I watched from my house in the Philippines as I was stationed there with the U.S. Navy. I The Philippines was 12hrs ahead time wise so it was early AM there when I watched. I had a couple of tears in my eyes as I caddied at Muirfield Village from 1974-1982 and caddied for Nicklaus 5 times in casual rounds he played with friends and business assiciates. Good times!
I was there. I went in the room where they do the press conference after the press conference he signed autographs for those in the room. I wanted to ask him to sign "the golden bear" so I waited till everyone else had his autograph. I handed he the little course book they had out with the players and hole descriptions and he signed his autograph and I then asked him to sign "the golden bear" which he did. When I turned around there was no one else in the room just me and Jack.
I am the 86th person to give this video a thumbs up, and T-2 as the biggest fan of the Masters. I had just played 18 holes at Pine Hills in Hinkley, Ohio on that day, and when I got home, my older brother said, "Sit down. You are not going to believe this." Popping in the tape into the Beta machine, I "witnessed" some of the best golf ever played. As I recall, it took Tiger Woods for the front nine to finally get televised. His round got affected by acclimate weather, preempting cartoons. Watching the lady amateurs play this course at this time speaks volumes for the desire to let everyone fall in love. With the Masters.
I was there at the 15th green when Jack made that incredible Eagle - the place was erupting with excitement. What a memory he gave us. I still get goose bumps when thinking about it. What a day. Thank you Jack for a great memory.
Jackie's both feet in the air when the Eagles putt drop was an awesome picture. Jack couldn't have had anyone better on the bag that day. Jack, saying to Jackie before the second shot at 15 (How far do you think a three will go) was different than what Jackie was thinking.
I was 16 and playing a round by myself at our local 9-hole course, not really interested in the Masters that year because I hated Seve and thought Jack was out of it. When I came by the clubhouse at the turn I saw a lot of cars in the lot, but the course and range were empty. As I walked by the window I stopped and saw him drop that eagle on 15 then ran inside and watched what was probably the most exciting 3 holes of the Masters I have ever seen since. He came close to an ace on 16 and the birdie to close it out the entire clubhouse was going apeshit crazy.
I was 34, at a party hosted by dear friends that Sunday. Everyone else listened to the music blaring. I of course could not turn on the sound for The Masters, but even then, I never missed the final round. So I watched it with sound off, with Steely Dan et al blasting in the background, and was absolutely mesmerized. It was magical. It was Secretariat at the Belmont, it was the Miracle On Ice, it was all those things. It was indescribable, and only later did I hear the commentary.
I remember sitting down to watch on Sunday. Jack had just made a birdie on 10, but was still well behind. I specifically remember thinking 'wouldn't it be nice if Jack put on a charge?' And then the miracle happened. Miracles like this are why we watch sports in the first place; for the faint hope that we'll something we've never seen before. Or ever hope to see again. Like Secretariat at Belmont or the Miracle on Ice. In 50+ years of watching sports, those 3 events stand alone in my memory. I feel blessed to have seen them. Long live Nicklaus; the greatest golfer ever and a very good man too.
I've got this on VHS. I edited it nicely and uploaded it to youtube but I took it down as I was getting in trouble with other uploaded sports events. You know, copyright laws.
I was 15 in my home state of Rhode Island and not a huge golf fan at that point but I watched the final round with my grandparents it’s an epic memory…after the round I asked my Grandfather if he had clubs he said he did he had two sets actually and he gave me a set. They were Rams they were forged with persimmon head woods and a bulls eye putter…I took up the game that weekend and got a summer job at a local course at the pro shop also putting out the flags cleaning the carts etc…$80 a week plus free golf during the week when not working…getting misty now…love golf miss my grandparents…
I was watching at a local pub by myself, as Jack started his tremendous charge that room started filling up until there was close to 80 people watching. It was awesome!
I sat transfixed 2ft in front of the tv in my parents lounge room for the whole thing. It was the early hours of Monday morning here in Western Australia and I should have been at school. Instead I was watching history unfold and I knew it. 30 on the back 9 at 46 to win! Thanks Mum x
A few years before the 1986 Masters a good friend and I had an argument. He claimed that golf was not really a sport. I'd better not say what I said in rebuttal. Anyway, immediately after Jack's victory the telephone rings and it's my friend: "I apologize for being a jerk," he said. "I just watched Nicklaus win the Masters at forty-sx years of age. It took my breath away."
