Jack Nicklaus

Jack Nicklaus still cuts a proud figure. He always has. There was the time back in 1971 when he and a handful of Australian mates went to a French restaurant in Paddington for dinner on the eve of the Dunlop International tournament at Manly GC.

“Wear something inconspicuous, don’t stand out in the crowd,” the Golden Bear was urged.

You’d hardly call a pillar-box red jacket a cloak of anonymity but that’s what he wore. Let’s save the rest of the yarn for another time except for the not insignificant detail save that Cinderella’s coach was already a pumpkin when he departed and the next morning with a 7am tee time he darn near broke 60. He was 11 under through 16 holes, but made par at the 17th and bogeyed the last for a 62.

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