The major championship where Jack Nicklaus said the ‘noise was so deafening’ that he could not hear anything

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Jack Nicklaus’ remarkable career featured several iconic moments that will endure in the annals of golfing history.

Whether it was Nicklaus’ 1-iron at Baltusrol in 1967, his approach to 17 at Pebble Beach in the ’72 US Open or his putting display during the 1980 PGA Championship at Oak Hill, some of Nicklaus‘ feats will stand the test of time.

The Golden Bear’s farewell at St Andrews in 2005 is another timestamp in golfing history. Thousands crammed around the famous 18th at the Old Course to catch a glimpse of Nicklaus’ final-ever birdie putt, which, of course, found the bottom of the cup.

Yet, there’s one event which perhaps stands out above the rest.

What Jack Nicklaus said after the 1986 Masters

Starting the final round of the 50th Masters Tournament four shots back of the lead, Nicklaus rallied and carded a stunning 65 (seven under). Greg Norman, who was leading heading into the last 18, shot 70 to finish one shot back of the Golden Bear.

After birdies on nine, ten and eleven, Nicklaus then eagled 15, birdied 16 and 17 before making par on the 18th. Norman, who had made a stunning birdie on 17 to tie the lead, needed a par on the last to force a playoff.

The Aussie, however, pushed his approach and subsequently missed his 15-foot par attempt to hand Nicklaus his 18th—and last—major championship title.

From 15 onwards, the crowds at Augusta National sensed something special was about to happen— and Nicklaus says it was as loud as he’s ever heard a golf course.

“Where it really happened and turned around was 15. The sound and noise was so deafening I couldn’t hear anything. It just kept building up. We kept reading the putts right and hitting them where I was looking, which was an unusual occurrence for me. I didn’t expect to be in a position to win.”

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1986 Masters was the start of Greg Norman’s Masters issues

Norman, after coming up short at the 1986 Masters, would’ve fancied his chances of bouncing back and winning a green jacket at some point in the future.

But, as the golfing world knows, the ‘Shark’ came up short at Augusta National again in 1987 and 1996.

In ’87, the Aussie watched on as Larry Mize holed an impossible chip on the second playoff hole to deny him a first green jacket. Nine years later, Norman surrendered a six-shot 54-hole lead to hand Nick Faldo the Masters title.

Despite failing in 1987 and 1996, Norman has said his approach shot to 18 in 1986 was his biggest regret in golf.

“My first thought was to hit a hard-5, but I talked myself out of it. Wrong choice,” Norman said. “I should have stayed in attack mode rather than trying to finesse a longer club. That’s what had been working for me all day. Unfortunately, I was so pumped that I hit it too hard and pushed it into the gallery. If I could have one career mulligan, I’d take it there.”