1962 U.S. Open, which he won in a playoff against popular American golfer Arnold Palmer. The victory created a rivalry between the two players that lasted through the 1960s. During his professional career Nicklaus won six Masters tournaments (1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, 1986), the most by any player in the competition's history. His 1986 win at the age of 46 made Nicklaus the oldest Masters winner in history. Other major tournament victories include five PGA championships (1963, 1971, 1973, 1975, 1980), three more U.S. Open titles (1967, 1972, 1980), and three British Open titles (1966, 1970, 1978). He was named the PGA's player of the year five times (1967, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1976), and won the PGA's Golfer of the Century award in 1988. Nicklaus joined the Senior tour in 1990 and has won a number of major events, including the United States Senior Open in 1991 and 1993. Throughout his career he has designed many noted golf courses, and in 1993 Golf World Magazine named him architect of the year. That same year Golf Digest recognized ten of the courses Nicklaus designed on its list of the 100 best golf courses in America. His autobiography, Jack Nicklaus: My Story, appeared in 1997. Microsoft ® Encarta ® 2009. © 1993-2008 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved.