Jack Nicklaus was an athlete first. Before golf defined him, playing everything else did.

“I played football, I played basketball, I played baseball, played tennis, ran track. That’s where I got my exercise. That’s where I built my body.”

Nicklaus has won 73 times on the PGA TOUR and has won 10 PGA TOUR Champions, but the foundation was built on other sports as well.

In fact, Nickalus was recruited for Ohio State to play basketball alongside players Jerry Lucas and John Havlicek. But that's not all. Jack Nicklaus’ father has been a major influence and motivation in his career. He always encouraged Nicklaus to play all the sports and not to stick to one.

Nicklaus didn’t regret that diversified past. “I think it’s ridiculous for kids to be on one sport. I just think it’s awful.”

Even after golf success, he didn’t stop moving. Nicklaus played basketball in a rec league into his 40s, joking that after tournaments he’d go to the court and still go to the basket.

 And today, tennis remains a weekend staple for him. All these activities kept his body strong long after his pro golf peak.

How Jack Nicklaus’ Athletic Foundation Showed Up at the 1986 Masters

Nicklaus' multi-sport body built as a kid showed its value decades later at Augusta. In 1986, at age 46, he became the oldest Masters champion in history, outlasting and outplaying a younger field over 72 holes.

It was a demonstration of the physique he created through general movement.

Not through training of one single discipline, he was capable of still performing at the highest level of golf long after the majority of his competitors had given up.

Written by

Dolly Bhamrick

Edited by

Siddharth Shirwadkar