It is remarkable to think now that Scottie Scheffler had not yet won on the PGA Tour when he was handed a slightly contentious captain’s pick for the 2021 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits.
Of course, Scottie Scheffler‘s performance that week showed exactly why Steve Stricker gave him the call. Within a few months, he had won on the PGA Tour. Meanwhile, Scheffler – who has spent a large part of the last four years as world number one – is now a three-time major champion.
It shows how the Ryder Cup can prove to be the breakout tournament for some players. But that is not the case for everyone who has taken part in the event over the years.
In fact, by the time Jack Nicklaus made his debut in the Ryder Cup in 1969, he was a seven-time major champion with 28 PGA Tour victories to his name.
Why Jack Nicklaus did not make his Ryder Cup debut until he had already become a seven-time major champion
Nicklaus won his first major at the 1962 US Open. In fact, by the time the 1969 Ryder Cup came about, the Golden Bear was enduring his longest drought in the majors since turning professional.
He had played in 10 majors without winning. Meanwhile, 1969 marked the first time that Nicklaus registered two major finishes outside the top 20 in the same year in his entire career. So by his incredible standards, the 29-year-old was not in the best form.
Nevertheless, Nicklaus was one of 10 rookies Sam Snead would take with him to Royal Birkdale. Billy Casper and Gene Littler were the only two players on the American side with experience of playing in the Ryder Cup.
And the reason that Nicklaus only got to play in the Ryder Cup for the first time once he had won seven majors was that rules at the time meant that players had to be PGA Tour members for at least five years before they could earn points and qualify.
How the 1969 Ryder Cup provided one of the most iconic moments in the event’s history
Nicklaus would go on to be involved in one of the most iconic moments in Ryder Cup history in 1969. But it did not prove to be an overly successful week for the American.
He won just one of his four matches, while he was on the losing side on two occasions. One of those losses came against Tony Jacklin in the Sunday morning singles.
The pair would face off again in the afternoon in the final match out on the course. And the match would be remembered for Nicklaus conceding a short putt Jacklin faced on the final hole to secure the tie.
Not only would Jacklin lose the match if he missed the putt, but he would also hand USA victory in the event.
However, Nicklaus decided to not give Jacklin the chance to miss and the Ryder Cup ended in a 16-16 tie, with the Americans retaining the cup.
He would go on to play in another five Ryder Cups, while he would captain the side in both 1983 and 1987.
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