♪♪
>> I MEAN, IT'S... WHERE DO YOU BEGIN?
>> YEAH, EVERYTHING.
I MEAN, 18 MAJORS.
>> 19 RUNNER-UPS IN MAJORS --
THAT'S THE NUMBER THAT REALLY
JUST JUMPS OUT AT ME.
>> 46 TOP-3 FINISHES IN MAJORS.
SO, HE COULD HAVE WON MORE.
>> THAT MEANS HE WAS VERY CLOSE
TO WINNING 37 MAJORS.
UNBELIEVABLE.
>> HE'S GOT SIX GREEN JACKETS.
>> THAT'S A BUNCH OF DADGUM
GOLFING, I'LL TELL YOU THAT.
>> THE POISE THAT HE PLAYED WITH
UNDER PRESSURE -- THAT'S HOW YOU
WIN ALL THESE TOURNAMENTS.
>> THINK ABOUT THAT, FANS -- SIX
GREEN JACKETS.
>> TO SHARE THAT NUMBER WITH
JACK NICKLAUS IS VERY COOL AND
VERY SPECIAL, TO BE AT 18 NOW.
>> I HAVE PLAYED WITH SOME OF
THE GREATEST EVER, BUT THIS
RéSUMé RIGHT HERE IS JUST
AMAZING.
♪♪ >> THE STRANGE TRUTH IS THAT IT
SHOULD HAVE BEEN A LITTLE
OVERWHELMING TO HAVE SAT WHERE
SO MANY OF US SAT IN THIS MODERN
AGE...
>> ON THE TEE, JACK NICKLAUS.
>> ...WATCHING IT ALL GO BY...
FORCED TO CONTEMPLATE THE IDEA
THAT ONE PERSON COULD RISE SO
FAR ABOVE EVERYONE ELSE,
THAT ONE PERSON COULD BE SO
MUCH BETTER AT SOMETHING THAN
EVERYONE ELSE...
>> THE BEST AMATEUR GOLFER IN
THE UNITED STATES...
>> ...HUGE GALLERY IS FOLLOWING
THIS FANTASTIC YOUNG MAN.
>> ...AND THAT THAT PERSON
DIDN'T JUST HAVE THE GIFT OF
SKILL BUT DESIRE, TOO...
>> AND THERE IS YOUR NEW MASTERS
CHAMPION.
>> ...THAT HE COULD BEAT YOU NOT
JUST WITH HIS TALENT BUT WITH
HIS MIND.
>> HE'S GOT IT. HE'S GOT IT.
>> THIS IS THE STORY OF EVERY
ONE OF THE 18, OF A RECORD THAT
VERY LIKELY WILL NEVER BE
BROKEN.
>> THERE IT IS, HIS 16th MAJOR
CHAMPIONSHIP.
>> IT'S THE LEGEND OF A MAN
NAMED JACK AND HOW HE CAME TO BE
THE GREATEST GOLFER EVER TO PLAY
THE GAME.
♪♪
[ FANFARE PLAYS ] >> WITH 40,000 SPECTATORS, THEY
STOPPED SELLING TICKETS TO THE
MASTERS.
BUT THE LUCKY ONES SEE
ARNOLD PALMER TEE OFF IN THE
TOURNAMENT THAT DISHES UP SOME
OF THE FINEST GOLF EVER PLAYED.
TOWERING OVER THEM ALL IS
JACK NICKLAUS.
GOLF WILL NEVER BE THE SAME WHEN
THE 25-YEAR-OLD WHIZ KID HOLES
OUT ON THE 72nd HOLE.
>> JULY 1966 -- JACK NICKLAUS IS
THE TALK OF GOLF AND THE GREATER
SPORTING WORLD.
>> NICKLAUS HAS THE CROWD
HYPNOTIZED BY HIS WHOOSH...
APPROACHES...
AND HIS PUTTING.
>> HIS FIVE MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIPS
IN JUST FOUR YEARS, COMING ON
THE HEELS OF TWO NATIONAL
AMATEUR TITLES, HAVE PUT HIM
ATOP THE GAME.
BUT AT THE AGE OF 26, HE ALSO
KNOWS HIS RéSUMé HAS A GLARING
HOLE -- A HOLE HE'S DETERMINED
TO FILL.
>> THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP TO ME
HAS ALWAYS BEEN SOMETHING THAT
BOBBY JONES WAS INVOLVED IN.
JONES MADE HIS NAME THROUGH THE
OPEN, AND IT WAS ALL A PART OF
THE GAME OF GOLF.
>> NICKLAUS' OPEN DEBUT HAD COME
AT TROON IN 1962.
HE FINISHED 34th.
THEN HAD COME HIS FRUSTRATING
THIRD THE FOLLOWING YEAR,
ROYAL LYTHAM, AND SECOND PLACE
AT ST. ANDREWS IN 1964.
BUT ON EVERY TRIP OVER, HE
COULDN'T ESCAPE THE SENTIMENT
THAT HE WAS A STRANGER, GOLFING
IN A STRANGE LAND.
>> YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER, HIS
GAME IS NOT SUITED AT ALL FOR
LINKS-STYLE GOLF.
HE'S A HIGH-FADE HITTER.
THE WIND'S GONNA TAKE THAT AND
BLOW IT ALL OVER THE PLACE.
>> GROWING UP IN THE MIDWEST, ON
A GOLF COURSE THAT WAS LUSH WITH
A LOT OF TREES, HE LEARNED TO
HIT A CUT.
GET IT ON THE GREEN HIGH SO
IT'LL STOP ON THOSE REALLY FAST
BENT GREENS.
THAT'S THE ANTITHESIS OF PLAYING
LINKS GOLF.
HE SAID, "WHEN I CAME HERE, I
DIDN'T REALIZE HOW THE BALL
BOUNCED AND CAKED AND WENT HERE
AND WENT THERE.
NO WATERING ON THE FAIRWAYS."
HE HAD TO TAKE THE ROUGH WITH
THE SMOOTH.
♪♪
>> IN '66, THE ROTA TOOK THE
OPEN TO MUIRFIELD IN
EAST LOTHIAN, SCOTLAND.
THE CLUB'S OFFICIAL NAME?
THE HONOURABLE COMPANY OF
EDINBURGH GOLFERS, LONG
RECOGNIZED AS ONE OF THE
MOST ICONIC COURSES TO HOST THE
OPEN.
>> THE CLUB WAS FOUNDED IN 1744.
SO, THE HISTORY GOES BACK QUITE
A LONG WAY.
AND THE GOLF COURSE?
WELL, ONE HAS ONLY TO LOOK AT
THE PEOPLE THAT HAVE WON THE
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP HERE TO
REALIZE THAT IT DOES PRODUCE
QUALITY.
>> THE LINEAGE OF EARLY
MUIRFIELD CHAMPIONS INCLUDED
LEGENDS SUCH AS HARRY VARDON,
JAMES BRAID, AND TED RAY.
WALTER HAGEN HAD BEEN THE FIRST
AMERICAN, AND YEARS LATER,
TOM WATSON AND PHIL MICKELSON
WOULD RAISE THE CLARET JUG ON
THE HISTORIC LINKS.
AS FOR JACK NICKLAUS, HE FIRST
PLAYED THE COURSE IN 1959.
AND IT IMMEDIATELY FIT HIS EYE.
>> THE FIRST TIME HE WENT TO THE
U.K. FOR THE WALKER CUP, HE FELL
IN LOVE WITH THE PLACE.
>> I SAW JACK FIRST OF ALL AT
THE WALKER CUP MATCHES.
AND THERE WAS THIS FELLOW WHO
WAS QUITE PUDGY.
AND JACK CAME WADDLING ALONG.
HIT THE BALL -- PEWWW!
OH, THIS IS SOMETHING NEW.
>> THIS IS THE OPEN, 1966.
MUIRFIELD IS NOT OVERLONG, BY
CHAMPIONSHIP STANDARDS.
STEP ON THE COURSE AND MAKE IT
A PROPER EXAMINATION.
THE CLUB LET THE ROUGH FLOW IN
FEARSOME FASHION.
>> THE FIRST FAIRWAY WAS ABOUT
THAT WIDE, AND YOU WENT OFF THE
FAIRWAY, YOU NEVER SAW YOUR BALL
AGAIN.
>> THAT WAS A HAYFIELD.
IT WAS ENORMOUSLY HIGH.
>> WELL, IT'S FAIR FOR ONE AS IT
IS FOR ALL.
WE SHOULD HAVE A GOOD, HEAVY
ROUGH AND MAKE YOU HIT THE BALL
STRAIGHT.
>> HE SAID, "I REALIZED," WHEN
TALKING TO ALL OF HIS FELLOW
COMPETITORS, "THEY HAD GIVEN UP
BEFORE THE THING STARTED."
THE OTHERS WERE, "OH, I CAN'T
PLAY IT."
"MY ROOM'S GOT NO
AIR-CONDITIONING."
"I CAN'T GET
THE NEW YORK TIMES."
"I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHAT THE
CADDIE SAYS."
BUT JACK?
"I CAN DO THIS."
>> THIS FIRST DAY CAUSED
PROBLEMS.
THE PREVAILING WESTERLY WINDS
HAD SWITCHED TO THE EAST, FOXING
MANY OF THE PLAYERS.
