On the trail of the Golden Bear

In October 2005, Golf Inc. magazine published its annual list of the "Most Powerful People in Golf". For the second year in a row, the name at the top of the list was a man who had turned pro 43 years before, who had last won a Major back in the 1980s, and who openly admits that he hasn't made his living playing golf for 30 years. Two months later, the same name topped Golf World's Newsmaker of the Year poll - ahead of Tiger Woods, Michelle Wie and Paula Creamer. That name, of course, was Jack William Nicklaus - the greatest golfer in the history of the game.

It doesn't matter when during the past four decades you got hooked on the sport, the name Jack Nicklaus has been intimately associated with the game of golf. His record of longevity and success is unparalleled. Less than 20 months after he turned pro in January 1962, Nicklaus had won the US Masters, US Open, and USPGA - three of golf's four treasured Majors. By the time he picked up his final Major 24 years later at the 1986 US Masters, Nicklaus had collected a total of 18.

Until the arrival of Tiger Woods, even the most illustrious names in golf - Tom Watson, Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan - were not remotely within striking distance of Nicklaus's total. And to top it all, he also finished second 19 times in those Major tournaments. It's not just the greatest achievement in golf. Those 18 Majors rank as one of sport's ultimate accomplishments - up there with Borg's Wimbledon titles, Spitz's Olympic golds and Armstrong's Tour de France victories.

But if Jack Nicklaus's mark on the last century was his game, his legacy in this will be his golf course design. Since working with designer Pete Dye on his first project in 1968, Nicklaus has built the largest golf course design company in the world. It has 286 courses open for play worldwide, 241 from Nicklaus's personal designs.

"I enjoy making a golf course because that's something that's going to last long after my life is over," says Nicklaus. "My golf game can only go on so long, but what I have learned can be put into a piece of ground that will last beyond me." Nicklaus Design has around 40 courses in design or construction. It has just finished its first in Russia and is starting on a second. And there are courses in development in Ireland, Spain, China, Korea, Chile, Mexico and the Caribbean.

It's big business but, at heart, Nicklaus Design remains a family business that includes all four of Nicklaus's sons and his son-in-law. Customers can purchase Nicklaus's service alone, a Signature Design, for $2.5 million, or the expertise of others for $500,000. "If you buy the signature, you get Jack," says Tim Kenny, executive vice president of the group, "That's his time, his expertise, his help in marketing the project."

Nicklaus's influence in the business of golf, also extends to the licensing of equipment and golfwear. And although he doesn't have any formal training in club design he has certainly used enough to understand how golf equipment performs and, crucially, how it should perform.

Above all, Nicklaus remains a huge influence on people of all ages thanks to his principles and emphasis on excellence. One project that has benefited from his support through his association with the Royal Bank of Scotland, is First Tee - an American organisation that gives children the opportunity to develop through golf.

Along with Nicklaus, fellow golfers Paula Creamer and Luke Donald make up "Team RBS" which visits First Tee groups. "What a wonderful way to spend the morning," said Nicklaus after conducting a clinic in New York last year. "We're here teaching life lessons as much as golf lessons, but working with these young golfers reminds me why I love the game." Nicklaus's reputation for sportsmanship and integrity is well known, so it's hard to think of a better candidate to provide such inspiration.

What many people remember is Nicklaus's huge generosity - even in defeat. In 1977, Tom Watson and Nicklaus were locked in the greatest duel in recent British Open history. The two played the last 36 holes together, both shooting 65 in the third round to leave the field trailing. The final round was epic, with the lead changing hands throughout. Watson edged ahead on the 71st hole. Nicklaus missed the fairway on the last but holed a 30-foot birdie putt, forcing Watson to sink a two-footer for the trophy. "As we walked off the green, Jack grabbed me round the neck," remembers Watson. "He said to me 'I gave it my best shot but it wasn't good enough. Congratulations'. Jack was as gracious in defeat as he was in victory."

Having won all three of the US Majors so early in his career, Nicklaus took time to learn about The Open and the unique conditions of the British links courses. But even then, he appreciated that to be regarded as a great golfer he needed to win the oldest and most international tournament in golf. Nicklaus's Open debut at Troon had ended ignominiously - 29 shots behind winner Arnold Palmer. But by the time he arrived at Muirfield for the 1966 Open, Nicklaus had established himself as the best golfer in the world with five Majors to his name and two narrow misses in The Open.

And this time, Nicklaus felt he had an advantage. He'd travelled to Muirfield with his dad, Charlie, as a 19-year-old for the 1959 Walker Cup and it was this experience which proved decisive. "I really enjoyed the experience of '59," says Nicklaus. "I remembered we had an east wind all week then. In 1966, the wind blew from the west until the final day when it switched to the east. I remembered how the course played under those conditions and said to myself 'these guys haven't seen this, I have. This is going to be my day'".

And so it proved. Nicklaus finally got his hands on the famous claret jug and later said that no victory made him more proud.

During the next three years, Nicklaus added another US Open to his collection but says that although he was winning tournaments he had got too confident, too relaxed. "Once you start thinking you're good and don't need to work at it, you're in trouble," he says.

Sadly, in late 1969, his father, whom he shared a close relationship, was diagnosed with cancer and died in February the following year. "After my dad passed away, I said it's time to get back to work," says Nicklaus. "I tried and tried at the Masters and US Open and wasn't successful. But when I won at St Andrews it was a special win for me. Bobby Jones was my dad's hero and he had said that a great career was not complete without winning The Open at the home of golf."

As he sank the putt that won him the championship, Nicklaus thrust his arm skyward and leapt with such force that his putter flew into the air, narrowly missing Doug Sanders. "I had never shown emotion like that before, and it was totally out of character," Nicklaus later said.

That win triggered a decade of dominance, and during the next 10 years Nicklaus never finished worse than fifth in The Open.

In 1978, St Andrews was to witness another Nicklaus Open triumph. Playing the 18th hole and leading by two shots, the emotions started to run deep as he saw thousands of cheering fans lining the fairways and crammed into balconies. His caddie, Jimmy Dickinson, had to jab him in the ribs to remind him there was still some golf left before he held the Claret Jug. With that victory Nicklaus became the only golfer to win all four majors at least three times.

Nicklaus turned 65 in January 2005, the last year he could enter a PGA tournament as an exempt player. Several years earlier, The R&A had scheduled the 2006 Open for St Andrews, but aware that Nicklaus's exemption would run out, it moved The Old Course up one year in the rotation so he could play his last Open there.

Along with Augusta National Golf Club, St. Andrews is his favorite place in the game. "It's the one golf course where I can go back and play pretty much the same clubs that I played all my life," Nicklaus says. "That why I like it."

In his final round, Nicklaus played with Luke Donald and Tom Watson. On the 18th hole, Nicklaus hit the final tee-shot of his career, and strolled to the Swilcan bridge and waved to the crowd - who gave him a ten-minute standing ovation. There was only one way to end his playing career and Jack obliged, sinking a 15-foot birdie putt and then raising his putter and left arm in the style everyone had come to love and admire.