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Jack II-narrated ESPN film to highlight week of Nicklaus, Masters coverage

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See also: Jack's caring gesture: an essay written by Wright Thompson and narrated by Harry Connick Jr. for ESPN's Masters television coverage about a hidden moment in the middle of golf's most famous day. Watch video.

This week’s Masters Tournament marks the 25th anniversary of Jack Nicklaus’ historic, career-underlining victory at the 1986 Masters. As Masters week gets under way , there are many ways this anniversary is being celebrated and commemorated.

On Wednesday, the eve of the Masters, there is a full schedule of programming that features and celebrates this iconic moment in sports. The highlight is the original ESPN film, Yes Sir: Jack Nicklaus and the ’86 Masters, that airs at 6 p.m. ET. This one-hour documentary, produced by Bob Potter and Jim Walton, explores the magnitude of what happened on April 13, 1986, when the 46-year-old Nicklaus charged from behind and won the Masters for the sixth time and for his 18th and final major. He became the oldest player ever to earn the coveted Green Jacket at a time when many believed the legendary golfer would never win another tournament.

The film includes fresh new perspective from members of the Nicklaus family, including wife Barbara and son Jack II, his caddy that historic week. Other exclusive interviews include Tiger Woods, Greg Norman, Tom Watson, and the pairing of South African greats Gary Player and Ernie Els. A unique aspect of the film is the narration of Jack II.

“The memories of 1986 have always been incredibly special for me, from the father-son perspective to having a front-row seat to one of sports’ greatest moments,” Jack II said. “To have the opportunity to narrate the documentary was almost like telling a story to my children, and in some ways, the world. I hope viewers enjoy the film as much as I did being a part of it.”

In the film, Woods, who became the youngest ever to win the Masters 11 years to the day after Nicklaus’ historic win, and Nicklaus sit down separately to watch highlights of the 1986 Masters and discuss their golf careers then and now.

"Jack Nicklaus' dramatic comeback to win the '86 Masters isn't just a golf story or even a sports story," said John Dahl, executive producer, ESPN Films. "It's a human story of a father and son coming together for something so inspiring that it resonates powerfully 25 years later. The film is a poignant look at that magical father-son journey."

The film follows three hours of live programming Wednesday on ESPN from Augusta National Golf Club. ESPN’s live coverage of the annual Masters Par 3 Contest airs from 3-5 p.m. Jack will join long-time friends Arnold Palmer and Gary Player on the first tee of the Par 3 course at 3:05 p.m., and Jack might have a little surprise in his bag that day. His caddie for the Par 3 Contest is grandson Nick O’Leary, the All-America tight end headed to Florida State. Following the Par 3 Contest, SportsCenter at the Masters, a one-hour special, airs at 5 p.m. and will preview the 2011 version of the event. That will be followed by Yes Sir: Jack Nicklaus and the ’86 Masters.

Wednesday will kick off early when Jack is scheduled to make an appearance on ESPN’s popular morning show, Mike & Mike. The show is broadcast live 6:00-10:00 a.m. ET on ESPN Radio and can be seen on ESPN2.

The 2011 Masters Tournament will begins Thursday, and for the second year in a row, the Golden Bear will join Palmer on the first tee of Augusta National at approximately 7:40 a.m. to hit the opening tee shot.

As the tournament unfolds, there will be continued celebration of Jack Nicklaus’ contribution to the game of golf, as both a champion and a designer:

Golf Club at Harbor Shores featured in CBS Saturday special

On Saturday at 2:00 p.m. ET, The Golf Club at Harbor Shores will be featured as a 30-minute lead-in special to CBS coverage of the Masters. The program will recap the Champions for Change event that celebrated the golf course opening last Aug. 20.

The August event featured course designer Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson and Johnny Miller in a skins game competition. Nicklaus, Palmer and Watson all are multiple Masters champions, and Miller finished second in the Masters three times.

The special will discuss the local impact and transformation the resort community and golf project is making in the Benton Harbor area, and the involvement of Nicklaus and Whirlpool Corp. in the development. The Champions for Change contributed to raising $3 million for the Benton Harbor Boys & Girls Club and The First Tee program at the golf club.

Whirlpool's KitchenAid brand is a title sponsor for the Senior PGA Championship at Nicklaus-designed Valhalla in Louisville, Ky., this summer, and Harbor Shores is on tap to host the Senior PGA Championship in 2012 and again in 2014.

Harbor Shores is a 530-acre real estate development, and the golf course is the centerpiece of the $450 million redevelopment effort that is scheduled to be completed over the next 20 years. Plans call for two hotels, a town center, health and fitness center, boutique lodge and spa, conference center, marina village and marinas, water park, river walk, retail shops and residences.

Also, 12 residential neighborhoods are planned with nearly 800 residences, including cottages, condominiums, townhomes and custom homes.

Nicklaus Companies releases limited edition 1986 Masters Memorabilia

86 Masters Putter Memorabilia To commemorate Jack’s historic win with memorabilia, the Nicklaus Companies is offering a limited-edition series of signed collectibles. Jack won the first 17 of his record 18 professional major championships with compact blade-style putters. For his 18th and final, he used an oversize heel-toe-weighted MacGregor Response ZT that drew double-takes from everyone who saw the Golden Bear wielding it at the 1986 Masters.

It is one of the most famous putters ever produced, and in honor of the 25th anniversary of the tournament in which it starred, special memorabilia has been created. The Premier model is a limited-edition collectible featuring a replica of the famous putter, signed and inscribed photograph of the famous birdie putt on the 17th hole, a copy of Nicklaus’ 1986 Masters scorecard, and a 3-D gold leaf bear—the icon of the Golden Bear himself—along with a certificate of authenticity featuring the official Golden Bear hologram.

Only 86 of the Premier model will be available for purchase. Pre-sale price prior to the Masters Tournament is $2,495.

Also available are The Select model (Limited Edition of 186) and Classic model (Open Edition). Features of all models can be viewed at http://86putter.nicklaus.com.

Nicklaus Premier Clubs magazine celebrates 1986

The Nicklaus Companies, in a partnership with LINKS Magazine, one of the country’s oldest and most respected golf publications, launched last month a new custom publication called Nicklaus Premier Clubs. The magazine helps celebrate Jack Nicklaus’ golf course design legacy, while also providing Nicklaus Design clients with an innovative, impactful vehicle for their marketing and promotional efforts. The inaugural issue also took a moment to celebrate the iconic 1986 Masters victory of the Golden Bear in a retrospective written by long-time golf writer Craig Dolch. Read a special version of that story, including congratulatory letters sent to Jack after his victory 24 years ago.

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