>> ALL THE PRACTICE ROUNDS, WE
HAD A WEST WIND.
AND THEN, WHEN THE TOURNAMENT
STARTED, THE WIND SHIFTED.
I SEEMED TO THINK I HAD AN
ADVANTAGE.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, I KNEW THE GOLF
COURSE BETTER THAN THE OTHER
GUYS KNEW THE GOLF COURSE.
>> NICKLAUS PUT HIMSELF ATOP THE
LEADERBOARD AFTER A SECOND-ROUND
67.
>> AND HE'S MADE IT.
>> BUT A 75 THE NEXT DAY PUT HIM
2 BACK OF HIS FRIEND
PHIL RODGERS, HEADING INTO
SATURDAY'S FINAL ROUND,
A ROUND HE BEGAN BY PULLING OFF
A 2-SHOT SWING ON THE 1st HOLE
TO TAKE BACK THE LEAD.
>> HE'S HOLED IT.
HE'S BIRDIED THE 1st HOLE.
>> A FEW HOURS LATER, WITH THREE
HOLES LEFT TO PLAY, NICKLAUS
STILL HAD A SHARE OF FIRST
PLACE.
>> I SAID, "OKAY,
PAR-BIRDIE-PAR.
WIN THE GOLF TOURNAMENT."
MADE MY PAR AT 16 AND AT 17 PLAYED A 3-IRON OFF THE TEE AND
PLAYED A 5-IRON TO THE GREEN.
>> AND HE'S PRODUCED A DAZZLING
SHOT, A CHAMPION'S SHOT, JUST
WHEN HE NEEDED IT MOST.
>> I MADE BIRDIE, AND THEN I HIT
A 1-IRON OFF THE TEE ON 18.
>> RIGHT DOWN THE MIDDLE.
>> A 3-IRON TO THE GREEN AT 18,
2-PUTTED IT, WON THE GOLF
TOURNAMENT.
BRITISH OPEN'S ALWAYS BEEN
SOMETHING A LITTLE SPECIAL TO
ME, AND I NEVER THOUGHT I'D GET
THE OPPORTUNITY TO STAND UP
HERE.
I REMEMBER I HAD A FEW TEARS IN
MY EYES AND COULDN'T GET THE
WORDS OUT.
[ CROWD LAUGHS ]
YOU MIND IF I ENJOY IT FOR A
MINUTE, IF I DON'T SAY ANYTHING?
[ CROWD LAUGHS ]
♪♪ >> THERE'S AN ENTIRE
JACK NICKLAUS WING AT THE
UNITED STATES GOLF ASSOCIATION
MUSEUM, IN FAR HILLS,
NEW JERSEY.
AND INSIDE ONE PIECE OF
MEMORABILIA STANDS OUT ABOVE
ALL.
FITTINGLY, IT'S FROM THE 1967
U.S. OPEN, HELD AT A CLUB JUST A
FEW MILES DOWN THE ROAD.
>> BALTUSROL, WHEN I GOT THERE
IN '67, I WAS PUTTING JUST
HORRIBLY.
PLAYING A WEEK BEFORE THE
TOURNAMENT -- DEANE AND I WERE
PLAYING.
AND HE SAID, "YOU'RE NOT PUTTING
VERY WELL."
>> I HAD GOTTEN THE IDEA FOR
PAINTING THE PUTTER WHITE FROM A
FELLOW NAMED FRED MUELLER.
SO, JACK TOOK A LOOK AT MY
BULL'S-EYE PUTTER, AND HE SAID,
"I REALLY LIKE THAT."
I WOULDN'T GIVE IT TO HIM, BUT I
SAID, "I'LL TELL YOU WHAT.
MY FRIEND FRED IS HERE WITH ME,
AND HE'S GOT ONE IN HIS TRUNK."
>> AND FRED WENT AND GOT THIS
PUTTER AND SAID, "HERE, GO TRY
THIS."
>> FRED MUELLER CALLED IT "WHITE
FANG."
IT WORKED FOR JACK VERY, VERY
WELL THAT WEEK.
♪♪
>> 1967, THE OPEN COMES TO
BALTUSROL FOR THE FIFTH TIME.
>> JACK NICKLAUS MAY HAVE BEEN THE MOST EAGER PLAYER IN THE
FIELD WHEN THE '67 U.S. OPEN
BEGAN, CONSIDERING A NECK INJURY
HAD CAUSED HIM TO MISS THE CUT
AS THE DEFENDING CHAMPION IN
THE MASTERS IN APRIL.
AT BALTUSROL, HE OPENED WITH A
1-OVER 71, THEN A 3-UNDER 67,
PUTTING HIM 1 SHOT BEHIND
ARNOLD PALMER.
>> PALMER IS THE LEADER AFTER
TWO ROUNDS.
HE AND NICKLAUS WILL BE PAIRED
TOGETHER TOMORROW.
>> WHEN ARNIE AND I PLAYED WITH
EACH OTHER, WE WERE MORE
INTERESTED IN BEATING EACH OTHER
THAN WE WERE WINNING A GOLF
TOURNAMENT.
>> THEY WANTED TO WIN SO BADLY,
AND A LOT OF TIMES THEY WERE
PLAYING EACH OTHER SO MUCH THAT
THEY FORGOT THAT THERE WAS OTHER
PEOPLE IN THE GOLF TOURNAMENT.
>> SURE ENOUGH, NICKLAUS SHOT A
72 AND PALMER A 73 IN THAT THIRD
ROUND, LEAVING THEM AT EVEN PAR
ALONGSIDE DEFENDING CHAMPION
BILLY CASPER.
BUT ALL THREE TRAILED THE
SURPRISE LEADER, AN AMATEUR
NAMED MARTY FLECKMAN.
>> ABC SPORTS PROUDLY PRESENTS
EXCLUSIVE COVERAGE OF THE
CONCLUDING ROUND OF THIS 67th
UNITED STATES OPEN
CHAMPIONSHIP.
>> BY THE TIME ABC CAME ON THE
AIR, NICKLAUS, HAVING PLAYED THE
FRONT NINE IN JUST 31 SHOTS,
HELD A 4-SHOT LEAD OVER PALMER.
CASPER AND FLECKMAN HAD FALLEN
EVEN FURTHER BACK.
IT WAS ALL BUT OVER, EVEN AS
ANOTHER MAJOR SCORING RECORD WAS
SUDDENLY IN PLAY.
>> YOU KNOW, HE'S GOT JUST AN
OUTSIDE SHOT AT BEN HOGAN'S
RECORD OF 276, BYRON.
>> HE CERTAINLY COULD DO IT THE
WAY...
>> THERE IT IS.
>> THE 18th HOLE -- A BIRDIE
WOULD GIVE HIM THAT SCORING
RECORD.
>> I KNEW THAT HOGAN'S RECORD
WAS THERE, AND I SAID, "FORGET
HOGAN'S RECORD.
LET'S WIN THE GOLF TOURNAMENT."
SO, I PLAYED A 1-IRON OFF THE
TEE.
I HIT IT TOO FAR RIGHT.
>> INTO THE GALLERY.
AN 8-IRON BACK INTO THE FAIRWAY,
BUT JACK HIT IT FAT.
>> I ENDED UP BACK AT 238, AND I
HAD A 1-IRON IN MY HAND.
>> IT WAS INCREDIBLE.
I STOOD ON THE SPOT WHERE HE HIT
IT, AND YOU LOOK UP THERE.
HE'S GONNA HIT IT THAT FAR?
WE ALL LOOKED AT EACH OTHER
AFTER HE DID IT.
[ LAUGHS ]
THEN WE STARTED RACING FORWARD.
>> AND HERE IT IS, ONTO THE
GREEN.
HE NEEDS A BIRDIE-4 ON THIS HOLE
TO BREAK THE RECORD OF
BEN HOGAN.
>> THEN THOUGHT ABOUT HOGAN'S
RECORD!
[ LAUGHS ]
>> FOR THE U.S. OPEN RECORD.
GOING TO THE RIGHT.
NOPE. NOPE.
>> THERE IT IS, LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN, THE UNITED STATES
OPEN RECORD OF 275 FOR 72 HOLES.
>> IT WAS ONE OF NICKLAUS' MOST DOMINATING PERFORMANCES.
BUT THE '67 U.S. OPEN ALSO
TURNED OUT TO BE THE BEAR'S
FINAL MAJOR-TROPHY CEREMONY OF
THE DECADE.
HE'D PLAY WELL THE REST OF 1967
AND 1968 BUT CONTINUALLY FELL
JUST SHORT.
>> MY TOTAL EXCUSE WAS
COMPLACENCY.
I PROBABLY WON TOO MUCH AND
EXPECTED TO WIN WITHOUT WORKING
AS HARD AS I SHOULD HAVE WORKED.
I CAME CLOSE TO WINNING MAJORS.
BUT IT DIDN'T BOTHER ME AS MUCH
AS IT SHOULD HAVE BOTHERED ME.
>> THEN, IN THE FALL OF 1969
CAME A DEVASTATING CALL.
CHARLIE NICKLAUS HAD BEEN
DIAGNOSED WITH PANCREATIC
CANCER.
>> HE WAS OPERATED ON IN
OCTOBER, AND THEY GAVE HIM SIX
WEEKS TO THREE MONTHS, AND HE
LASTED TEN WEEKS.
