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Augusta, Georgia: Few sporting events in the world revere anniversaries like the Masters.<\/p>\n
There\u2019s a soothing quality to a global sporting event returning to the same venue each year. Fans, on site and on TV, watch for Augusta National\u2019s stunning landscapes, and come back to compare how the present crop of players will hit shots compared to the ghosts of Masters past.<\/p>\n
The one anniversary that lingers on the hallowed turf this year is Jack Nicklaus\u2019 iconic 1986 Masters victory.<\/p>\n
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Jack Nicklaus sinks a putt on his way to victory at the 1986 US Masters at Augusta.Getty Images<\/p>\n
Forty years ago, the legendary Nicklaus gave golf perhaps its most seminal moment. The \u201cGolden Bear\u201d \u2013 six years since his previous major win and in a state of semi-retirement \u2013 wowed the sporting world with a record 18th major victory at the age of 46.<\/p>\n
It reverberated throughout history.<\/p>\n
Nicklaus\u2019 triumph was underlined by moments that became Masters folklore: his fist-pumping second shot into the par five 15th that set up an eagle; a near hole in one that yielded a birdie on the par three 16th; and a birdie putt on 17 that inspired the memorable Verne Lundquist call of, \u201cYes, sir\u201d!<\/p>\n
And then there was the famous line from CBS commentary debutant Jim Nantz, stationed in the tower behind the 16th green, who remarked: \u201cThe Bear has come out of hibernation.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Jack Nicklaus returns to Augusta to hit the ceremonial tee shot on the first hole in 2026.AP<\/p>\n
During that final round, the leaderboard featured Greg Norman, Nick Price (who shot a course-record 63 to take the third round lead), Seve Ballesteros, Bernhard Langer, Tom Kite, Corey Pavin, Tom Watson and Sandy Lyle. Nicklaus began the day tied for ninth, four strokes back.<\/p>\n
But he beat them all with a 65 featuring a back nine of 30, to defeat Norman and Kite by one shot.<\/p>\n
As Nantz, now the voice of the Masters, wrote for Golf Digest US recently: \u201cI\u2019ve been blessed to see many things through the years \u2013 Tiger [Woods] in 1997, Tiger again with his \u201creturn to glory\u201d in 2019, Rory last year. But 1986 in many ways stands alone. We remember it as the day Jack Nicklaus composed a golf fairytale that somehow came true.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Defending Masters champion Nick Faldo helps Tiger Woods into his green jacket in 1997.Reuters<\/p>\n
A 10-year-old Woods was watching Nicklaus on TV from his home in Southern California that day. Unknowingly, that would create a ripple throughout golf for decades to come. Woods was glued to the broadcast, fascinated that a golfer would celebrate individual shots and produce so much showmanship.<\/p>\n
\u201cI can tell you that \u201986 meant a lot to me because that was the first memory that I have of the Masters, seeing Jack celebrate a four iron into the green on 15,\u201d Woods has said.<\/p>\n
It inspired Woods to his own tally of 15 majors, which in turn inspired a generation after him.<\/p>\n
Forty years on, Nicklaus\u2019 public appearances are rare outside his hosting of the PGA Tour\u2019s Memorial Tournament each May. One of those sightings was on Thursday morning (US time) at the 90th Masters \u2013 67 years after Nicklaus made his debut at the 23rd Masters in 1959.<\/p>\n
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Tom Watson, Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley, Jack Nicklaus and Gary Player pose before the ceremonial tee shot on the first hole.AP<\/p>\n
Nicklaus, Gary Player and Watson hit the honorary opening tee shots of the Masters. An 86-year-old Nicklaus had his son, Jackie, tee up the ball for him before the legend offered a hilarious warning to fans surrounding the hole: \u201cOh, boy, watch out, and I don\u2019t mean that facetiously.\u201d<\/p>\n
He hit a low hook \u2013 but he did warn them.<\/p>\n
Afterwards, Nicklaus, Player and Watson held their annual honorary starters press conference \u2013 a Masters tradition in its own right.<\/p>\n
\u201cI said, \u2018Spread out on both sides because I don\u2019t want to kill anybody\u2019,\u201d Nicklaus said of the tee shot. \u201cIf it\u2019d been a little closer, I might have.\u201d<\/p>\n
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Jack Nicklaus tries on his sixth green jacket as Masters champion as Bernhard Langer looks on in 1986.AP<\/p>\n
The record six-times Masters champion \u2013 Woods is nearest with five \u2013 then offered a rare insight into his 1986 masterpiece. It had ended a long Masters absence for Nicklaus\u2019 family.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy mother, my sister [came] to the Masters for the first time since 1959 \u2013 all very special circumstances,\u201d Nicklaus said on Thursday.<\/p>\n
Nicklaus was 46 \u2013 still the oldest Masters champion. He calls it \u201cabsolutely No.1\u201d among his green jacket wins. Nicklaus even suggested it might be his greatest achievement in the majors overall, and there were many: three career grand slams; five PGA Championships; four US Open trophies; three British Open claret jugs.<\/p>\n
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