Nicklaus to be Awarded Nation's Highest Civil Award

Last week, the White House announced its list of recipients for the Presidential Medal of Freedom, to be awarded this Wednesday. The Medal of Freedom was established by Harry Truman following World War II as America's highest civilian honor. This year's list included fourteen individuals from all walks of life, from Federal Reserves Chair Alan Greenspan to Aretha Franklin, Carol Burnett, and Andy Griffeth. The list also included a couple of legendary athletes, including Muhammad Ali and golfing great Jack Nicklaus. It will be the finishing touch on a remarkable 2005 for Nicklaus, who played his last professional tournament at this summer's British Open.

According to the White House, the Medal of Freedom is awarded "to any person who has made an especially meritorious contribution to (1) the security of national interests of the United States, or (2) world peace, or (3) cultural or other significant public or private endeavors." Presumably, Nicklaus qualifies under the third condition. But considering the variety of successes he has enjoyed apart from his playing career, it's hard to be too sure. As an entrepreneur, Nicklaus has designed some 180 courses, developed his own golfing apparel line, and has used his eminent popularity to his advantage through countless endorsement deals. He is worth an estimated $300 million.

For our purposes, Nicklaus' story begins in 1950, when his father took him to his first nine-hole course at the age of ten. The boy shot a 51, and never looked back. Three years later, he was breaking par on an 18-hole course.

Nicklaus, born in Columbus, Ohio, attended Ohio State University while competing on the US Amateur circuit. He won his first US Amateur title in 1959, and won again in 1961. Shortly thereafter, he dropped out of school to pursue his golf career full-time. It proved to be a smart decision. He won his first major on his way to earning Rookie of the Year honors at the age of 22, and never looked back.

After losing to the young Nicklaus in a dramatic playoff at the 1962 US Open, Arnold Palmer warned the golfing world that this was just the beginning. "Now that the big guy's out of the cage," he said, "Everybody better run for cover."

The '62 playoff gave golf the beginning of one of its finest rivalries, a rivalry that was instrumental in making golf the enormous draw that it is today. Over time, it became a little too lopsided. Over the next 24 years, Nicklaus won 18 Majors, including six Masters, five PGA Championships, four US Opens, and three British Opens. He won more than just the big ones, claiming 73 tour victories over the course of his career, second only to Sam Snead's 82.

In his prime, he was the tour's best putter and best long hitter. He conducted himself with class and humility, and became the face of the rising PGA. Frank Deford once wrote in Sports Illustrated, "How many other champions have become so identified with their sport, with every aspect of it, with the very essence of it, that it is impossible to think of one without the other? Nicklaus has achieved that preeminence as much as anyone."

In 2005, he became the second living person to have his image on an official Scottish banknote (the other being the Queen). The Royal & Ancient Golf Club of St. Andrews planned to have the 2006 Open at the Old Course, but moved it up to 2005 when it learned that it would be Nicklaus' last.

He failed to make the cut, but he birdied out on the 18th hole. The crowd responded with a poignant ten-minute standing ovation, a fitting honor for one of the all-time sporting legends.