@@brentjohnson9771 Jack was the only player that could intimidate Seve, and I'll never forget Seve s 2nd shot on 15, it was going low and left..i.e. WATER!! THE GOAT SPORTING EVENT!!!
I was a 5 year old watching this with my Grandfather and he had tears rolling down his cheeks and I remember asking him what was wrong... He said "you are watching the Greatest of all time do what he does best" I never understood it til much later but good lord, he was and still is to be the G.O.A.T
I was a junior in high school. I had played a round that morning and tuned in for the back nine at home. I had always been a Nicklaus fan, so that April day in 1986 was unforgettable for me.
I was glued to our TV. It was honestly the first time that golf was on my radar. I had a late start to playing golf at the age of 16. Now I'm 53 and a 9 handicap.
Watching it after waking up after a sleepover in my grandparents living room in Sydney, Australia at about 8am. It was my first introduction to golf and as inspiring to me now (at 41 yrs old!) that Jack won at 46!...but I became a Greg Norman fan that day.
I was there and watched the him win live. After the tournament Nicholas was interviewed in what I think was the masters press room. There might have been two hundred people in the room. After the interview was over Jack started doing autographs for the fans that where in the room. I wanted to ask Jack if he could sign my play book with the “Golden Bear”. I was a little embarrassed to ask him so I waited for everyone to get his autograph letting people to get in front of me in the line. When it came to my turn I handed Jack my players book that hand out at the event he after he signed his name I asked him if could sign the “Golden Bear”. To my surprise he did. He pulled a different pen out of his pocket and tweaked his hand writing. THE MOST AMAZING THING WAS AFTER HE SIGNED MY PLAYERS BOOK I TURNED AROUND AND THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE IN THE ROOM EXCEPT ME AND JACK! Yes I was alone with Jack in the very press room that had just carried his post win interview live.
Amazing day, I was there also. My Dad let me keep the badge, which he had always kept for his collection. He never stayed for the Sunday round so he could see everything on TV so me and 3 college buddies got to see our first ever Masters. He called and said how you gonna top seeing that one!
I was in college, sunday pm in my dorm cafeteria. The RA put the broadcast on tv during the back 9 to accomodate a lot of people. I sat there ar a table w 4 other guys, 3 of us were balling like babies at the end. The sheer emotional swings just was too much to handle. It was like we were watching divine providence. It was an incredible experience to witness
Where was I? Watching it on TV thinking, "no way!" And then he did. To me one of the greatest moments in sports. 86 masters. 80 USA hockey 73 Belmont and 31 lengths and a little one people forget 1980 4x100 relay. No way USA could win if the last leg hit water at the sametime but they did.
Tiger could never hold Jack's jock strap. If anybody watched the Phoenix Open this week, you can see that Tiger is washed up. He won't win another tournament again. No one will catch Jack's win totals in Majors. Jack is class and a true patriot of the sport. Can't say that about Tiger.
