What club Jack Nicklaus used to hit the three best shots of his career and break Ben Hogan’s US Open record

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18-time major winner Jack Nicklaus believes the three best shots of his career were all hit with the same club.

During his prime, the Golden Bear’s powerful swing, excellent distance control and mental toughness made him the dominant force in the professional game. Objectively, Nicklaus is the greatest golfer to ever live.

Even in 2025, some modern-day greats have sought advice from Nicklaus: Rory McIlroy, Dustin Johnson, and Patrick Cantlay, to name a few. Nicklaus also shared lunch with Charl Schwartzel before the South African’s Masters win.

There have been many iconic shots throughout Nicklaus’ career; however, the Golden Bear believes there are three standouts.

Three best shots of Jack Nicklaus’ career

In an interview with Today’s Golfer, Nicklaus revealed that the best shots of his career have all been made with his 1-iron.

“They were all hit with a 1-iron. In 1967 at Baltusrol in the US Open’s last round, I had 238 yards left on the final hole,” Nicklaus said. “It was uphill, into the wind, and I hit a 1-iron over the bunker and onto the green. I then made the putt to break Hogan’s US Open scoring record.

“Then, in ’72 at Pebble Beach (again in the US Open), I was on the 17th and had to get pretty creative because I wasn’t sure whether I could reach and get it over the front bunker. I ended up hitting the pin.”

He added: “The final one was in ’75 at Augusta in the last round. I was in the centre of the fairway and I had 242 yards off one of those little humps. I didn’t make the putt, but I hit it to within 12ft or something like that.”

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

What clubs did Jack Nicklaus carry?

Nicklaus’ bag was certainly ‘old school’ compared to modern standards. The Golden Bear carried a driver, 3-wood, and irons one through nine. He also carried two wedges and his putter.

Here, according to Golf Monthly, is exactly what the 18-time major winner carried from 1954 onwards.

Nicklaus used a MacGregor Tommy Armour Signature Tourney driver with nine degrees of loft. He used the same club in a 3-wood at 15 degrees of loft.

Nicklaus used at MacGregor MT 1-iron and MacGregor VIP irons from two right up to his wedges. The all-time great used a MacGregor George Low 600 putter, which was released in 1960.