Jack Nicklaus is the gracious host this week as the PGA Tour gathers at his Muirfield Village course for The Memorial Tournament.
The high regard in which Nicklaus and his course are held is reflected in the strength of this field. It features Jason Day, Jordan Spieth and Rory McIlroy, the top three golfers in the world who are all coming off wins in their last starts.
Many players put this event on their schedules as a show of respect for Nicklaus who has given so much back to the game and it players. He’s helped players for years and has recently been called upon by this younger generation of tour players including, Day, Spieth, McIlroy and Justin Thomas who have picked the brain of the greatest golfer of all time.
It can be intimidating when you come face to face with your hero. But Nicklaus was never one to be pretentious and always welcomed players and press alike and offered whatever help he could.
Watch as these people talk of their first meeting with the Golden Bear.
My first encounter of “the Nicklaus kind” came in the late seventies as I watched him drill balls on the range at the Westchester Country Club.
More recently I watched as the USGA opened the “Jack Nicklaus Room” at their museum in Far Hills, New Jersey. Afterwards, Nicklaus sat with the media and was as accommodating as a man could be as he answered question after question from veteran golf writers and lowly golf bloggers alike. He always took as much time as he needed and finished with a “did I answer your question?” or “ is that good enough?”
Yes, he’s the greatest of all time and yes he’s the greatest sportsman too but there’s one thing he’s always been too and that’s gracious. So he’s not just the Greatest of All Time…he’s the most Gracious of All Time too.
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