For you to say that tiger can't hold his jock strap is quite a joke. In an interview in 1999 if he would give tiger any advice, and Jack said he would much rather receive a lesson from tiger. Tiger is one of the most well known athletes ever and is also the first billionaire athlete. Tiger is iconic and changed the game
I would always record the Sunday round on my VCR as well as watch every minute of it. I’d keep it and then record over it the following year. In ‘86 my VHS stopped working and I called one of my close friends John who came over to watch it with me along with his BETA MAX which I used for the recording…in those days, they didn’t air the entire round so Nicklaus wasn’t picked up until around 11. Nicklaus birdies 11 and Steve Melnick had the coverage and announced Jack has birdied, 9, 10, and now 11!!! You could feel something special might happen because Nicklaus was an all time favorite especially at Augusta. He then bogied 12 because of a spike mark on his line for his par putt. But 13 was reachable in two and he could get that shot back there. His putt was kind of long but on the green with a beautiful long iron. He lagged it perfectly with this monster sized Response putter that he just started using during Masters week. Back in business. He makes a really nice par on 14, the pin was back and his approach some how worked its way back there just off the green surface. Meanwhile Seve was moving along with his brother Vincente on his bag, both speaking Spanish to each other. Seve was handsome, as graceful as any other golfer ever was, and had a great smile. Nicklaus heads to 15, another reachable 5 and Seve was putting for an Eagle at 13. The great Ken Venturi was in the booth with Jimmy Nance and called Seve’s 10 foot eagle putt. “ Hello, dead flat middle”… you had to love Venturi, just one of the nicest, warm, human beings ever. Very emotional as well. Now it looks the Seve will never be caught but We’re still pulling for Jack. Jack has a long iron into 15 after a beautiful tee shot. His high cutting iron hits the green and goes rolling right at the pin. Ben Wright calls this hole, Jack gets over his putt, and a perfect stroke, “Yes sir, there’s still some life in the old bear yet!!!” Says Wright… Jack’ son Jackie, his caddie, leaps into the air, Nicklaus leaves the green, smiling and tugging at the left chest of his yellow golf shirt. This nervous reaction was done by Nicklaus on the entire back nine. I was an avid fan of his and never saw him do it before, or after this day. Seconds later, they cut to Ballesteros, 4 iron into 15, another Eagle try, a birdie for sure to extend his lead…..makes the swing, hits it a little heavy and hooks it into the pond!! Now Jack gets to 16, tees up, gets over his ball waggles a few times and stops. Tom Weiskopf is on this hole….resounds to a question Vern Lundquist asks, “ if I knew how Jack thinks, I would have won this tournament a few times” he goes on as Jack searches for a better teeing area and ret- tees, “he’s just thinking, this is the time, make the swing you know your capable of making….”if any one has ever owned this hole” says Lundquist, …Jack hits it, nonchalantly looks down to pick up his tee….. the ball hits the left side of the green, pauses then rolls right at the stick and settles inside of four to five feet after almost going in. Weiskopf says on the replay, “Jack hits it, stays down for a change, his sight isn’t so good anymore and can’t see where it wound up but he knew he hit a good one. As Jack hits it in and Vern Lundquist now says the now famous “Yes Sir” borrowed from Wright….the crowd went nuts. I think this is where he took over the lead or at least tied for it. CBS had the best broadcast team ever assembled. Each one a celebrity in his own right. Over the years you got to love listening to them talk and break each others balls. You know Englishman Ben Wright was no stranger to a pub and Garry McCord used to get him chuckling so much that he couldn’t talk, what a pair. McCord was later expelled from future Masters telecasts for making another hilarious comment regarding the speed of the greens being so fast that they weren’t mowed, but were “bikini waxed”. What a perfect fit he made to the ensemble of professionals. He was just wacky enough to disrupt a very dignified, a tad stuffy, broadcast that the stuffed shirted, tight assed Masters committee members demanded. You couldn’t wait for him to interject a quip cause you never knew what was going to come out of his mouth, and truth be told, maybe neither did he…. Now on 17, Jack pulls the tee shot left, into the trees…. Oh, boy, more drama, more excitement….. wait, there’s an opening in the trees, he’s got a line into the green….the people, fans, no PATRONS, form a tunnel around Jack’s ball like when Moses parted the Red Sea….he’s only got a nine iron into the green. Vern Lundquist is still on the call….. Nicklaus swings, perfection, ball hits the green surface, it starts to trundle… 20 footer left for another birdie. Nicklaus gives his iron back to Jackie, tug, tug on the shirt, and strides to the green. He gets over it, everyone, dead