Jack Nicklaus had already reclaimed the top spot in the golfing world when he played the PGA Championship on the East Course of Oak Hill Country Club for the 62nd time.
There were whispers about the Golden Bear’s passing after he failed to win a single PGA Tour title in 1979, the first time this had occurred since he had joined the Tour back in 1962. Many looked to the younger generation of players, including Fuzzy Zoeller, Seve Ballesteros and others who had won majors in the ’79 season, to take over the mantle of the game.
Nicklaus put an end to any talk of his imminent demise by winning the U.S. Open at Baltusrol during the spring 1980. After claiming his first major in the new decade, Nicklaus went to Oak Hill to try and win a 17th Major.
To understand Nicklaus’ passion for winning the Wanamaker Trophy and his desire to do so, it is necessary to go back 30 years to the 1950 PGA Championship, which was held in Columbus, Ohio at Scioto Country Club, where Nicklaus had a family membership.
Nicklaus, then 10, was able to gain access to the locker rooms of many of the biggest names in the game with the help of Jack Grout. He received autographs from Sam Snead (who would go on to become a Hall of Famer), Chandler Harper (who became the eventual champion) and Lloyd Mangrum, the man who most notably occupied the locker of father Charlie Nicklaus.
Nicklaus’ autobiography, My Story (1997), says: “I still remember that thin, dark figure at the table, with a fan and cards in one, a glass and hooch in another, and a cigarette hanging from his lips. I can also recall how intimidated he made me feel when he gave me his famous look and said, “What do you want, kid?” “But he autographed my autograph book and I was extremely proud of myself for standing up to such an intimidating character.”
Nicklaus has often credited this experience for shaping his desire to become a professional player when he grew.
Nicklaus and courage were synonymous by the time he arrived at Oak Hill. Nicklaus’s inaccuracy at the tee was perhaps the most interesting aspect of what was a truly dominating performance in 1980. The Ohio native, who had been looking good for the first few months of the summer, sprayed his ball all over the course.
His secret weapon was a putter almost as hot and humid as the temperatures in Western New York, which reached 90 degrees.
Nicklaus stated, “I had been playing pretty well the year before I played at Oak Hill.” “Unfortunately, before that tournament I began hitting the ball badly. And I’m not lying, I was a bad ball striker all week. My putter was amazing. “I ran the table with my putter.”
Nicklaus began the tournament with two rounds of 70. He was then trailing Craig Stadler, before Dr. Gil Morgan took over the lead.
Nicklaus, on the other hand, was dazzling in the third round. He made up for his wayward shots with a series of crucial putts. He went from being a stroke behind to three shots ahead of Lon Hinkle by the end.
He said later, “I hit the balls all over the place.” “And you can still shoot 66 when you hit it all over the course.”
With a commanding advantage, Andy Bean finished 7 shots behind the Golden Bear on Sunday. The margin of victory that he achieved was the largest in PGA Championship’s history, until Rory McIlroy beat it at the Ocean Course on the Kiawah Island Golf Resort.
Nicklaus’ fifth and final Wanamaker Trophy, earned with this win, tied him for the record of the PGA Championship, along with his hometown hero Walter Hagen. He won only one major after that, the 1986 Masters.
Nicklaus has praised the course over the years. It ranks 42nd in Golfweek’s Best Classic Courses, only one spot behind Southern Hills which will host the PGA Championship 2022.
Oak Hill is a lovely, northern, tree lined, gently rolling piece of land that was enjoyable to play. Nicklaus called it a “good test”. “Nobody’s ever played it before, so you have to be smart, control your golf ball and putt because these greens aren’t easy.”
Adam Schupak, Golfweek’s Adam Schupak, contributed to this report.
By: Tim Schmitt
Title: PGA Championship history: Jack Nicklaus' win at Oak Hill in 1980 showed his dominance and versatility
Sourced From: golfweek.usatoday.com/2023/05/18/pga-championship-history-jack-nicklaus-win-oak-hill-1980/
Published Date: Thu, 18 May 2023 13:00:19 +0000
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