IT WAS A TOUGH TEN WEEKS.
>> HE JUST NEVER GOT TO FULLY
ENJOY HIS LATTER PART OF HIS
LIFE.
IT WAS A VERY HORRIBLE, SAD
SITUATION.
>> I DON'T KNOW THAT HE'S STILL
OVER IT.
YOU KNOW?
YOU STILL MISS HIM AND WANT TO
SHARE THINGS WITH HIM.
>> EVERYTHING WAS MORE PRECIOUS.
I THINK HIS FAMILY WAS MORE
PRECIOUS.
EVERY SINGLE TOURNAMENT HE WON
AFTER HIS DAD DIED WAS FOR HIS
DAD.
>> I SAID, YOU KNOW, MY DAD SORT
OF LIVED THROUGH ME, AND HE
ENJOYED WHAT I DID.
AND I DON'T THING THAT I GAVE
HIM A FAIR SHAKE.
I CERTAINLY FELT LIKE YOU'RE
ONLY HERE FOR A SHORT PERIOD OF
TIME.
YOU REALLY NEED TO GIVE IT YOUR
BEST.
AND I DID NOT THINK I GAVE IT MY
BEST DURING '68 AND '69.
>> HIS DAD, HIS CLOSEST FRIEND,
THE MAN WHO HAD INTRODUCED HIM
TO THE GAME THAT HAD COME TO
DEFINE HIS LIFE, WAS GONE.
NOW JACK NICKLAUS WAS SET ON
HONORING HIS MEMORY THE ONLY WAY
THAT MADE SENSE TO HIM.
>> GOING OVER FROM EDINBURGH, WHEN WE ARRIVED ON THE TRAIN, WE
CAME BY THIS GOLF COURSE, AND I
SAID TO THE SCOTSMAN NEXT TO ME.
I SAID, "GEE, WHAT DISBANDED
GOLF COURSE IS THAT?"
I SAID, "THE FENCES LOOK LIKE
IT'S RODE DOWN.
THAT FAIRWAY DON'T LOOK LIKE
IT'S EVER BEEN CUT.
AND THE TRAPS?
BOY, I BET IT'S NEVER SEEN A
RAKE."
HE JUMPED UP HIGH.
"HAVE YOU KNOW THAT'S
ST. ANDREWS."
I SAID, "WHAT?!"
♪♪
>> YOU WALK INTO THIS
COLD-LOOKING TOWN WITH THIS SORT
OF GRAY STONE SURROUNDING THIS
GOLF COURSE.
AND THEN, ALL OF A SUDDEN, YOU
REALIZE WHAT'S OUT THERE.
ALL OF A SUDDEN, THIS GREAT, OLD
TOWN BECAME BEAUTIFUL.
I JUST FELL IN LOVE WITH THE
PLACE FIRST ROUND I PLAYED ON
IT.
I JUST SAID, "THIS IS SO
DIFFERENT, SO UNIQUE."
>> JACK NICKLAUS' FIRST TIME
PLAYING ST. ANDREWS WAS IN 1964.
HE FINISHED SECOND.
WHEN HE RETURNED SIX YEARS
LATER, HE CAME UP WITH AN
ADJUSTMENT TO HELP HIM AMID
THOSE UNIQUE SURROUNDINGS.
>> I WAS HAVING TROUBLE LINING
UP, AND I HAD JIMMY DICKINSON.
I SAID, "THAT STEEPLE IN THE
DISTANCE THERE, LADDIE."
IT WAS ALWAYS SOMETHING OFF IN
THE DISTANCE.
SO, THAT'S WHEN I STARTED
PICKING A SPOT OUT 3 TO 6 FEET
IN FRONT OF THE BALL, AND I'D
DRAW A STRAIGHT LINE BACK TO THE
BALL.
THEN I'D TAKE A PARALLEL STANCE
TO IT.
SINCE 1970, I'VE PLAYED EVERY
SHOT I EVER PLAYED THAT WAY.
>> ST. ANDREWS, ON THE EAST
COAST OF SCOTLAND, HAS BEEN A
CITY SINCE MEDIEVAL TIMES.
THE CATHEDRAL WAS FOUNDED MORE
THAN 800 YEARS AGO AND A
UNIVERSITY IN 1410.
THIS IS THE SCENE OF THE 1970
OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP.
>> THE FOURTH ROUND OF THAT
CHAMPIONSHIP WOULD BECOME ONE OF
LEGEND, WITH NICKLAUS BATTLING
THE ALWAYS FASHIONABLE
DOUG SANDERS OF CEDARTOWN,
GEORGIA, FOR THE CLARET JUG.
>> WHEN HE GOT TO THE 18th, JACK
WAS TRAILING BY 1.
BUT AFTER DRIVING THE GREEN, HE
HAD A BIG CHANCE WITH A LONG
EAGLE PUTT.
>> OH, DEAR. >> MEANWHILE, PLAYING BEHIND
NICKLAUS, SANDERS SOON FOUND
HIMSELF FACING A SEEMINGLY
IMPOSSIBLE TASK -- LODGED IN THE
GREENSIDE BUNKER AT THE FAMOUS
ROAD HOLE OF 17th.
>> THERE YOU SEE IT -- VERY
DIFFICULT LIE.
HE'S HIT A SPECTACULAR GOLF
SHOT.
>> IT WAS THIS INCREDIBLY GREAT
SHOT.
SO, YOU KNOW, OKAY, HE'S GOT IT.
>> HERE'S NICKLAUS TRYING FOR
HIS 3.
COULDN'T GET IT MUCH NEARER
THAN THAT.
AND HE'S SURE THAT HE'S LOST THE
CHAMPIONSHIP.
>> HE'S GOT IT.
REMAINS CLEAR LEADER, 6-UNDER
PAR.
NEEDING ONLY A 4 TO BE THE
BRITISH OPEN CHAMPION.
>> I DIDN'T FEEL LIKE I HAD ANY
PROBLEMS WITH ANYTHING.
I FELT LIKE I WAS READY TO WIN.
>> I WAS STANDING BEHIND THE
18th GREEN WHEN DOUG HIT HIS
DRIVE, AND THEN WE'RE WATCHING.
AND WE SAW THE BALL COMING IN
THE AIR.
AND I SAID, "HE'S WON.
HE'S WON IN THERE WHEN IT
LANDED."
AND IT DIDN'T STOP.
IT CAME TO THE BACK OF THE
GREEN.
>> WELL, OF ALL THE GREENS THAT
I WOULDN'T WANT A LONG, DOWNHILL
ONE FOR THE BANK OFF.
>> AND WHAT'S ALSO SO MEMORABLE
ABOUT THAT OPEN IS
HENRY LONGHURST'S COMMENTARY.
>> YOU CAN SEE YOURSELF GOING
INTO THE HISTORY BOOKS.
THE MAN WHO HAD ONLY TO GET DOWN
IN 2 PUTTS TO WIN THE OPEN.
HE TOOK 3 AND LOST ON THE PLAN.
OH, NO.
WELL, THAT'S NOT ONE THAT I
WOULD LIKE TO HAVE.
♪♪
>> AND HE LINED IT UP, AND HE
ADDRESSED IT, AND THEN HE SAW
SOMETHING ON THE GROUND IN FRONT
OF HIS BALL.
HE JUST LENT OVER AND THEN PUT
THE PUTTER BACK WHERE IT WAS.
>> MISSED IT.
YES, THAT'S THE SIDE YOU'RE
BOUND TO MISS.
>> IT WAS PROBABLY ONE OF THE
MOST HURTING TIMES IN MY LIFE...
TO COME THAT CLOSE.
>> AND THERE BUT FOR THE GRACE
OF GOD...
THE OPEN CHAMPIONSHIP OF 1970
ENDS IN A TIE, AND THEY'LL
PLAY-OFF TOMORROW.
>> NICKLAUS JUMPED OUT TO AN
EARLY LEAD IN THE PLAYOFF BUT
WOULD BE AHEAD BY ONLY 1 WHEN
THEY ARRIVED BACK AT 18.
>> WELL, HE'S TAKEN HIS SWEATER
OFF.
SO, THAT'S PRESUMABLY SO HE CAN
OPEN HIS SHOULDERS A BIT MORE.
>> HERE IT COMES, AND HE'S MADE
IT.
[ Laughing ] HE'S MADE IT.
HE'S GOING THROUGH THE GREEN.
>> THAT'S ONE OF THE DRAMATIC
MOMENTS, WHEN JACK TOOK HIS
SWEATER OFF AND DROVE 18, 'CAUSE
IN THOSE DAYS, NOBODY WAS
DRIVING PAR 4s.
>> NICKLAUS HAS THIS TO WIN THE
OPEN.
OH, HE'S GOT IT! HE'S GOT IT.
AND THAT'S IT.
HE THREW THE CLUB UP, AND HE
NEARLY CAUGHT SANDERS WITH IT
AS IT CAME DOWN.
>> THAT WOULD HAVE BEEN THE
PIèCE DE RéSISTANCE.
HE WON THE OPEN, AND HE KNOCKED
HIS OPPONENT OUT ON THE
18th GREEN.
THERE'S SANDERS FACE DOWN ON
THE 18th GREEN, HAVING BEEN HIT
BY JACK'S PUTTER.
