Happy Birthday, Jack!*

What to say about the Golden Bear, on the occasion of his 70th birthday? So, so much that could be said ... so few words to adequately express it.

     Regular readers have probably figured out by now that the Whiffler is a particular fan of golfers, past and present, who exemplify the ideals of class, grace, dignity, and sportsmanship. Add "magnitude of accomplishment" to this mix and clearly no one stands taller than Jack Nicklaus. (Photo: Jack Nicklaus in 1959, John G. Zimmerman (no relation) for Sports Illustrated)

     It's easy to forget that when he first burst onto the national scene, Nicklaus was not well-liked by the golfing public. This was partly because he immediately threatened to knock the King, Arnold Palmer, off his throne. But it was also because the young Jack often came off as something less than humble. Understandably so! He was quick to speak his mind (as he is to this day), which, when coupled with his supreme self-confidence, often made an unfavorable impression on the public. As he writes in his autobiography, My Story:

When I think of myself back in those peak amateur days ... I still cringe at how cockily I must have come across to a lot of people. For instance, before leaving Columbus for that U.S. Open I remember telling my college coach, Bob Kepler, "Kep, I'm playing so well I might just win this thing." You might think such things – you should think such things – but you should never say them to anyone, or at least not to anyone who isn't extremely close to you like a parent or spouse. I did it all the time, and it embarrasses me now just to remember it.

There was also the perception that Jack was a child of privilege. His father owned a small chain of local pharmacies, which provided a comfortable enough existence that his family was able to join the local country club. Arnie, on the other hand, grew up the son of the "hired help" at Latrobe Country Club in Pennsylvania, and was viewed as something of a blue collar hero. As I see it, neither player had a particular leg up due to his family's circumstances. While Jack was not exactly raised in the lap of luxury (though upper-middle class, to be sure), neither was Arnie much "deprived," golf-wise, by his upbringing. Both players were more or less raised on the golf course and had ample opportunity to hone their considerable skills. (A talented multi-sport athlete, Jack did not even start to take the game that seriously until his teens.)

     But as the fans got to know the real Jack – and he in turn learned the art of knowing when to keep his mouth shut – they soon began to embrace him much as they had embraced Arnie before him. Together, they became golfing royalty. Even as Jack ruled on the course, Arnie remained the king in the hearts of fans.

     Perhaps my favorite Nicklaus moment came at Turnberry in 1977, at the conclusion of the famed "Duel in the Sun" at that year's Open Championship. (Photo: Telegraph, UK) After going toe-to-to with Tom Watson for 71 holes (the two shot identical scores in the first three rounds, pulling away from the field in the process), Jack finally went down, fighting to the very end, by a single stroke. Watson held a one-stroke lead when both players birdied the 18th – Jack by sinking a long bomb, Watson with a virtual tap-in following a tremendous clutch approach shot.

     Then something wonderful happened: Acknowledging the great battle they had just waged, Nicklaus put his arm around Watson as they shook hands, and the two walked off the green arm-in-arm, both with huge smiles on their faces. It's an amazing moment in golf history, proving you can be both an intense competitor and a great gentleman.

     You da' man, Jack, a true credit to the game, and well-deserving of the many tributes you will no doubt be paid as you celebrate 70 years today.

Recommended reading:

Jack Nicklaus: My Story, by Jack Nicklaus with Ken Bowden

Arnie & Jack: Palmer, Nicklaus, and Golf's Greatest Rivalry, by Ian O'Connor.

Duel in the Sun: Tom Watson and Jack Nicklaus in the Battle of Turnberry, by Michael Corcoran

UPDATE: Some cool stuff in a special section at golf.com, including a gallery of SI covers. (But they stole my headline!!)

* I would be remiss – and possibly in trouble – if I did not also wish happy birthday to Mrs. Whiffler, who turns ... uh, well, something less (much less!) than 70 today. And also to the Golden Bear Cub who turns 8 tomorrow. Happy Birthday(s), family!