Even if the weather outside doesn’t feel like spring, the calendar doesn’t lie. And an annual rite of the season, the Masters, begins next week. The AJC Photo Vault looks back at Jack Nicklaus, who holds a double distinction for winning the most Masters (1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975 and 1986) and as the oldest person to win the tournament.
In 1986, he was 46 years, 2 months and 23 days old when he took home the green jacket and $144,000 in prize money for winning the 50th Masters.
Most fans, some of them present for his first championship 23 years before, were with the Golden Bear as he defied critics who suggested he no longer could win. His last previous win in Augusta had come in 1975.
Nicklaus’ first major victory came at the 1962 U.S. Open. The 23-year span of Masters victories and 24-year span of major titles are also records.
He continued to play the majors until 2005, when he made his final appearances at the British Open and the Masters.
Today, he is involved in golf course design, charity work and book writing.
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