The major championship Jack Nicklaus won by seven strokes despite playing ‘horribly’ on every single day

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Of Jack Nicklaus’ 18 major championship victories, five occurred at the PGA Championship.

Behind the Masters at Augusta National, the PGA of America’s flagship event was a happy hunting ground for the Golden Bear, who clinched victories in 1963, 1971, 1973, 1975 and 1980.

In the 1980 edition at Oak Hill, Nicklaus tied Walter Hagen’s record for the most PGA Championships wins. The 40-year-old finished six under, seven shots clear of Andy Bean in second place. Nicklaus was the only play under par.

On paper, the victory in Rochester appeared routine. However, speaking at the 2005 Masters, Nicklaus admitted he played ‘horribly’ throughout the four days.

What Jack Nicklaus said about the 1980 PGA Championship

During his press conference ahead of his last-ever Masters appearance 20 years ago, Nicklaus initially discussed his 1965 win at Augusta National, where he finished nine shots clear of Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.

“It was certainly a good one,” Nicklaus said. “All I really remember about ’65 is that it was so easy. When you really play well, it usually is easy. It’s just, you know, I don’t know, you get to the end of the week, you try to explain this, it’s just driver, 9-iron; driver, wedge; driver, 8-iron, whatever it might be, and it went where I was aiming, and I looked at a putt, just knocked it in. It was one of those weeks.”

The Golden Bear then referenced the 1980 PGA Championship, where he felt his game was far from polished.

“The last PGA that I won in 1980 at Oak Hill, I hit the ball just horribly that week,” Nicklaus added.

“I hit it all over the world, but no matter what I did, I knocked a putt in to save what I did, so I just made a very easy week out of it. I’m sitting there sort of feeling like, you know, why is that happening, but the ball, it just kept going in the hole. Every once in a while, that happens like that, and I promise you, it’s a lot of fun.”

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How Jack Nicklaus won the 1980 PGA Championship at Oak Hill

Nicklaus wasn’t in good form heading into the 1980 PGA Championship, having not won on the PGA Tour for the first time in his career. The Golden Bear had won the US Open two months earlier but was not performing at his peak.

After 36 holes, the American was one under and one shot back of leader Gil Morgan. However, on moving day, the 40-year-old took control, firing a 66 (four under) to sit three shots clear heading into the final round.

During Sunday’s play at Oak Hill, Nicklaus was six under for the day through 14 before struggling during the closing stretch of holes, where he dropped two shots.

The Golden Bear’s victory remained the largest winning margin right up until Rory McIlroy’s 2012 win at Kiawah Island.