When it comes to Jack Nicklaus, there’s no need to teach an old bear new tricks.
The 79-year-old major champion has holed practically every big putt in the history of the game, so when it came time to avoid a scorecard playoff in this week’s Sycamore Hills National Pro-Scratch Invitational, there was no doubt where Nicklaus’ putt from off the green on the final hole was going.
Playing alongside his “longtime friend Tom Kelley,” Nicklaus knocked in a tricky putt from off the 18th green at Sycamore Hills GC in Fort Wayne, Indiana. Needing to putt through some 20 yards of fairway and account for a ridge running onto the green, the Golden Bear did it naturally.
Good way to end the day!
Promised partner & longtime friend Tom Kelley I would share our fun. Tom & I won the Legends Division (small field?) today in 2-day @SycamoreHillsFW National Pro-Scratch Invitational.
Wanted to make sure on 18 that we didn’t lose in a scorecard playoff! pic.twitter.com/8VSWYsmKH4— Jack Nicklaus (@jacknicklaus) September 11, 2019
According to Nicklaus’ post, the two won the “small field” Legends Division of the two-day event at the course Nicklaus designed in 1987. The course has a storied history that includes hosting a Korn Ferry Tour event, a Junior PGA Championship and a number of USGA qualifiers.
Of course, Nicklaus has a penchant for holing difficult putts on courses that he’s designed. And any story about Nicklaus holing an unlikely putt would be incomplete without rehashing the time he shut up Johnny Miller by holing a ridiculous putt at the grand opening of The Golf Club at Harbor Shores in Benton, Michigan in August of 2010.
