Jack Nicklaus once called The Open Championship ‘something of a lottery’
Jack Nicklaus has one of the best records in the history of The Open Championship. The Golden Bear won three Open Championships in his eventful career, in 1966, 1970 and 1978. Apart from the three Claret Jugs, the legendary golfer recorded 6th or better on 17 appearances in the competition from 1963 to 1980, including seven runners-up.
Nicklaus’ outstanding consistency and success in The Open has always been a topic of discussion among golf fans. Despite being arguably the best player in the competition’s history, the ace golfer wasn’t always in praise of the event. Interestingly, the 18-time Major champion once called the event’s conditions “something of a lottery.”
Recalling his trips to the St. Andrews and Muirfield courses, Nicklaus said that the event has always presented “endless variety of mental and shot making challenges.” He even stated that British golf gradually helped him become a better shot maker.
Reminiscing about his experiences at The Open, Jack Nicklaus said in his book ‘My Story’ in 1997, in collaboration with British journalist and golf writer Ken Bowden:
“British Open conditions are always something of a lottery, which is fine with me because of the endless variety of mental and shot making challenges thereby presented. As a kid, I used to think golf should be a fair game and properly reward proper shots. British golf gradually taught me differently (which, incidentally, has helped me better handle the unlucky breaks anywhere in the world) and also helped make me a better shot maker.”
Jack Nicklaus even gave a nod to the Scottish crowd by recalling an incident involving the legendary Arnold Palmer.
He added in the book:
“As the old Scotsman said when an American spectator registered dismay as a perfect-looking Arnie Palmer long iron bounced sideways off a knoll and buried in the face of a bunker: “Well, tha' mon's a professional, is he nae? So let's forget about luck, laddie and see wa' he can dae wi' this wee shottie.”
Jack Nicklaus’ The Open Championship record
Jack Nicklaus made his The Open Championship debut in 1962. The then 22-year-old golfer managed a T34 finish. He went on to make his mark in the competition in 1966, when he won the first of his three Claret Jugs. He never finished outside the top 10 at The Open leaderboards in the next decade.
Listed below is the complete list of Jack Nicklaus’ result at British Open competitions:
- 1962: Royal Troon - T34
- 1963: Royal Lytham & St Annes - 3rd
- 1964: St Andrews - 2nd
- 1965: St Andrews - T12
- 1966: Muirfield - Champion Golfer of the Year
- 1967: Royal Liverpool - 2nd
- 1968: Carnoustie - T2
- 1969: Royal Lytham & St Annes - T6
- 1970: St Andrews - Champion Golfer of the Year
- 1971: Royal Birkdale - T5
- 1972: Muirfield - 2nd
- 1973: Royal Troon - 4th
- 1974: Royal Lytham & St Annes - 3rd
- 1975: Carnoustie - T3
- 1976: Royal Birkdale - T2
- 1977: Turnberry - 2nd
- 1978: St Andrews - Champion Golfer of the Year
- 1979: Royal Lytham & St Annes - T2
- 1980: Muirfield - T4
- 1981: Royal St George’s - T23
- 1982: Royal Troon - T10
- 1983: Royal Birkdale - T29
- 1984: St Andrews - T31
- 1985: Royal St George’s - Missed Cut
- 1986: Turnberry - T46
- 1987: Muirfield - T72
- 1988: Royal Lytham & St Annes - T25
- 1989: Royal Troon - T30
- 1990: St Andrews - T63
- 1991: Royal Birkdale - T44
- 1992: Muirfield - Missed Cut
- 1993: Royal St George’s - Missed Cut
- 1994: Turnberry - Missed Cut
- 1995: St Andrews - T79
- 1996: Royal Lytham & St Annes - T45
- 1997: Royal Troon - T60
- 2000: St Andrews - Missed Cut
- 2005: St Andrews - Missed Cut
Jack Nicklaus made his last ever appearance at The Open in 2005, where he missed the cut. Tiger Woods won that edition of the competition.