>> AND SO JACK NICKLAUS BEATS
DOUG SANDERS AND WINS THE
CHAMPIONSHIP FOR THE SECOND
TIME.
>> YOU LIVE WITH THAT THE REST
OF YOUR LIFE.
I KNOW.
I LIVE WITH IT EVERY DAY.
>> HIS FIRST MAJOR TITLE IN MORE
THAN THREE YEARS WAS THE FIRST
ONE HE COULDN'T SHARE WITH HIS
FATHER.
BUT AS OTHERS MADE CLEAR TO HIM,
IT WAS ALSO THE START OF A NEW
CONVERSATION.
>> AFTER I WON AT ST. ANDREWS, I
WALKED INTO THE PRESS ROOM, AND
BOB GREENE, THE A.P. REPORTER,
SAYS, "WELL, JACK, YOU ONLY GOT
THREE MORE TO TIE BOBBY JONES."
I HAD NEVER THOUGHT ABOUT IT,
COUNTED THEM, ANYTHING.
AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, THEN I DID.
>> AT THE PGA NATIONAL GOLF CLUB
IN PALM BEACH GARDENS, FLORIDA,
THE 53rd ANNUAL PGA GOLF
CHAMPIONSHIP.
>> THE UNIQUE THING ABOUT IT -- IT WAS A SHORT DISTANCE FROM
MR. NICKLAUS' HOME IN THE
PALM BEACH AREA.
HE COULD SLEEP IN HIS OWN BED
AND COME THERE AND BE VERY
COMFORTABLE PLAYING THAT EVENT.
THE OTHER INTERESTING THING
ABOUT IT IS THAT GARY PLAYER WAS
A HOUSEGUEST OF HIS DURING THAT
TOURNAMENT.
>> WELL, GARY PLAYER USUALLY
ALWAYS STAYED WITH US WHEN
ANYTHING WAS CLOSE BY.
AND I'D BE SERVING BREAKFAST,
AND I'D KIND OF BRING BOTH
PLATES OVER AT THE SAME TIME.
AND GARY WOULD SORT OF PRETEND
LIKE JACK'S NOT LOOKING, AND
HE'D SWITCH THE PLATES.
>> HEADING INTO SUNDAY, NICKLAUS
WAS FIRST, WITH HIS HOUSEGUEST,
PLAYER, A DISTANT SECOND, FOUR
SHOTS BACK.
BUT JACK STRUGGLED OVER THE
FRONT NINE, WHICH LET
BILLY CASPER, ON HIS WAY TO A
FINAL-ROUND 68, PULL WITHIN
STRIKING DISTANCE.
>> HE'S GOT IT, AND HE ONLY
TRAILS JACK NICKLAUS BY 1 SHOT,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
>> I WAS NEVER A GUY WHO GOT WAY
OUT IN FRONT AND FELT
COMFORTABLE WITH IT.
ONCE I GOT OUT IN FRONT, I SAID,
"OKAY, I KNOW I SHOULD WIN FROM
HERE.
BUT I DON'T WANT TO SCREW IT
UP."
>> A BIRDIE ON 17 AND A PAR ON
18 ENSURED HE WOULDN'T "SCREW IT
UP" AND GAVE HIM HIS SECOND PGA
TITLE, MAKING HIM THE FIRST
GOLFER EVER TO WIN EACH OF THE
FOUR PROFESSIONAL MAJORS TWICE
IN A CAREER.
>> AND THE NEW PGA CHAMPION,
JACK NICKLAUS.
>> HE WAS 31 YEARS OLD AND HAD
WON NINE PRO MAJORS OVERALL.
BUT ALONG THE WAY, THE
PERCEPTION OF JACK NICKLAUS HAD
CHANGED.
THE ANTIHERO TO ARNOLD PALMER'S
PEOPLE'S CHAMPION WAS NOW
HEARING MORE CHEERS FROM THE
GALLERY THAN EVER, MAYBE SIMPLY
BECAUSE AFTER A DECADE ATOP THE
GAME, THEY JUST WANTED TO BE
LIKE JACK.
♪♪
>> I REMEMBER '71.
I WAS WITH HATHAWAY AT THE TIME
WITH SHIRTS.
IN THE FALL, WE HAD HAD THESE
SHIRTS.
THEY WERE ALL THESE REAL SWIRL
PATTERNS AND PAISLEYS.
AND I SAID, "MAN, THOSE ARE
REALLY GOOD-LOOKING."
AND THEY SAID, "WE CAN'T SELL
THEM.
WE CAN'T GIVE THEM AWAY."
SPORTS ILLUSTRATED CAME OUT
THE NEXT WEEK, AND THEY HAD FOUR
PICTURES OF ME WITH THE FOUR
DIFFERENT SHIRTS.
THEY SOLD THOSE SHIRTS LIKE
HOTCAKES.
>> AND THE SELF-INDUCED MAKEOVER
JUST SO HAPPENED TO COINCIDE
WITH A SELF-DIRECTED PHYSICAL
TRANSFORMATION.
>> IN '69, AT THE RYDER CUP
MATCHES, I GOT TIRED FOR THE
FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE.
AND I SAID, "YOU KNOW, I THINK
I'M GONNA GO LOSE 20 POUNDS."
>> HE CALLED THE TAILOR THAT HAD
BEEN MAKING HIS CLOTHES, AND HE
SAID, "PLEASE BE HERE IN THREE
WEEKS.
I'M GOING TO LOSE WEIGHT."
>> AND I WEIGHED 185 POUNDS, AND
I STAYED AT 185 POUNDS FOR
BASICALLY THE REST OF MY CAREER.
>> ONCE HE IS DETERMINED, HE CAN
DO ANYTHING.
♪♪ >> THERE'S SORT OF A CADENCE TO
THE PROFESSIONAL GOLF SEASON.
IT ALL BUILDS.
ONCE YOU SORT OF GET THE
CHRISTMAS TREES DOWN, ALL THE
SUDDEN, EVERYTHING STARTS SORT
OF TICKING TOWARD AUGUSTA.
>> THE MASTERS TO ME SET THE
STAGE FOR THE YEAR.
IF I DIDN'T WIN THE MASTERS,
TO ME, IT WAS NOT GONNA BE A
GOOD YEAR.
>> JACK NICKLAUS HAD WON THE
MASTERS THREE TIMES BETWEEN 1963
AND '66 BUT HAD COME UP EMPTY IN
THE YEARS SINCE.
>> I GEARED MY WHOLE LIFE
TOWARDS WINNING THE MASTERS AND
WINNING THE FIRST MAJOR
CHAMPIONSHIP.
MAYBE I PUT TOO MUCH PRESSURE ON
MYSELF FROM '66 TO '72.
>> THE YEAR 1972 FOR NICKLAUS
SHAPED UP AS A SIGNIFICANT ONE
FROM THE START.
HE WAS ON THE CUSP OF HIS PRIME,
IN THE BEST SHAPE OF HIS LIFE,
AS FOCUSED AS HE'D EVER BEEN.
THE NEXT CHALLENGE, IT SEEMED,
WASN'T JUST TO WIN THE MASTERS
BUT WIN EVERY MAJOR IN A SINGLE
YEAR.
♪♪
HE TOOK CONTROL OF THE TOURNAMENT IMMEDIATELY WITH AN
OPENING-ROUND 68.
AND BY SATURDAY AFTERNOON, HE
WAS 5 SHOTS CLEAR OF THE FIELD.
>> WILLIE PETERSON FLAGS ANOTHER
ONE.
>> HE WAS IN COMPLETE CONTROL,
BUT THEN, SUDDENLY AND
UNCHARACTERISTICALLY, HE LOST
HIS SWING.
>> THAT BALL IS HOOKED, TOO.
JACK'S SWING IS UNRAVELING.
>> HE'D END UP WITH 1-OVER 73 ON
THE DAY, GIVING HIM JUST A
1-STROKE CUSHION ENTERING THE
FINAL ROUND.
BUT HE'D ONLY HAVE A CHANCE IF
HE COULD FIGURE OUT WHAT HE'D
LOST.
>> I PROBABLY WENT TO THE
PRACTICE TEE 98% OF THE TIME
AFTER I PLAYED.
IF I HAD GOT SOMETHING I WAS
DOING WRONG, I WANTED TO FIX IT.
IF I WAS DOING THINGS, SOMETHING
RIGHT, I WANTED TO SOLIDIFY IT.
>> SUNDAY, THE MORNING OF THE
FOURTH AND FINAL ROUND --
LOTS OF SUNSHINE AND VERY
LITTLE WIND.
>> ONLY THREE PLAYERS BROKE PAR
IN THAT FINAL ROUND, NO ONE
SHOOTING LOWER THAN 71.
>> BEAUTIFUL!
READ IT PERFECTLY.
>> NICKLAUS STILL WASN'T AT HIS
BEST ON SUNDAY, BUT HIS SOLID
FRONT NINE WAS GOOD ENOUGH TO
INCREASE HIS LEAD BACK TO
5 STROKES.
>> TO SUM IT UP, IN PRESSING
TOO HARD TO MAKE UP STROKES ON
NICKLAUS, THE MEN PURSUING THE
LEADER ENDED UP BY LOSING MORE
STROKES THAN THEY GAINED.
