Jack Nicklaus is an American retired professional golfer who is considered by many to be the greatest golfer of all time. Jack William Nicklaus was born on January 21, 1940, in Columbus, Ohio; his father was a pharmacist who ran several businesses under the name of Nicklaus Drug Store. Jack started golfing at the age of ten and won the first of his five straight Ohio State Junior Titles at the age of twelve. While attending Ohio State University, Nicklaus won the U.S. Amateur twice and an NCAA Championship, becoming the first player to win the individual title at the NCAA Championship and the U.S. Amateur in the same year. During his twenty five years as a professional, Nicklaus won a record eighteen major championships, with nineteen second place finishes, and nine third place finishes.

He ranks third on the all time list of PGA Tour events with seventy three victories; Sam Snead has eighty two and Tiger Woods has eighty. In his later years, Jack Nicklaus became known for golf course design; his golf course design company is one of the largest in the world and has helped design many famous courses including the Harbour Town Golf Links on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina. Jack Nicklaus’ book, Golf My Way, is considered one of the best instructional golf books of all time.