Looking Back: Jack and The British Open

As the 2008 British Open returns this week for the ninth time to Royal Birkdale, a course on which Jack Nicklaus made what is considered by many as the greatest gesture of true sportsmanship when he conceded Tony Jacklin’s 2-foot birdie putt on the 18th hole of the 1969 Ryder Cup, Nicklaus.com takes a look back at the Golden Bear’s own performances in the British Open.

A young Jack Nicklaus won his first British Open Championship in 1966 at Muirfield to become one of five golfers in history to win each of the “Grand Slam” major championship titles, a feat he accomplished in only his fifth year on Tour and something only an elite group of golfers—Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player and Tiger Woods—have achieved.

A short four years later, in 1970 on the Old Course at St. Andrews, the Golden Bear won the event for a second time, beating Doug Sanders in an 18-hole playoff.

With four Masters victories, three U.S. Open victories, and four PGA Championship wins under his belt, Nicklaus claimed a third, and what would be his final, British Open title in 1978 at St. Andrews, giving him his 14th major championship victory and making him the only player to win each of the “Grand Slam” titles three or more times. Nicklaus went on to win the U.S. Open and the PGA Championship in 1980 and claimed the last of his record 18 major championship titles in a thrilling Masters victory in 1986.

During his final British Open appearance in 2005 at St. Andrews, Nicklaus stepped onto the Swilcan Bridge to say good-bye to championship golf and a venue considered by many as the birthplace of the sport. He then rolled in a 15-foot birdie putt on his final hole at St. Andrews, where he won two of his three Open Championships.

In recognition of his achievements in golf and his long-standing affinity for Scotland, Jack was honored in June 2005 by the Royal Bank of Scotland prior to his final British Open appearance when the U.K.’s second-largest bank by assets issued a 5-pound bank note with Nicklaus’ likeness. The honor marked the first time a living person, other than a member of the British royal family, has ever appeared on a bank note in Scotland or England.

Jack’s sustained brilliance was perhaps never more on display than during his annual pilgrimages across the pond to the Open Championship. Not only did he record three victories, but among his 19 second-place finishes in majors were seven runner-up finishes in the Open. Of Jack’s 18 Open Championship appearances from 1963 through 1980, he finished lower than sixth place only once, with an average finish during that span of 3.2.