Amateur Highlights

Jack Nicklaus follows through on a drive

Jack Nicklaus is the greatest champion in golf history. His record of achievement and sustained excellence within the game are unmatched.

First golf class

Age 10

  • First Golf ClassCarded a 51 in the first nine holes he ever played
  • Scioto Club Juvenile TrophyWinner
Jack and Charlie Nicklaus’s scorecard, 1951

Age 11

  • Scioto Club Juvenile TrophyWinner
The Early Years gallery at the Jack Nicklaus Museum

Age 12

  • Ohio State Junior ChampionshipWinner
  • Consecutive five straight wins1952 to 1956 inclusive
U.S. Junior Amateur

Age 13

  • Ohio State Junior TitleWinner
  • First National TournamentU.S.G.A. Junior Championship
  • Columbus Junior Match-Play ChampionshipWinner
Jack and Charlie Nicklaus, 1954

Age 14

  • Columbus Junior ChampionshipBoth stroke-play and match-play
  • Ohio State Junior CrownWinner
Jack and Bill Foley, 1956

Age 15

  • Ohio JayceesWinner
  • Ohio State JuniorWinner
  • U.S. AmateurFirst time qualified
  • Columbus District Amateur TitleWinner
  • Columbus Junior ChampionshipBoth stroke-play and match-play
Jack on the Scioto range with Jack Grout, 1956

Age 16

  • Ohio JayceesWinner
  • Ohio State JuniorWinner
  • U.S. National Jaycees ChampionshipLost
  • Won Ohio State OpenTwo-round final day scores of 64 and 72
International Jaycees Junior, 1957

Age 17

  • National Jaycees ChampionshipFirst national title
  • Qualified for the first timeYear: 1957Tournament: U.S. OpenScore: 80-80-160Finish: MC
Trans-Mississippi champion, 1958

Age 18

  • Trans-Mississippi ChampionshipWinner
  • Played in first PGA Tour eventYear: 1958Tournament: U.S. OpenScore: 79-75-73-77-304Finish: T41st
The 1959 U.S. Walker Cup team

Age 19

  • U.S. AmateurBroadmoor, Colorado SpringsDefeating Charlie Coe, 1-up, in 36-hole final
  • North-SouthWinner
  • Trans-Mississippi ChampionshipsWinner
  • Reached Quarter FinalsBritish Amateur
  • Walker Cup SquadMuirfield, ScotlandWinners, against Great Britain
The 1960 U.S. Open

Age 20

  • U.S. Open Runner-upTo Arnold Palmer by 2 strokesA record 282 for amateur entryScore: 71-71-69-71-282
  • World Amateur Team Championships13 strokes with 269Eclipsing Ben Hogan’s record by 18 shots
  • Colonial Amateur Champion
The 1961 U.S. Amateur

Age 21

  • U.S. AmateurWinnerDefeating Dudley Wysong, 8 and 6
  • Western Amateur Champion1961
  • NCAAChampion
  • Big Ten ChampionWinner
  • Walker Cup SquadWinner
  • U.S. Open (1961)Score: 75-69-70-70-284Finish: T4th

Major Championship Appearances (Amateur)

YearTournamentScoreFinish
1957U.S. Open80-80-160MC
1958U.S. Open79-75-73-77-304T41st
1959Masters76-74-150MC
U.S. Open77-77-154MC
1960Masters75-71-72-75-293T13th
U.S. Open71-71-69-71-2822nd
1961Masters70-75-70-72-287T7th
U.S. Open75-69-70-70-284T4th

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