Presented by POOL SCOUTS.
This Day In Sports…July 15, 2005, 20 years ago today:
Considered the greatest golfer of the 20th century, Jack Nicklaus takes a final bow as he crosses the Swilcan Bridge on The Old Course at St. Andrews. A few moments later, at the age of 65, Nicklaus wrapped up his 38th and final Open Championship (British Open) with a birdie on No. 18. If earthquakes weren’t so rare in Scotland, you’d have thought there was one, as the gallery jumped up and down in pure joy. Nicklaus missed the cut, but that final round was unforgettable. He played with close friend Tom Watson and Luke Donald, and even Watson cried on the 18th green when it was over.
Nicklaus had originally tried to bid farewell to the British Open in 2000. According to a story in Golf Digest, Nicklaus said, “I spoke to Peter Dawson (St. Andrews chief executive) and asked him when we would be coming back. He said 2006, and I said that was a shame as I would be past my eligibility. He asked me if it was held in 2005 would I play, and next thing I know it was announced for 2005.” Nicklaus didn’t head across the pond from 2001-04, so there were lots of pent-up emotions that day on The Old Course.
You could say Nicklaus won the British Open “only” three times, as he captured the U.S. Open four times, the PGA Championship five times and The Masters six times. But he also finished second in the British Open seven times. From 1970 to 1980, Nicklaus finished no lower than fifth at the British. And from 1963 to 1980, Nicklaus finished lower than sixth in the British Open exactly once. That was in 1965, and he came in 12th. Nicklaus finished in the Top 10 18 times in 38 tries at the Open Championship.
The Golden Bear won a record 18 majors overall, the first one coming in the 1962 U.S. Open, when he was 22 years old and had been a professional for only seven months. The last major title was legendary, as Nicklaus conquered Augusta to take the 1986 Masters at the age of 46. He’s still the oldest player ever to win that storied event. Nicklaus’ standard of 18 major trophies appears to be safe, as he remains three major titles ahead of the ailing Tiger Woods.
(Tom Scott hosts the Scott Slant segment during the football season on KTVB’s Sunday Sports Extra. He also anchors four sports segments each weekday on 95.3 FM KTIK and one on News/Talk KBOI. His Scott Slant column runs every Wednesday.)