>> I THINK MAJORITY OF PEOPLE
ARE SCARED OF WINNING.
BUT I CAN NAME YOU SOME REALLY
GOOD PLAYERS WHO NEVER WON MUCH
BECAUSE EVERY TIME THEY GOT
THEMSELVES IN CONTENTION, THEY
WERE AFRAID.
AND THAT BECAME THE PRESSURE ON
THEM TO NOT WIN.
I ALWAYS SORT OF EMBRACED
WINNING.
THAT'S WHAT WE WERE THERE FOR.
>> NICKLAUS WOULD CLOSE WITH A
2-OVER 74, GOOD ENOUGH FOR A
3-SHOT WIN.
>> THIS IS ONLY THE SECOND TIME
THAT ANY PLAYER HAS EVER WON
THE MASTERS TOURNAMENT FOUR
TIMES.
I WANT TO TELL YOU, TOO, JACK,
IN CONNECTION WITH THAT WINE
CELLAR THAT YOU'RE BUILDING UP
THAT I INTEND TO MAKE A
CONTRIBUTION.
>> WELL, I APPRECIATE THAT VERY
MUCH.
>> I HAVE A WHOLE CASE OF
CHâTEAU LAFITE 1952.
>> UH-OH!
[ LAUGHS ]
>> WITH ANOTHER GREEN JACKET,
AND A GENEROUS DONATION TO HIS
NEW WINE CELLAR, COURTESY OF
AUGUSTA CO-FOUNDER
CLIFFORD ROBERTS, THE NEXT MAJOR
CAME INTO FOCUS -- U.S. OPEN AT
PEBBLE BEACH, WHERE NICKLAUS HAD
WON THE 1961 U.S. AMATEUR
AND FALLEN IN LOVE WITH HIS
SURROUNDINGS.
>> FIELD OF 70 THAT HAVE
ACCEPTED THE CHALLENGE OF THIS
6,815-YARD, PAR-72 GOLF LINKS.
♪♪
>> HE ARRIVED A FULL WEEK EARLY TO PREPARE, AND HE PLAYED THE
FIRST TWO ROUNDS AT EVEN PAR,
GOOD ENOUGH FOR A SHARE OF THE
LEAD WITH FIVE OTHERS, INCLUDING
A 22-YEAR-OLD NAMED
LANNY WADKINS, WHO PLAYED
ALONGSIDE NICKLAUS OVER THOSE
FIRST TWO DAYS.
>> I SAW SOME SHOTS FROM HIM OUT
OF THE ROUGH THAT WEEK THAT
NORMAL HUMAN BEINGS CAN'T DO,
THAT HE WOULD TAKE IT UP OVER
BUNKERS AND STOP IT FROM LIES.
I COULDN'T EVEN SEE HIS BALL.
HE JUST PLAYED A DIFFERENT GAME.
>> AT THE START OF SUNDAY,
NICKLAUS HAD A 1-SHOT LEAD OVER
THREE PLAYERS, INCLUDING HIS
PARTNER FOR THE FINAL ROUND,
DEFENDING CHAMPION LEE TREVINO
WHO HAD BEATEN NICKLAUS IN A
PLAYOFF THE YEAR BEFORE AT
MERION.
>> THE TWO BEST PLAYERS IN THE
WORLD BATTLING FOR THE NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP.
>> IT WASN'T HARD TO PLAY WITH
HIM BECAUSE I WAS SUCH A BIG
UNDERDOG.
CAN YOU IMAGINE IF YOU'RE
PLAYING THE U.S. OPEN, AND
YOU'RE TIED WITH THIS GUY GOING
INTO THE LAST ROUND?
WHAT DIFFERENCE DOES IT MAKE?
YOU'RE SUPPOSED TO LOSE.
HE'S SUPPOSED TO WIN.
A LOT MORE PRESSURE.
>> YOU'RE, GENERALLY SPEAKING,
NERVOUS BECAUSE YOU'RE NOT
PREPARED, AND YOU'RE NOT SURE OF
WHAT YOU'RE GONNA DO.
SO, IF I CAN GET MOST ALL OF
THAT OUT OF THE WAY BEFORE THE
TOURNAMENT, ALL I HAD TO DO WAS
FOCUS ON PLAYING GOLF.
>> 33 -- THAT SHOULD SEW IT UP
FOR NICKLAUS.
HE'S 3 STROKES IN THE LEAD ONCE
MORE.
>> AFTER THAT BIRDIE ON 16,
THERE WERE STILL TWO HOLES TO
PLAY.
MOMENTS LATER, NICKLAUS STEPPED
TO THE ICONIC PAR-3 17th, HIS
TRUSTY 1-IRON IN HAND.
>> HAD 219 YARDS.
THE WIND WAS IN MY FACE LEFT TO
RIGHT.
>> THE 1-IRONS THIS GUY HIT, HE
COULD DO IT BETTER AND HIGHER
AND STRAIGHTER AND LONGER THAN
ANYBODY ELSE.
>> NOBODY COULD HIT A LONG IRON
LIKE JACK NICKLAUS.
HE COULD HIT A 1- AND 2-IRON
JUST STRAIGHT UP IN THE AIR.
>> "MY GOSH, I CAN NEVER DO
THAT.
HOW AM I EVER GONNA BEAT THIS
GUY?"
WELL, YOU COULDN'T.
>> THE 17th.
ON THE TEE, JACK NICKLAUS, YOUR
LEADER.
>> WHEN IT CAME TIME TO GET
SERIOUS ABOUT HITTING THE BALL,
IT WAS A ZONE.
>> WHEN HE CAME IN FROM THE
SIDE, HE ALWAYS KIND OF HAD THE
CLUB IN HIS RIGHT HAND AND HIS
ELBOW TUCKED THIS WAY, AND HIS
LEFT HAND IS ALWAYS KIND OF
TWIRLING AROUND.
HE MADE THIS CIRCULAR APPROACH
INTO THE BALL.
>> WHEN HE WOULD GET READY TO
STRIKE IT, YOU COULD JUST FEEL
THE CURTAIN CLOSE AROUND HIM
AND THIS CONCENTRATION JUST --
IT WAS EERIE.
>> AND WHEN HE TILTED HIS HEAD
AND THEN PRESSED HIS HANDS
FORWARD...
>> AND WHACK!
>> OH, NO. >> ALMOST MADE A HOLE IN ONE.
CHRIS, THAT'S THE MOST
REMARKABLE SHOT I'VE EVER...
>> WHEN I TOOK THE CLUB BACK,
AND I GOT A LITTLE TOO FAR
INSIDE, I KNEW THAT BY TAKING IT
INSIDE, I PUT MYSELF IN A
POSITION OF A POSSIBLE
PULL-HOOK.
AND I'M THINKING THESE THINGS.
MY TIMING WAS SO GOOD THAT WEEK,
AND I WAS ABLE TO ADJUST AND
COME DOWN AND HOLD ONTO IT A
LITTLE BIT MORE THROUGH THE
BALL.
AND I ENDED UP HITTING THE SHOT
I WANTED.
>> HERE'S JACK, HITTING THIS
SHOT UNDER EXTREME PRESSURE.
AND HE'S ACTUALLY MAKING
MIDSWING CORRECTIONS.
THAT'S HOW BRILLIANT A MIND THAT
HE HAS.
>> MOST PEOPLE CAN THINK OF ONE,
MAYBE TWO THINGS DURING A GOLF
SWING.
I CAN THINK OF FIVE OR SIX AND
DO THEM.
>> THEN YOU START TO UNDERSTAND
WHO JACK IS.
HE'S NOT NORMAL.
NORMAL PEOPLE DON'T WIN
18 MAJORS.
>> 1972 WAS NICKLAUS' THIRD
U.S. OPEN VICTORY, HIS ELEVENTH
PROFESSIONAL MAJOR.
COUNTING HIS TWO U.S. AMATEUR
TITLES, HE'D NOW TIED
BOBBY JONES' RECORD OF 13
OVERALL MAJORS.
BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER
POSSIBILITY ALSO BECKONING --
A CHANCE TO MATCH HIS IDOL IN
ANOTHER SINGULAR WAY, TO CAPTURE
THE SINGLE-SEASON GRAND SLAM.
>> JACK ONCE TOLD ME THAT THE BEGINNING OF EVER YEAR, HE HAD
HIS EYE ON THE SLAM.
♪♪
HE WANTED TO WIN ALL FOUR.
AND IN '72, HE HAD HIS BEST
CHANCE.
>> JACK NICKLAUS JOINS
ARNOLD PALMER AS A 4-TIME
WINNER OF THE MASTERS.
>> SO, IT'S SET UP.
HE WON THE MASTERS, AND HE
PLAYED BEAUTIFULLY AT PEBBLE.
IT WAS LIKE, "OKAY, I'M OFF.
I CAN DO THIS.
IT'S THE ONE THING I HAVEN'T
DONE."
>> IT WASN'T REALLY SOMETHING
THAT WE ACTUALLY TALKED ABOUT A
LOT, ALTHOUGH YOU KNEW THAT IT
WAS IN THE BACK OF HIS MIND.
♪♪
>> MUIRFIELD WAS A GOLF COURSE
THAT I'D WON ON IN '66, AND I'D
ONLY PLAYED 17 DRIVERS.