silent, train whistle in the distance, …….as it rolls toward the hole ; Lundquist, “ Maybe…..Yes Sir”… as Nicklaus raises his putter like Excalibur, pandemonium in the gallery…… he’s your leader, what a moment….. Jack looks up at the sky, like he’s now become aware that even “The Big Guy” has joined his team and Jack is saying thanks… tug, tug…..on to 18, there’s still work to be done…… I will always remember the three wood he hit off the 18th tee. I would use this picture in future fades of my own….. He lined up left at the traps, used his legs to power through the swing, the ball took off directly left at the target then peeled perfectly to the right, into the fairway and away from the bunkers. Perfection, under extreme pressure. That’s why he was the man… He’s got 175 left into the breeze. Hits a perfect five iron, right at the back pin placement which was strange because the Sunday Pin Placement was always middle front. Many had used the slope behind the flag to bring the ball back to the pin ask Sandy Lyle……. A gust of wind comes up, Jack’s ball hits three quarters of the way to the pin, then grabs and spins back rolling away from his target to 50 plus feet away. One more challenge left. Now Ken Venturi and Nance are discussing how wonderful the Nicklaus clan is. His sons, his wife Barbara, and the fact that it’s Fathers Day, his son Jackie is on the bag, and now Kenny is getting misty…Jack hits an awesome putt, up the hill, tracking, could this one go in too?.. one full ball short dead on line. He waits, taps in, acknowledges the crowd with both hands waving in the air, the ball still in one hand….then the moment… as they are on the right side of the green, ready to walk off ….a big embrace between Father and Son, “ah, beautiful” … says Venturi… not a dry eye in the place….. if you love your son, you know what that’s like. You also know Kenny is in tears… This was a great moment in golf. Why do I recollect that day so well? I must have watched that BETA tape over 100 times, all the way through. It had a lifetime impact on me.
Where was I? Jack was a FIJI at Ohio State. I was a senior member of FIJI in ‘86 at Ohio Wesleyan (right up the road from OSU). My entire fraternity of 40+ members watched that entire Sunday together...never had that many members in one place at one time.
Flying back from the Space Coast golf tour where I was caddying for my brother. We bumped into Jackie in the airport. He and my brother chatted about the win. I was stunned! I was wondering why Jackie was in the airport and why we were the only ones who really recognized him given that his dad had just won the Masters and he was caddying. It was in the bookstore.
I was at the golf course with my dad and we watched it in the clubhouse. I can't remember if we played that day--I think we just went there to be around other fans when it was happening.
playing an emergency 9 at the Magnolia Country Club in Magnolia, Arkansas....most of we men had alread played 18 in the morning so we could watch the Masters that afternoon...well Nicklaus started slowly so all the men said "to hell with it, Nicklaus is out of it, let's play another nine holes"...anyway, when we got in the people who had stayed in the clubhouse told us what had happened and we were pissed, we had missed one of the greatest moment not only in golf history, but in sports history
i wasnt even thought of but three years later to the date (april 13th) i was born and now looking back on it im jealous my generation got dumbass tiger woods who if you blinked you missed his prime plus he was an ass on the course plus a bad family man it just doesnt seem fair golf is in a weird state wish i could of been born earlier so i could see jack and other greats wow me on and off the course with their class and unbeleivable performances
yeah i'd rather have jack as the best golfer ever instead of tiger. Tiger is such a egotistical dirtbag who only cares about himself. I absolutely respect his commitment and devotion to the game and striving for greatness, but totally unclassless, primadonna, and showboat. Jack is so much more likable and down to earth and not disingenuous.
I was only 11 so God only knows where I was on a Sunday. But I know that Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, my aunt, and both my uncles were watching. The family lives for golf..............
Did watching Jack win the masters in 1986 have an impact on your life ? Tell us your story and we may use you in an upcoming documentary on HBO. Email your story to HBOSportsDoc@gmail.com
The 86 masters was the only sporting event I ever cried over... bit they were tears of joy,!!
I still cry when I see the replay
@@jaimealvarezmd7245 I watch it at least 3-4 times a year, and when he stuck it on 16, I still cry also!
I watched from my house in the Philippines as I was stationed there with the U.S. Navy. I The Philippines was 12hrs ahead time wise so it was early AM there when I watched. I had a couple of tears in my eyes as I caddied at Muirfield Village from 1974-1982 and caddied for Nicklaus 5 times in casual rounds he played with friends and business assiciates. Good times!
