Logo
Prev
search
download PDF
Print
addthis
Rotate
Help
Next
All Pages
Browse Issues
Home
'
Discover Golf : March 2016
Contents
12 discovergolf.com.au tour US MASTERS SPECIAL ‘Maybe... yes, Sir.’ Commentator Verne Lundquist’s famous call of Jack Nicklaus’s birdie on the 17th hole during the final round of the 1986 US Masters still rings in my ears today with the same distinction it did thirty years ago. Image Credit: David Cannon / Getty Images Nicklaus’s surge would turn the tables on his younger opponents— most notably Seve Ballesteros and Greg Norman. Starting the final round four shots behind 54-hole leader Greg Norman in ninth place, many commentators and scribes didn’t pay much ado to Nicklaus’s chances— especially as most claimed he was too old to pull it off. The 46-year-old hadn’t won a major in six years (the 1980 USPGA Championship at Oak Hill). He sat 160th on the money list going into the tournament with a best finish of 39th. What followed was magical, even more so for a young viewer who’d only read about and heard stories told about Nicklaus’s genius. It was as if a highlight package from his past 30 brilliant years played out on Augusta’s final stretch of demanding holes. Powerful drives, precise ball striking and six one-putt greens over the back nine. It was all there. His charge home was inspirational: birdies at the 10th and 11th; a small stumble and bogey on the treacherous par-3 12th; birdie at 13; par on 14. At this point, he was still four shots behind, until an eagle on the 15th really stirred the galleries emotions. Mine too. The Golden Bear was awaking from years in hibernation. Jack was back. And he knew it. In another unforgettable moment, this time on the 16th, with his 5-iron approach to the par-3 green in flight, he coolly bent down to retrieve his tee. His son (and caddie) Jackie calling out, ‘Be the right club’. Calmly, Nicklaus replied, ‘It is’. He seemed aware of his destiny. The ball landed a metre or two from the pin, spun back grazing the lip and came to rest 3-feet from the hole. Another birdie. Then another on 17 to take the lead followed by a two-putt par on the 18th and Nicklaus headed in as the clubhouse leader. His assault on the course was merciless. He completed the back nine is just 30 shots and played the last 10 holes in seven-under-par. His Sunday 65 catapulted him to the top of the leaderboard and with Ballesteros and Norman succumbing to the intimidating presence of the game’s greatest player, Nicklaus remained there at day’s end, earning his sixth green jacket, which was handed to him by then defending champion Bernard Langer. It was his 18th major title. In The Masters 50th year, Nicklaus became its oldest winner at 46 years and 82 days. ‘This was maybe as fine a round of golf I have played,’ he later said. Whether that was or wasn’t the case, it was without a doubt the most moving golf I have ever witnessed. Thanks for memories Jack and for igniting my 30-year love affair with golf. Highlights of Nicklaus’s final round VIDEO
Links
Archive
February 2016
April 2016
Navigation
Previous Page
Next Page