IN '72, I THINK I HAD A VERY
SIMILAR GAME PLAN, BUT IT WAS A
DIFFERENT WIND, SO WE HAD
DIFFERENT CLUBS THAT WE PLAYED.
>> HE USED THE SAME STRATEGY,
PLAYING THE IRONS OFF THE TEE,
AND HE WAS GIVING UP A LOT OF
YARDAGE.
>> WITH THE COURSE PLAYING
FASTER THAN HE'D ANTICIPATED,
AFTER 54 HOLES NICKLAUS TRAILED
DEFENDING CHAMPION LEE TREVINO
BY 6 SHOTS.
>> WELL, THAT REALLY WAS A
DIABOLICAL ONE.
>> 1969 OPEN CHAMPION
TONY JACKLIN, MEANWHILE, WAS
1 BACK OF TREVINO, SETTING UP
WHAT APPEARED TO BE A 2-MAN
RACE.
>> NICKLAUS STARTING 6 BEHIND
NOW AND SURELY OUT OF IT.
>> WE GET ON THE 1st TEE, AND
HE PULLS THE HEAD COVER OFF THE
DRIVER.
I SAID, "UH-OH.
THIS IS GONNA BE FUN."
>> HE JUST SAID, "THAT'S IT.
I'M GOING FOR IT."
AND HE JUST LIT IT UP.
>> MAKE IT 32 FOR JACK NICKLAUS.
>> AND THE PEOPLE WENT WILD.
I REMEMBER HAVING TEARS RUNNING
DOWN MY FACE.
>> THIS IS AN HISTORIC ROUND OF
GOLF BEING PLAYED.
>> WELL, HE HAD THE LEAD.
HE'S GONNA DO IT.
IF HE WINS AT MUIRFIELD, HE'S
GONNA WIN THE SLAM.
>> SUDDENLY, NICKLAUS HAD JOINED
JACKLIN AND TREVINO IN A BATTLE
FOR THE AGES.
>> THAT'S TWO OF THEM.
POSSIBLE BIRDIE-3 FOR NICKLAUS.
>> AFTER LIPPING-OUT FOR ANOTHER
BIRDIE AT 15, NICKLAUS ARRIVED
AT MUIRFIELD'S 16th NOW TIED FOR
THE LEAD.
>> I GOT TO THE 16th TEE EXACTLY
THE SAME POSITION THAT I WAS IN
'66.
AND I SAID, "OKAY,
PAR-BIRDIE-PAR,
YOU WIN THE GOLF TOURNAMENT."
♪♪
>> OH, SO NEAR, AND YET ANOTHER ONE.
>> IT DIDN'T MAKE ANY DIFFERENCE
WHAT TREVINO DID OR WHAT JACKLIN
DID.
IF I'D HAVE FINISHED 3-4-4,
I WOULD HAVE WON.
>> AND WITH THAT PUTT GOES HIS
HOPES OF A GREAT GRAND SLAM.
>> HE'D WIND UP SECOND, 1 SHOT
BEHIND TREVINO, WHO, AFTER
ANOTHER BRILLIANT CHIP SHOT ON
THE 71st HOLE, TOOK HOME HIS
SECOND STRAIGHT OPEN.
>> AND TREVINO CHIPS IT IN FROM
OFF THE GREEN.
>> SO, THERE WOULD BE NO
GRAND SLAM, AND IN THE
AFTERMATH, NICKLAUS WOULD FINISH
OUT OF CONTENTION IN EACH OF THE
NEXT FOUR MAJORS.
THEN, IN AUGUST OF 1973, PGA
CAME TO HIS HOME STATE AT
CANTERBURY GOLF CLUB IN
BEACHWOOD, OHIO, JUST ABOUT
150 MILES FROM COLUMBUS, WHERE
NICKLAUS HAD, COINCIDENTALLY,
BEEN MAKING FREQUENT VISITS TO
TEND TO A SPECIAL PROJECT.
♪♪
>> WELL, MY ORIGINAL VISION IN 1966 -- I SAID AT AUGUSTA.
WE SAT DOWN.
I SAID, "WOULDN'T IT BE GREAT IF
WE BROUGHT SOMETHING BACK TO
COLUMBUS LIKE THE MASTERS?"
AND WE WERE SITTING THERE
TALKING ABOUT, "I'M GONNA GO
BACK AND SEE IF I CAN FIND SOME
PROPERTY."
SO, WE'RE BACK DOWN PROPERTY
WHERE MUIRFIELD PRESENTLY IS.
WE STARTED DOING THE GOLF COURSE
ABOUT FIVE YEARS LATER.
>> HE CALLED THE CREATION
"MUIRFIELD VILLAGE," PAYING
TRIBUTE TO THE ICONIC SCOTTISH
ORIGINAL THAT HAD BOTH REWARDED
AND BEDEVILED HIM.
BUT THE PASSION PROJECT WAS ALSO
A DIFFICULT UNDERTAKING AND TOOK
A WELL-PUBLICIZED TOLL ON HIS
FINANCES.
>> FINANCIALLY, I FINANCED --
DID IT ALL MYSELF.
I ASSEMBLED 1,560 ACRES,
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
BUT I DID PUT MOST OF MY MONEY
THAT I WAS GETTING INTO THAT
PROJECT.
>> WHEN HE WAS BUILDING
MUIRFIELD VILLAGE, THAT WAS
REALLY STRESSFUL -- FINANCIAL
CRISIS HE HAD.
HAD TO BE VERY JARRING AND
PROBABLY CREATE TRAUMA FOR MOST
PEOPLE.
AND HE HAD SOME OF THE GREAT
YEARS OF HIS CAREER AT THAT
TIME.
>> I'VE NEVER BEEN A GUY THAT
WORRIED TOO MUCH ABOUT
MONEY AND FINANCES.
I'VE ALWAYS FELT LIKE, "GO PLAY
WELL.
THE MONEY WILL COME."
>> WE'RE BACK AGAIN AT
CANTERBURY GOLF CLUB FOR THE
FINAL STAGES OF THE 55th
PGA CHAMPIONSHIP.
AND HERE'S A MAN THAT WON IT
TWICE BEFORE.
♪♪
>> THREE ROUNDS IN, NICKLAUS
HELD A 1-SHOT LEAD WITH THE REST
OF THE LEADERBOARD CHECKERED
WITH JOURNEYMEN.
>> I ALWAYS LOOKED AT THE
LEADERBOARD, AND IF I SAW
PALMER, PLAYER, WATSON, TREVINO,
I KNEW THAT I'M GONNA HAVE TO
PLAY.
IF I SAW SOME OTHER NAMES UP
THERE, I KNEW THAT I DIDN'T HAVE
TO WIN IT WITH SPECTACULAR GOLF.
THOSE GUYS ALWAYS
SELF-DESTRUCTED.
>> JACK NICKLAUS FINISHES
72 HOLES AT 7-UNDER PAR, A
ROUND OF 69, AND JACK NICKLAUS
HAS SET THE RECORD OF 14 MAJOR
CHAMPIONSHIPS.
>> THE 14 CHAMPIONSHIPS COUNTED
THE 12 PROFESSIONAL MAJORS AND
HIS TWO U.S. AMATEUR WINS --
AT THE TIME, RECOGNIZED AS THE
NUMBER THAT PUT HIM PAST JONES
IN THE ALL-TIME RANKINGS.
>> THE MOST MEMORABLE THING AT
CANTERBURY -- NOT ONLY THAT I
WON MY 14th MAJOR -- BUT MOST
IMPORTANT TO ME IS MY FAVORITE
PICTURE IN GOLF.
>> I WAS WALKING AROUND THAT DAY
WITH MY MOM AND EVERYBODY ELSE,
AND BEHIND THE GREEN, I WAS
STANDING THERE WITH MY OLDEST
BROTHER, JACK.
AS MY DAD FINISHED PUTTING OUT,
HE WAS LIKE, "GO OUT.
GO SEE DAD."
>> HAVE GARY RUN OUT ON THE
GREEN.
I JUST GOT THE BIGGEST KICK OUT
OF IT IN MY LIFE.
EVERYBODY SAID, "OH, HOW
COULD..."
"GO AWAY.
THIS IS MY KID, AND I'M LOVING
IT."
[ LAUGHS ]
I SHARED -- MY LIFE WAS WITH
THEM.
THEY WERE PART OF MY LIFE, AND I
WANTED TO SHARE IT WITH MY
FAMILY.
I WANTED THEM TO UNDERSTAND WHAT
DAD DID AND BE PART OF WHAT WENT
ON.
THAT'S ALWAYS BEEN SORT OF THE
FOUNDATION OF WHAT WE'VE DONE.
>> IT WAS A DIFFERENT KIND OF
INDELIBLE IMAGE IN A CAREER
FILLED WITH TOO MANY TO COUNT.
BUT IT SHINED A LIGHT ON YET
ANOTHER THING THAT SET
JACK NICKLAUS APART FROM SO MANY
OTHERS.
>> JACK HAD MADE A PACT WHEN HE
TURNED PRO THAT HE WOULD NEVER
BE GONE LONGER THAN TWO WEEKS AT
A TIME.
I THINK THE KIDS ARE AMAZED
TODAY.
HE WOULD FLY CROSS-COUNTRY FOR
A BASEBALL GAME.
