Why Gary Player was so impressed by Jack Nicklaus’ final ever Masters win, ‘It was amazing’

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Gary Player and Jack Nicklaus are two of the best Masters golfers of all-time and hold nine green jackets between them.

Nicklaus and Player were among a few players to dominate Augusta National through the 60s and 70s and ultimately, they are entrenched in Masters history.

Indeed, we often see the duo hitting the opening tee shots to get the tournament underway in the modern day, such was their impact at the famous course.

However, when we look at the wins each of them got, few were as impressive as Nicklaus’ final win in 1986.

At age 46, Nicklaus was regarded as a spent force by many but rolled back the years to capture a sixth green jacket and prove to everyone once again just how good he was.

And for Gary Player, looking back at that win for Nicklaus in an interview back in 2016, it was made all the more remarkable by people writing him off.

What impressed Gary Player about Jack Nicklaus’ 1986 Masters win

As we all know, Gary Player is still going strong at 90 and a lot of it is down to his commitment to fitness and maintaining his body.

Back in the ‘older days’, golf fitness wasn’t taken quite as seriously, with Player very much an early pioneer.

And for the South African, that is what impressed him so much about Nicklaus’ win in 86.

“I’m listening to Brandel, and I’m listening to—what’s his name from New Zealand, Frank Nobilo—talking about all the guys, you’ve got to win in your early 20s, and as you get into your 30s, you’re starting to deteriorate,” Player stated.

“Have they no idea what is transpiring with the human being? Have they have no idea what’s taking place in the world today? They’re so oblivious to what’s around them. So I’ve always said that a man at 50 would win the Masters and I was ridiculed. Raymond Floyd needed to birdie No. 17 with a 9 iron, and he would have won the Masters at 49, nearly 50. But be that as it may.

“I win the Masters at 42, which I thought was quite impressive. He comes along and wins it at 46. But don’t forget, Julius Boros, won the PGA at 48. People forget about these things.

“So it was amazing, it was amazing. And you know, we are inundated with listening to commentators, all they talk about is long distance off the tee. Long distance is not what wins golf tournaments. It’s from 100 yards in, because 70 percent of golf is played from 100 yards in. Now Ballesteros at the time – remember we had the screens – Ballesteros hits his drive at 15 and I think he’s leading Jack at that stage, whatever the case would be, and Ballesteros hits his drive at least 330 yards because he hits his 5 iron for his second, put it in the water.

“Simultaneously, Jack holes this vital putt at No. 17 which enables him to win, and he wins it at 46. It was incredible. It was a marvellous effort, particularly on a tough golf course like this. But the man was a hell of an athlete, not only at golf but at other sports, as well.

“And it was very, very…for me, it was encouraging because I’ve had a different philosophy on the body and fitness and what the human being is capable of doing, as far as longevity is concerned. So I was not surprised because I know what an athlete he was and what we’re going to see in the future, we are in our infancy right now. But what a remarkable effort. The thing is, coming to the conclusion of it, the world’s tendency of thinking you are old playing golf at 40, it changed the whole concept, which is fantastic.”

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Jack Nicklaus’ overall record at The Masters

Few players can compare with Jack Nicklaus when it comes to The Masters.

His six wins are a standalone achievement in itself, with only Tiger Woods coming close with his own five wins.

However, what separates Nicklaus from a lot of players is when he didn’t win, he wasn’t ever too far away either.

He finished second four times and third twice, while his top ten record is exceptional around Augusta.

Remarkably, Nicklaus only missed the cut as he got much older, succumbing in 1994, albeit he didn’t miss the cut again until 2001.

Put simply, Nicklaus is a king when it comes to Augusta National.