Born in Columbus, Ohio, on January 21, 1940, Nicklaus took up golf at the age of ten. He excelled as a junior and amateur, winning the U.S. Amateur Championship in 1959 and again in 1961 while attending Ohio State University. He turned professional in late 1961, aged 21, and won the 1962 U.S. Open at Oakmont in a playoff against Arnold Palmer, immediately establishing himself as a major force.

Nicklaus’s major record grew rapidly. In 1963 he won both the Masters Tournament and the PGA Championship; in 1965 and 1966 he claimed consecutive Masters titles, becoming the first player to defend the green jacket successfully. Across his career he collected six Masters, five PGA Championships, four U.S. Opens and three Open Championships. His 18 professional major victories remain the men’s record, and he finished runner-up in majors 19 times.

His longevity was as remarkable as his peak. Nicklaus won majors across 24 years, from the 1962 U.S. Open to the 1986 Masters. That final Masters victory, at age 46, made him the oldest champion in the tournament’s history. He also played in 154 consecutive major championships for which he was eligible, a record that underlines his sustained competitiveness.

Nicklaus combined length with exceptional control and a conservative strategic instinct. Rather than relying on one shot shape or one part of the game, he built plans around the demands of each course, protected his misses and trusted his long game when pressure intensified. His ability to contend in majors over several generations became a standard by which other careers are measured.

Beyond competition, Nicklaus became one of golf’s most influential course designers and ambassadors. Through Nicklaus Design and his philanthropic work, he extended his impact well beyond his playing record. Yet his reputation remains anchored in the same defining achievement: 18 major championships won across an extraordinary span of time.