Jack Nicklaus is known for his dominance at majors, the PGA Championship included. Here are five impressive stats you might not know about the Golden Bear.
1) His Five PGA Championships are Tied for the Most Victories in The Championship's History
Yes, it’s easy to know that Nicklaus won 18 major titles. After all, that’s the standard to which any conversation about Tiger Woods' career is compared. But, impressively, Nicklaus holds five PGA Championship victories, tied with Walter Hagen for the most ever in the championship's history. Woods is the only player with four PGA Championships in his career.
Hometown Hero. @jacknicklaus won his second PGA Championship in his backyard at PGA National in 1971. #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/CpdwXI2TWD
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) February 24, 2023
2) He Held the Largest Margin of Victory in PGA Championship History for 32 Years
Amongst his run of PGA Championship dominance includes his impressive seven-stroke victory at Oak Hill in 1980. He held a three-shot lead going into the final round, and his Sunday 69 was one of four in the 60s that day to stretch his margin of victory to seven. Nicklaus’ win was the first time this week’s PGA Championship home hosted the major.
The only player to shoot under par at Oak Hill in 1980, @jacknicklaus capped his record-tying FIFTH PGA Championship with what was then the largest margin of victory ever. #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/p6Yfqzm6jY
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) May 6, 2023
3) He Has Almost As Many PGA Championship Runner-Up Finishes As Wins
Nicklaus finished in second or tied for second four times in his PGA Championship career (1964, 1965, 1974, 1983). Surprisingly, he never held the lead at the end of a round in any of those runner-up results. Nicklaus lost by a single stroke in two of those: in 1974 to Lee Trevino and in 1983 to Hal Sutton.
4) He Won Multiple Majors in Five Seasons
Nicklaus won multiple majors in five seasons spanning three decades. He won the 1963 Masters and PGA Championship, the 1966 Masters and British Open, the 1972 PGA Championship and Masters, and the 1980 U.S. Open and PGA Championship. Nicklaus won majors over 25 seasons, from his maiden win at the 1962 U.S. Open to the 1986 Masters Tournament.
#DidYouKnow that @JackNicklaus was the last player to win the PGA Championship & the Masters in the same year? He won both the Green Jacket and Wanamaker Trophy in 1975.#PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/nPjPXGf2G8
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) November 9, 2020
5. His 1970s Runs of Top 10s in Majors
In retrospect, the Golden Bear’s consistent run in the 70s is ridiculous. He finished in the top 10 in 35 of 40 majors over the decade. That almost 90 percent top-10 rate includes eight victories and at least one of every major (1970 Open Championship, 1972 Masters and U.S. Open, 1973 PGA Championship, 1975 Masters and PGA Championship, 1978 Open Championship.) Further highlighting his reign of the 70s, he finished in the top five in 27 majors, featuring eight runner-ups. He missed one lone cut over that stretch at the 1978 PGA Championship at Oakmont.
A run of pure dominance. @jacknicklaus | #STATurday | #PGAChamp pic.twitter.com/g73OhhnNOT
— PGA Championship (@PGAChampionship) January 21, 2023