I was there. I went in the room where they do the press conference after the press conference he signed autographs for those in the room. I wanted to ask him to sign "the golden bear" so I waited till everyone else had his autograph. I handed he the little course book they had out with the players and hole descriptions and he signed his autograph and I then asked him to sign "the golden bear" which he did. When I turned around there was no one else in the room just me and Jack.
I am the 86th person to give this video a thumbs up, and T-2 as the biggest fan of the Masters. I had just played 18 holes at Pine Hills in Hinkley, Ohio on that day, and when I got home, my older brother said, "Sit down. You are not going to believe this." Popping in the tape into the Beta machine, I "witnessed" some of the best golf ever played. As I recall, it took Tiger Woods for the front nine to finally get televised. His round got affected by acclimate weather, preempting cartoons. Watching the lady amateurs play this course at this time speaks volumes for the desire to let everyone fall in love. With the Masters.
I was there at the 15th green when Jack made that incredible Eagle - the place was erupting with excitement. What a memory he gave us. I still get goose bumps when thinking about it. What a day. Thank you Jack for a great memory.
Jackie's both feet in the air when the Eagles putt drop was an awesome picture. Jack couldn't have had anyone better on the bag that day. Jack, saying to Jackie before the second shot at 15 (How far do you think a three will go) was different than what Jackie was thinking.
I was 8 years old, watching with my grandpa. First great golf memory.
I was 16 and playing a round by myself at our local 9-hole course, not really interested in the Masters that year because I hated Seve and thought Jack was out of it. When I came by the clubhouse at the turn I saw a lot of cars in the lot, but the course and range were empty. As I walked by the window I stopped and saw him drop that eagle on 15 then ran inside and watched what was probably the most exciting 3 holes of the Masters I have ever seen since. He came close to an ace on 16 and the birdie to close it out the entire clubhouse was going apeshit crazy.
I was 34, at a party hosted by dear friends that Sunday. Everyone else listened to the music blaring. I of course could not turn on the sound for The Masters, but even then, I never missed the final round. So I watched it with sound off, with Steely Dan et al blasting in the background, and was absolutely mesmerized. It was magical. It was Secretariat at the Belmont, it was the Miracle On Ice, it was all those things. It was indescribable, and only later did I hear the commentary.
You're that guy at a party huh?
Just kidding 😁
I remember sitting down to watch on Sunday. Jack had just made a birdie on 10, but was still well behind. I specifically remember thinking 'wouldn't it be nice if Jack put on a charge?' And then the miracle happened. Miracles like this are why we watch sports in the first place; for the faint hope that we'll something we've never seen before. Or ever hope to see again. Like Secretariat at Belmont or the Miracle on Ice. In 50+ years of watching sports, those 3 events stand alone in my memory. I feel blessed to have seen them. Long live Nicklaus; the greatest golfer ever and a very good man too.
I've got this on VHS. I edited it nicely and uploaded it to youtube but I took it down as I was getting in trouble with other uploaded sports events. You know, copyright laws.
I was 15 in my home state of Rhode Island and not a huge golf fan at that point but I watched the final round with my grandparents it’s an epic memory…after the round I asked my Grandfather if he had clubs he said he did he had two sets actually and he gave me a set. They were Rams they were forged with persimmon head woods and a bulls eye putter…I took up the game that weekend and got a summer job at a local course at the pro shop also putting out the flags cleaning the carts etc…$80 a week plus free golf during the week when not working…getting misty now…love golf miss my grandparents…
I was watching at a local pub by myself, as Jack started his tremendous charge that room started filling up until there was close to 80 people watching. It was awesome!
I sat transfixed 2ft in front of the tv in my parents lounge room for the whole thing. It was the early hours of Monday morning here in Western Australia and I should have been at school. Instead I was watching history unfold and I knew it. 30 on the back 9 at 46 to win! Thanks Mum x
Jack Nicklaus .... greatest golfer ever. Tiger, you're #2. That's it !
A few years before the 1986 Masters a good friend and I had an argument. He claimed that golf was not really a sport. I'd better not say what I said in rebuttal. Anyway, immediately after Jack's victory the telephone rings and it's my friend: "I apologize for being a jerk," he said. "I just watched Nicklaus win the Masters at forty-sx years of age. It took my breath away."