AND I THINK THEY ALWAYS THOUGHT,
"WELL, THIS IS WHAT DADS DO."
>> AS A YOUNG KID IN HIGH
SCHOOL, DIDN'T REALLY KNOW THE
EFFORT HE WAS MAKING.
FLY 2,000 OR 3,000 MILES, COME
WATCH THE GAME, AND THEN GO BACK
THAT NIGHT TO PLAY THE NEXT TWO
DAYS OF THE TOURNAMENT.
>> THEY WERE PROBABLY AT MORE OF
OUR GAMES THAN MY FRIENDS'
PARENTS THAT NEVER LEFT
NORTH PALM BEACH.
>> THE CROWD AT THIS HIGH-SCHOOL
FOOTBALL GAME IN FLORIDA LAST
NIGHT WAS UNUSUAL IN JUST ONE
RESPECT.
IT INCLUDED THE GREATEST GOLFER
IN THE WORLD, JACK NICKLAUS,
WHO HAD JUST JETTED IN FROM THE
WORLD SERIES OF GOLF IN AKRON,
OHIO.
>> I TOLD THEM I'D PLAY IN THE
GOLF TOURNAMENT IF I COULD GET A
MORNING TIME ON FRIDAY.
THEY SAID, "WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"
I SAID, "WELL, I'M GOING TO A
FRIDAY-AFTERNOON FOOTBALL GAME."
>> I WAS AT THE MEXICAN OPEN
ONCE WITH HIM.
AFTER THE FRIDAY ROUND, HE SAYS,
"I'M GONNA FLY BACK.
MY KIDS ARE PLAYING IN A
CHAMPIONSHIP-FOOTBALL GAME."
HE FLEW OVER TO WATCH THE KIDS
PLAY THE FOOTBALL GAME AND FLEW
BACK THE NEXT MORNING.
>> HE HAS BEEN VERY CONSISTENT
AS A FATHER.
HE'S DISCIPLINED ME WHEN I
NEEDED DISCIPLINE, AND HE'S HELD
ME UP WHEN I NEEDED TO BE HELD
UP.
>> I USE THE EXAMPLE OF THE '86
MASTERS.
WE GOT TO THE 18th GREEN, AND IT
SHOULD HAVE BEEN ALL ABOUT DAD.
BUT WHEN I TURNED AROUND FROM
PUTTING THE FLAG IN THE CUP, I
TURNED AROUND.
DAD WAS LOOKING AT ME.
>> IT REALLY SPEAKS TO PERSONAL
RESPONSIBILITY.
JACK NICKLAUS OBVIOUSLY LIVED A
VERY BALANCED LIFE.
HE KNEW HE HAD A RESPONSIBILITY
AS A FATHER AND HUSBAND.
>> HE ALWAYS PUT HIS FAMILY
ABOVE GOLF.
AND I KNOW HE LOOKS BACK NOW AND
THINKS, "WELL, MAYBE I
SHOULD'VE, COULD'VE,
WOULD'VE WON MORE."
BUT HE SAID, "I WOULDN'T TRADE
THE TIME WITH MY FAMILY FOR ANY
OF THAT."
>> 18, OF COURSE, WOULD
ULTIMATELY BE HIS SIGNATURE
NUMBER.
BUT HE'D COME TO LOOK AT 22, AS
IN 22 NICKLAUS GRANDCHILDREN, AS
JUST AS DEFINING AN ACHIEVEMENT.
>> RIVALRIES EXIST IN EVERY SPORT, IN EVERY LEVEL.
THEY'RE ALL A LITTLE BIT
DIFFERENT -- CITY VERSUS CITY OR
COMMUNITY VERSUS COMMUNITY.
>> THE DALLAS COWBOYS, THE
SAN FRANCISCO 49ers.
WE DIDN'T LIKE THE COWBOYS.
THE COWBOYS DIDN'T LIKE US.
>> I USED TO GET BOOED LOUDER
THAN ANYBODY ON THE ROAD, BUT
THEY DIDN'T UNDERSTAND THEY WERE
MOTIVATING ME BY BOOING ME.
>> NADAL CAME, AND HE MADE LIFE
HARD FOR ME.
AND I HAD A HARD TIME ACCEPTING
THAT HE'S GONNA BE MY RIVAL NOW
FOR A WHILE.
>> I THINK WHEN YOU HAVE
RIVALRIES, AND YOU GOT NEW
BLOOD AND NEW TALENT COMING IN,
I THINK THE CHAMPIONS STEP UP
THAT MUCH MORE.
>> I LOVE RIVALRIES.
THERE'S NO DOUBT.
IT MADE ME WANT TO WORK HARDER.
>> TOOK ME A WHILE TO UNDERSTAND
THAT IT COULD REALLY PUSH ME
FORWARD TO ACTUALLY IMPROVE MY
GAME ONE STEP FURTHER.
>> THEY'D BEEN BETTER OFF JUST
TO BE SHH!
JUST BE QUIET.
YOU GOT 10,000 PEOPLE BOOING ME.
I'M GONNA SHUT THEM UP.
>> GREAT ATHLETES WANT THAT
HEAD-TO-HEAD COMPETITION BECAUSE
YOUR INNER SOUL SAYS, "I HAVE TO
PROVE MYSELF THAT I BELONG."
>> I ALWAYS LOVED A CHALLENGE. I WELCOMED TREVINO INTO THE
COMPETITION.
THEN ALONG CAME WEISKOPF AND
MILLER, FOLLOWED BY WATSON.
ALL THESE YOUNG GUYS COMING
ALONG WERE, "OH, HERE'S THE NEXT
GUY WHO'S GONNA TAKE NICKLAUS
OFF THE THRONE."
FINE. I LOVE THAT.
>> THE AUGUSTA NATIONAL GOLF
CLUB HAS SEEN SOME MARVELOUS
FINISHING ROUNDS.
AND THIS FOURTH AND FINAL ROUND
OF THE 1975 MASTERS MIGHT VERY
WELL BE A STORY THAT WILL LIVE
FOR MANY YEARS TO COME.
>> THE MASTERS THAT MIGHT HAVE
THE BEST CASE OUT OF ALL OF THEM
AS THE GREATEST EVER WAS THE
STORY OF THREE MEN...
JACK NICKLAUS CHASING HIS FIFTH
GREEN JACKET ALONGSIDE TWO
YOUNGER RIVALS -- TOM WEISKOPF,
WHO HAD LONG LIVED IN NICKLAUS'
SHADOW, COMING OUT OF
OHIO STATE, AND JOHNNY MILLER,
THE CALIFORNIA GOLDEN BOY WITH
THE SWING AS SWEET AS IT WAS
EXPLOSIVE.
>> THE STORY GOING INTO THAT
WEEK AT AUGUSTA NATIONAL WAS
WILL JOHNNY MILLER OVERTAKE
JACK NICKLAUS AS THE BEST PLAYER
IN THE WORLD?
THAT WAS THE SCRIPT.
RARELY DOES GOLF HOLD TO
PRETOURNAMENT SCRIPTS.
>> THE SCRIPT WAS INDEED IN
DISARRAY THROUGH 36 HOLES, WITH
MILLER PUTTING POORLY, 11 SHOTS
BEHIND AND WEISKOPF 6 BACK
HIMSELF.
BUT AFTER A STRONG START TO GRAB
THE LEAD, NICKLAUS CAME BACK TO
THE FIELD ON SATURDAY.
MILLER MEANWHILE CAUGHT FIRE
WITH A 65, MOVING WITHIN 3 OF
NICKLAUS.
>> MILLER HAS PICKED UP TWO MORE
BIRDIES, 6 IN A ROW NOW, AN
ALL-TIME MASTERS RECORD.
>> THAT PUT HIM 4 SHOTS BEHIND
THE NEW LEADER, WEISKOPF,
SUDDENLY PLAYING BRILLIANTLY
HIMSELF.
>> I JUST HAD THIS UNBELIEVABLE
CONFIDENCE IN MYSELF.
YOU HAVE TO BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE
THE ONE THAT IS GOING TO CREATE
HISTORY THAT DAY.
♪♪
>> AND WHEN THE COUNTRY TUNED
IN, IN THE WAKE OF ALREADY FIVE
LEAD CHANGES ON THE DAY,
NICKLAUS AND WEISKOPF WERE TIED
IN FIRST, WITH MILLER 2 BACK.
>> THE LEADER FOR THE MOMENT,
TOM WEISKOPF, WHO GOES TO
11-UNDER WITH A BRILLIANT BIRD
HERE AT 14.
>> THERE'S A LOT OF PRESSURE.
YOU FEEL THE PRESSURE.
BUT THAT'S THE FUN THING ABOUT
IT.
SOME PEOPLE HANDLE IT BETTER
THAN OTHERS.
NOBODY'S EVER HANDLED IT BETTER
THAN JACK NICKLAUS.
NOBODY.
>> JACK NICKLAUS.
>> I HIT A GOOD DRIVE AT 15.
I WAS ON THE LITTLE KNOBS IN THE
FAIRWAY.
I HAD 242 YARDS.
IT WAS THE PERFECT PLACE TO
CATAPULT A 1-IRON UP IN THE AIR.
>> ONE OF THE GREATEST SHOTS HE
EVER HIT.
HIT IT JUST PERFECT.
>> OH, MY WORD!
