Countdown to the Masters 2011 – Day 36: Nicklaus wins by nine shots in 1965
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Welcome to Day 36 of the Today’s Golfer Countdown to The Masters 2011. Every day from February 17th until the big day when the season’s first Major tees off, April 7th, we will be bringing you some of our favourite memorable moments from The Masters since the tournament started in 1934.
This was the moment Nicklaus set himself apart from other human beings. At the beginning of the 3rd round, it looked like a battle royale was about to commence between Palmer, Player and Nicklaus. At the end of it, after Jack had shot a record 64, the tournament was as good as won, even though 18 holes remained.
And this was despite the fact that Nicklaus was actually not playing his best golf. He hit five drives which he described as “bad”. The rather worrying fact for the rest of the field was that Nicklaus could beat them, even when he was not on top of his game.
This was also the year when the Augusta crowds, who had cheered in the past when Jack had missed a putt, took the Golden Bear to their hearts.
A final, solid round of 69 by Nicklaus meant that he blitzed the field by nine strokes.
Bobby Jones made a rare appearance in the gallery.
“I have an aversion to superlatives,” Jones told Nicklaus at the presentation ceremony, “but this was the greatest performance in golfing history.”
Afterwards, in the Butler Cabin, he added: “Palmer and Player played superbly. Nicklaus plays a game with which I am not familiar.”
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