The greatest charge in major history
by the greatest golfer of all time.
Eldrick can only dream about doing something like that.
I was 17 years old watching from 9000 miles away at 4am in the morning.
I have never seen anything like it since.
THE greatest golfer OF ALL TIME.
When Seve put the ball in the water at 15, Ben Wright of CBS had the best line, "The foreign invasion is reeling from the attack of the Bear."
As soon as Seve hit that shot, you could see it was going low and left
That roar will percolate back to seve ballesteros where he will have to wait.
@@brentjohnson9771 Jack was the only player that could intimidate Seve, and I'll never forget Seve s 2nd shot on 15, it was going low and left..i.e. WATER!! THE GOAT SPORTING EVENT!!!
With my roommates in undergraduate school. It was absolutely magical. I will never forget it. Jack was and has always been my favorite player.
Watched it with my dad..he will be 85 now
I was a 5 year old watching this with my Grandfather and he had tears rolling down his cheeks and I remember asking him what was wrong... He said "you are watching the Greatest of all time do what he does best" I never understood it til much later but good lord, he was and still is to be the G.O.A.T
I was a junior in high school. I had played a round that morning and tuned in for the back nine at home. I had always been a Nicklaus fan, so that April day in 1986 was unforgettable for me.
One of the greatest moments in golf period!!!!
I watched it with my stepdad, who like me loved golf. We were mesmerized and scrams like we both were there. Never will forget it.
I was glued to our TV. It was honestly the first time that golf was on my radar. I had a late start to playing golf at the age of 16. Now I'm 53 and a 9 handicap.
I was at the 18th Green at Augusta...worked on GC crew for the 85 to 89 Masters Tournaments. It was a great honor to be a part of such a great event.
Watching it after waking up after a sleepover in my grandparents living room in Sydney, Australia at about 8am. It was my first introduction to golf and as inspiring to me now (at 41 yrs old!) that Jack won at 46!...but I became a Greg Norman fan that day.
I was there and watched the him win live. After the tournament Nicholas was interviewed in what I think was the masters press room. There might have been two hundred people in the room. After the interview was over Jack started doing autographs for the fans that where in the room. I wanted to ask Jack if he could sign my play book with the “Golden Bear”. I was a little embarrassed to ask him so I waited for everyone to get his autograph letting people to get in front of me in the line. When it came to my turn I handed Jack my players book that hand out at the event he after he signed his name I asked him if could sign the “Golden Bear”. To my surprise he did. He pulled a different pen out of his pocket and tweaked his hand writing. THE MOST AMAZING THING WAS AFTER HE SIGNED MY PLAYERS BOOK I TURNED AROUND AND THERE WAS NO ONE ELSE IN THE ROOM EXCEPT ME AND JACK! Yes I was alone with Jack in the very press room that had just carried his post win interview live.
Amazing day, I was there also. My Dad let me keep the badge, which he had always kept for his collection. He never stayed for the Sunday round so he could see everything on TV so me and 3 college buddies got to see our first ever Masters. He called and said how you gonna top seeing that one!
I was 1 week old when Jack won the Masters in 86. I remember it like it was yesterday.
I was setting in my living room watching my golf Idol win it all. Still remember it like it was yesterday.
I was standing in my living room watching it on TV and putting into a cup because I was too excited to sit down. I won't forget that day.
Jack once watched my brother tee off on #10 at Spyglass hill. He almost drove the green. It was a moment!
Watched it with my dad at home. Wasn't a big Nicklaus fan at the time. I sure became one that day.
i was 22 and in jail for the weekend from this nightmare i heard on the radio jack had won the masters still gives me a great buzz
I was in college, sunday pm in my dorm cafeteria. The RA put the broadcast on tv during the back 9 to accomodate a lot of people. I sat there ar a table w 4 other guys, 3 of us were balling like babies at the end. The sheer emotional swings just was too much to handle. It was like we were watching divine providence. It was an incredible experience to witness
Where was I? Watching it on TV thinking, "no way!" And then he did.
To me one of the greatest moments in sports.
86 masters.
80 USA hockey
73 Belmont and 31 lengths
and a little one people forget 1980 4x100 relay. No way USA could win if the last leg hit water at the sametime but they did.