>> AND THAT'S THE SHOT THAT I
STILL SEE IN MY MIND.
>> I DIDN'T MAKE THE PUTT, BUT
THAT 1-IRON WAS JUST
SPECTACULAR IN THE AIR.
IT'S ONE OF THOSE YOU GO,
"MM-HMM-HMM! ISN'T THAT FUN?"
[ LAUGHS ]
>> AFTER HIS BIRDIE ON 15, A
MEDIOCRE TEE SHOT ON 16 LEFT HIM
40 FEET BELOW THE HOLE.
AND NICKLAUS STALKED HIS BIRDIE
PUTT AS MILLER AND WEISKOPF
WATCHED FROM THE TEE.
>> I THINK PUTTING WAS MORE
ABOUT ATTITUDE.
I HAVE TO MAKE THAT PUTT.
SO, JUST GO MAKE IT.
THERE'S NO WAY IN THE WORLD I'M
GONNA FALL BEHIND HERE.
I'M NOT GONNA MISS THAT PUTT.
I JUST WILLED THE BALL INTO THE
HOLE.
>> NOW, UP THE HILL.
OH-HO!
HAVE YOU EVER SEEN ONE LIKE
THAT?
[ CHUCKLES ]
>> YOU COULD STAND THERE A
LIFETIME AND NOT MAKE THAT PUTT
AGAIN, BUT HE MADE IT.
THAT'S NICKLAUS.
>> COME ON. WELL, NOT A BAD TRY.
>> A FEW MINUTES LATER, WEISKOPF
FINALLY BLINKED, BOGEYING 16 AND
GIVING NICKLAUS A 1-SHOT LEAD
WITH 2 TO PLAY.
MILLER, MEANWHILE, HAD A CHANCE
FOR BIRDIE TO PULL WITHIN 1 OF
NICKLAUS ON 17.
>> HE'S READ THE BREAK.
THERE IT IS!
>> AFTER I MADE THE PUTT, I HAD
A SHOT OF ADRENALINE RUNNING
THROUGH ME SO STRONGLY, MAYBE
MORE SO THAN ANYTIME IN MY
CAREER.
MY HAIR WAS STANDING UP ON MY
NECK.
>> NICKLAUS WOULD MAKE PAR ON
THE FINAL TWO HOLES, RETAINING
HIS 1-SHOT LEAD, BUT COULD ONLY
WATCH AS HIS PURSUERS PLAYED
THEIR APPROACHES TO 18.
>> HE'S INSIDE MILLER! OH, WHAT A HORSE RACE!
>> TWO BEST PLAYERS, NUMBER-ONE
RIVALS, NUMBER-TWO RIVALS, WERE
PUSHING HIM TO THE ABSOLUTE MAX.
>> NICKLAUS SWEATING IT OUT.
>> AND ONE BIRDIE FLEW AWAY.
NOW THERE'S ONE LAST SHOT LEFT
IN THE ARSENAL, AND IT BELONGS
TO TOM WEISKOPF.
>> REGRETS -- I KNOW THE DEFINITION OF "REGRETS."
BUT I CAN'T CHANGE IT, YOU KNOW?
I'M GLAD I WAS PART OF IT.
>> JACK LEANED OVER TO ME.
HE SAID, "THANKS FOR MAKING THAT
SO EXCITING FOR ME."
IT WAS LIKE, "WELL, I'M GLAD YOU
LIKED IT.
YOU WON."
[ Laughing ] YOU KNOW?
>> AND SO, WHAT MIGHT BE THE
GREATEST MASTERS EVER WENT TO
NICKLAUS FOR A RECORD FIFTH
TIME.
AND FOR THE FOURTH TIME IN HIS
CAREER, HIS SEASON WOULD HAVE
MORE THAN ONE MAJOR HIGHLIGHT.
♪♪
>> IT'S THE FIRESTONE COUNTRY
CLUB IN AKRON, OHIO, AND IT'S
THE 57th PGA NATIONAL
CHAMPIONSHIP.
>> FIRESTONE WAS JUST A 2-HOUR
DRIVE FROM COLUMBUS AND PERHAPS
NOT SURPRISINGLY A COURSE THAT
TREATED THE SON OF OHIO WELL ALL
THROUGHOUT HIS CAREER.
>> HE WON SEVEN TIMES HERE.
BUT I THINK THE AMAZING THING
ABOUT IT, IF YOU ADD UP THE
PRIZE MONEY IN HIS SEVEN
TOURNAMENTS, IT PROBABLY CAME TO
MAYBE A HALF A MILLION?
NOW TODAY, FIRST-PLACE MONEY'S
$1.6 MILLION FOR ONE.
>> THEY'RE PLAYING THIS WEEK FOR
NEARLY A QUARTER OF A MILLION IN
PRIZE MONEY, WITH $45,000 FOR
THE TOP SPOT.
>> AND WHILE JACK NICKLAUS'
CAREER WAS FILLED WITH ALMOST
TOO MANY DRAMATIC EAGLES AND
BIRDIES TO COUNT, THE PIVOTAL
MOMENT OF THE 1975 PGA WAS
SIMPLY A PAR ON THE 16th HOLE OF
THE THIRD ROUND.
>> HE HITS HIS TEE SHOT IN THE
TREES.
HE TAKES A DROPOUT, 'CAUSE HE
HAD NO SHOT.
HE WAS IN THE JUNGLE.
>> FIRST THING THAT CAME TO MY
MIND, HE HAD TO GO BACK
100 YARDS.
HE'S GONNA MAKE 6, 7, MAYBE 8
HERE.
>> A LONG BUT MISDIRECTED 6-IRON
HAS LEFT HIM BEHIND A TREE IN A
BAD LIE AND HITTING 4.
>> I'M DOWN THERE INSIDE THE
ROPES WITH ROSBURG, AND
ROSBURG'S TALKING TO HIS
AUDIENCE.
HE SAYS, "HE'S BEHIND THIS TREE,
AND HE'S GOT THE LAKE TO GO
OVER."
HE SAYS, "THE GREEN -- THE PIN'S
CLOSE."
HE SAYS, "HE DOESN'T HAVE A
CHANCE.
DOESN'T HAVE A SHOT."
>> "WELL, HE'S DEAD NOW.
HE'S GOT ABSOLUTELY NO CHANCE."
WELL, AS SOON AS HE TOLD ME I
HAD NO CHANCE, I KNEW I DID.
SO, I SAID, "WELL, IT'S JUST
GONNA TAKE A BIG 9-IRON, AND I'M
JUST GONNA KNOCK IT OVER THE
TREE AND KNOCK IT ON THE GREEN."
>> HE'S GOTTEN IT OVER THE TREE.
AND HE'LL BE ON THE GREEN WITH
AN OUTSIDE CHANCE OF SAVING PAR,
OR, MORE IMPORTANT, PERHAPS
SAVING HIS ENTIRE ROUND.
>> KNOCKED IT OVER THE TREE,
KNOCKED IT ON THE GREEN ABOUT
20 FEET BEHIND.
GO AND HOLE THE PUTT FOR PAR.
>> BEST PART IS HE ROLLS IT IN
FOR A CASUAL PAR.
HE CROUCHES DOWN, AND THERE'S A
SLIGHT SMIRK ON HIS FACE, LIKE,
"I CAN'T BELIEVE I JUST DID
THAT."
>> SO, IT'S ALL OVER. IT'S HIS 16th MAJOR CHAMPIONSHIP
AND HIS SECOND OF 1975.
>> AT 35 YEARS OF AGE,
JACK NICKLAUS WAS NOW SQUARELY
IN HIS PRIME.
AND YET WITH 14 PROFESSIONAL
MAJORS, ALONG WITH TWO
U.S. AMATEURS, NICKLAUS WAS
ALREADY BY CONSENSUS THE
GREATEST EVER.
>> HE WAS THE BEST.
HE ALWAYS MOVED THE NEEDLE.
IF YOU HAD ANYTHING TO GAUGE
YOUR GAME BY, YOU LOOKED AT THE
"GOLDEN BEAR."
>> WHEN I CAME ON THE TOUR, HE
HAD ALREADY DOMINATED ARNIE TO
THE POINT WHERE I REALLY LOOKED
AT JACK AS MY ROLE MODEL, AS FAR
AS I WANT TO BE LIKE JACK.
>> HE PLAYED BETTER THAN ANYBODY
ELSE EVER.
THAT'S THE WAY JACK PLAYED.
AND YOU KNEW ANY TOURNAMENT THAT
HE WAS IN THAT YOU WERE
COMPETING AGAINST HIM, HE WAS
THE ONE YOU HAD TO BEAT.
>> AND IF YOU UNDERSTOOD
JACK NICKLAUS IN 1975 -- WHY HE
PLAYED, WHY HE LIVED -- YOU KNEW
HE WAS GONNA TRY TO STAY AT THE
TOP ABSOLUTELY AS LONG AS HE
COULD.
NEXT TIME ON "JACK"...
>> NICKLAUS FOR SOLE POSSESSION
OF THE LEAD.
MAYBE.
YES, SIR!
JACK IS WALKING UP, AND HE PUMPS
HIS ARMS, EMPHASIZING THE TWO
WORDS, "YES, SIR."
YES, SIR!
>> VERY FEW THINGS IN LIFE ARE
PERFECT.
THIS WAS.