Jack Nicklaus

Considered by many as the greatest golfer of all time, Jack Nicklaus recorded 117 professional wins, including 18 major wins in a career that spanned over 25 years. In 1999 he was one of six names shortlisted for the prestigious BBC Sports Personality of the Century Award. Nicknamed "The Golden Bear" Nicklaus is a picture of ongoing excellence. Continuing to improve and push the boundaries of his own success, he would consistently rank as one of the longest and most accurate hitters in the game. In fact, in the 1963 long drive contest at the PGA Championship, he set a record when he drove the ball 341 yards and 17 inches.

The record was retained for twenty years. Not only was Nicklaus famed for his searing drives, but also for his skill using irons. With extensive knowledge of his strengths, he was the first player in history to document yardages on the field. This would prompt Gary Player to say that he had "the greatest mind the game has ever known." 

Nicklaus quickly made his name on the scene back in 1962, winning the PGA Rookie of the Year award. He won the first major championship that year, beating Arnold Palmer in the play off of the 1962 US Open as a 22 year old. He became the youngest winner of the tournament since 1923. Palmer was gracious in defeat, talking up Nicklaus' vast potential. He said: "Now that the big guy is out of the cage, everybody better run for cover."

Nicklaus made major wins look easy in the coming years as he picked up the PGA Championship and Masters Tournament the following year. He would win a major in all three decades of which he played, adding his 18th and final major in 1980. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 1974 upon its establishment, joining 13 stars that included Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Walter Hagen. He would win the PGA Player of the Year award on five occasions and recorded 73 PGA Tour wins, which stands as the third-highest in history.

In 2005 he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, in 2008 he received the PGA Lifetime Achievement Award and in 2015 he was given a Congressional Gold Medal. A remarkable career full of stories of success, dedication and attention to detail, Jack Nicklaus proved he was one of the finest sportsmen the world has ever seen. Today, he inspires audiences at corporate events with those very same anecdotes, recounting his experiences at gala dinners, golf days, sporting events and more.