Tiger could never hold Jack's jock strap. If anybody watched the Phoenix Open this week, you can see that Tiger is washed up. He won't win another tournament again. No one will catch Jack's win totals in Majors. Jack is class and a true patriot of the sport. Can't say that about Tiger.
For you to say that tiger can't hold his jock strap is quite a joke. In an interview in 1999 if he would give tiger any advice, and Jack said he would much rather receive a lesson from tiger. Tiger is one of the most well known athletes ever and is also the first billionaire athlete. Tiger is iconic and changed the game
Hmmm....
I was 11 years old, probably stuffing my face with easter eggs AND watching The Masters
I would always record the Sunday round on my VCR as well as watch every minute of it. I’d keep it and then record over it the following year. In ‘86 my VHS stopped working and I called one of my close friends John who came over to watch it with me along with his BETA MAX which I used for the recording…in those days, they didn’t air the entire round so Nicklaus wasn’t picked up until around 11. Nicklaus birdies 11 and Steve Melnick had the coverage and announced Jack has birdied, 9, 10, and now 11!!! You could feel something special might happen because Nicklaus was an all time favorite especially at Augusta. He then bogied 12 because of a spike mark on his line for his par putt. But 13 was reachable in two and he could get that shot back there. His putt was kind of long but on the green with a beautiful long iron. He lagged it perfectly with this monster sized Response putter that he just started using during Masters week. Back in business. He makes a really nice par on 14, the pin was back and his approach some how worked its way back there just off the green surface. Meanwhile Seve was moving along with his brother Vincente on his bag, both speaking Spanish to each other. Seve was handsome, as graceful as any other golfer ever was, and had a great smile. Nicklaus heads to 15, another reachable 5 and Seve was putting for an Eagle at 13. The great Ken Venturi was in the booth with Jimmy Nance and called Seve’s 10 foot eagle putt. “ Hello, dead flat middle”… you had to love Venturi, just one of the nicest, warm, human beings ever. Very emotional as well. Now it looks the Seve will never be caught but We’re still pulling for Jack. Jack has a long iron into 15 after a beautiful tee shot. His high cutting iron hits the green and goes rolling right at the pin. Ben Wright calls this hole, Jack gets over his putt, and a perfect stroke, “Yes sir, there’s still some life in the old bear yet!!!” Says Wright… Jack’ son Jackie, his caddie, leaps into the air, Nicklaus leaves the green, smiling and tugging at the left chest of his yellow golf shirt. This nervous reaction was done by Nicklaus on the entire back nine. I was an avid fan of his and never saw him do it before, or after this day. Seconds later, they cut to Ballesteros, 4 iron into 15, another Eagle try, a birdie for sure to extend his lead…..makes the swing, hits it a little heavy and hooks it into the pond!! Now Jack gets to 16, tees up, gets over his ball waggles a few times and stops. Tom Weiskopf is on this hole….resounds to a question Vern Lundquist asks, “ if I knew how Jack thinks, I would have won this tournament a few times” he goes on as Jack searches for a better teeing area and ret- tees, “he’s just thinking, this is the time, make the swing you know your capable of making….”if any one has ever owned this hole” says Lundquist, …Jack hits it, nonchalantly looks down to pick up his tee….. the ball hits the left side of the green, pauses then rolls right at the stick and settles inside of four to five feet after almost going in. Weiskopf says on the replay, “Jack hits it, stays down for a change, his sight isn’t so good anymore and can’t see where it wound up but he knew he hit a good one.
As Jack hits it in and Vern Lundquist now says the now famous “Yes Sir” borrowed from Wright….the crowd went nuts. I think this is where he took over the lead or at least tied for it.
CBS had the best broadcast team ever assembled. Each one a celebrity in his own right. Over the years you got to love listening to them talk and break each others balls. You know Englishman Ben Wright was no stranger to a pub and Garry McCord used to get him chuckling so much that he couldn’t talk, what a pair. McCord was later expelled from future Masters telecasts for making another hilarious comment regarding the speed of the greens being so fast that they weren’t mowed, but were “bikini waxed”. What a perfect fit he made to the ensemble of professionals. He was just wacky enough to disrupt a very dignified, a tad stuffy, broadcast that the stuffed shirted, tight assed Masters committee members demanded. You couldn’t wait for him to interject a quip cause you never knew what was going to come out of his mouth, and truth be told, maybe neither did he….
