Nicklaus Returns To Site Of First U.S. Open

By Dave Shedloski

Jack Nicklaus has never won a tournament at Inverness Club, the storied golf course in Toledo, Ohio, which adds to its haughty heritage by hosting the 24^th U.S. Senior Open.

That fact alone makes Inverness an unusual venue, considering Nicklaus, an Ohio native, ransacked the state in his younger years and went on to win 100 professional titles around the world, including two U.S. Senior Open crowns, in 1991 and ’93. The shutout further astounds when considering that Donald Ross, whose works also include Scioto Country Club in Columbus, where Nicklaus grew up and learned the game, designed Inverness.

Jack Nicklaus practices a 'plumb line' technique he developed in 1956. (USGA Photo Archives)

Nevertheless, Inverness still has special meaning to the Golden Bear. It was 46 years ago that Nicklaus, as a 17 year old, played in his first U.S. Open at Inverness Club. He would go on to play in a record 44 consecutive Open championships, winning four of them.

"I’ve probably played 50 rounds on the golf course," said Nicklaus. "I like the golf course. I just have never played particularly well there."

Winner of a record 18 professional major championships, Nicklaus has competed at Inverness four times, including his debut in the 1957 Open won by Dick Mayer. He missed the cut that year by shooting 80-80. In the 1979 U.S. Open he ended up tied for ninth. Twice he competed in the PGA Championship there, finishing tied for 16^th in 1986 and missing the cut in 1993.

He has broken par at Inverness only three times in 12 rounds.

Recalling his first Open experience, Nicklaus said Inverness reminded him, not surprisingly, a great deal of Scioto. He was excited to be participating in his first Open, but, typically, he kept his composure – for a while.

"I birdied the first hole – holed a 35-footer – and then parred the second, parred the third, and was on the leaderboard at 1 under par," he said. "Then, I double-bogeyed the fourth, was off the leaderboard and never to be heard of again."

Never to be heard from again, that is, until the next year when he made the first of a record 35 Open cuts at Southern Hills Country Club in Tulsa, Okla.

But in 1957 he was just a kid a little bit in awe of the professionals he was playing against. After missing the cut, he stayed in Toledo an extra day and was just another face in the gallery.

"I was crawling up the backs of tees to watch Roberto De Vicenzo and Peter Thomson play," said Nicklaus. "I had my girlfriend with me, and we were just out walking around the golf course. It was a good experience."

Bob Jones probably would have said the same thing about his first U.S. Open, which, coincidentally, came at Inverness Club in 1920. Jones, of course, was the idol of Nicklaus and Nicklaus’ father Charlie.

The 1920 Open included not only Robert Jones Jr., who like Nicklaus won four Open titles, but also Gene Sarazen, Tommy Armour and Johnny Farrell, all of whom were making their debuts in the national championship as well. Together the four men won eight of the next 12 Open titles.

The Toledo area is significant to Nicklaus for one other reason: it’s where he met Arnold Palmer. The two were competing in the 1954 Ohio Amateur at Sylvania Country Club, and Nicklaus remembers watching a lone golfer hitting balls on the driving range in a downpour. It was Palmer, who was the defending champion.

"He was hitting 9-irons about this high (8 feet in the air), and I thought, 'Boy, that guy is strong,'" said Nicklaus. "Then I found out who he was. I was pretty impressed. Obviously, he went on to become quite a player."

So, obviously, did Nicklaus, arguably the greatest player of the 20^th century.

Deciphering Inverness and winning the U.S. Senior Open would be a nice way to make his mark on the new century.

"I’m always interested in winning major championships," he said.

Though he is 63 years old, nothing is ever out of the question for Nicklaus. This year he has regained his appetite for competitive golf because of a new diet and fitness regimen that have alleviated pain in his back, an ailment that prevented him from playing in all but a handful of events a year ago. Nicklaus had to forego the ’02 Senior Open after finishing fourth in 2001 at Salem Country Club in Peabody, Mass.

"Golf is not a lot of fun when you’re used to playing it one way and you can’t do that anymore. It’s just not fun," said Nicklaus. "I’ve played some decent golf this year, but I’d like to do better, and I’m going to keep working on it because I have some important tournaments coming up that I’d like to play well in."

Inverness and the Senior Open top the list.

"We play some good golf courses this year (on the Champions Tour)," said Nicklaus. "Inverness is certainly a golf course I look forward to playing again. It will be the same Inverness we’ve always played. You’ve got small greens, and it’s difficult to get up and down if you miss them. It’s a good test. It’s a tough test."

It’s a test Nicklaus will enjoy taking all over again.

Dave Shedloski is a free-lance writer whose work has appeared previously on www.ussenioropen.com.