Now on 17, Jack pulls the tee shot left, into the trees…. Oh, boy, more drama, more excitement….. wait, there’s an opening in the trees, he’s got a line into the green….the people, fans, no PATRONS, form a tunnel around Jack’s ball like when Moses parted the Red Sea….he’s only got a nine iron into the green. Vern Lundquist is still on the call….. Nicklaus swings, perfection, ball hits the green surface, it starts to trundle… 20 footer left for another birdie. Nicklaus gives his iron back to Jackie, tug, tug on the shirt, and strides to the green. He gets over it, everyone, dead silent, train whistle in the distance, …….as it rolls toward the hole ; Lundquist, “ Maybe…..Yes Sir”… as Nicklaus raises his putter like Excalibur, pandemonium in the gallery…… he’s your leader, what a moment…..
Jack looks up at the sky, like he’s now become aware that even “The Big Guy” has joined his team and Jack is saying thanks… tug, tug…..on to 18, there’s still work to be done……
I will always remember the three wood he hit off the 18th tee. I would use this picture in future fades of my own…..
He lined up left at the traps, used his legs to power through the swing, the ball took off directly left at the target then peeled perfectly to the right, into the fairway and away from the bunkers. Perfection, under extreme pressure. That’s why he was the man…
He’s got 175 left into the breeze. Hits a perfect five iron, right at the back pin placement which was strange because the Sunday Pin Placement was always middle front. Many had used the slope behind the flag to bring the ball back to the pin ask Sandy Lyle……. A gust of wind comes up, Jack’s ball hits three quarters of the way to the pin, then grabs and spins back rolling away from his target to 50 plus feet away. One more challenge left.
Now Ken Venturi and Nance are discussing how wonderful the Nicklaus clan is. His sons, his wife Barbara, and the fact that it’s Fathers Day, his son Jackie is on the bag, and now Kenny is getting misty…Jack hits an awesome putt, up the hill, tracking, could this one go in too?.. one full ball short dead on line. He waits, taps in, acknowledges the crowd with both hands waving in the air, the ball still in one hand….then the moment… as they are on the right side of the green, ready to walk off ….a big embrace between Father and Son, “ah, beautiful” … says Venturi… not a dry eye in the place….. if you love your son, you know what that’s like. You also know Kenny is in tears…
This was a great moment in golf. Why do I recollect that day so well? I must have watched that BETA tape over 100 times, all the way through. It had a lifetime impact on me.
I went to a local bar to watch their big-screen. By the time Jack got to16, the room was packed. Probably about 50+ people crammed together!
Where was I? Jack was a FIJI at Ohio State. I was a senior member of FIJI in ‘86 at Ohio Wesleyan (right up the road from OSU). My entire fraternity of 40+ members watched that entire Sunday together...never had that many members in one place at one time.
I was there
It was one of THE GREATEST DAYS IN GOLF and it was ELECTRIC OUT ON THE COURSE.... THE GOLDEN BEAR IS HANDS THE GREATEST....
There are two types of people. Those who saw '86.....and those who didn't.
Third type those who were there! I was there
Those who saw ‘19 and those who didn’t, as well.
I was flying around in the spirit realm.
Don't remember this moment since I was only 7 yrs old. I do remember 2005 when Tiger won especially his chip on 16th hole. How I got involved in golf.
Flying back from the Space Coast golf tour where I was caddying for my brother. We bumped into Jackie in the airport. He and my brother chatted about the win. I was stunned! I was wondering why Jackie was in the airport and why we were the only ones who really recognized him given that his dad had just won the Masters and he was caddying. It was in the bookstore.
I was at the golf course with my dad and we watched it in the clubhouse. I can't remember if we played that day--I think we just went there to be around other fans when it was happening.
i was on my couch watching one of the greatest ends to a career in history.
playing an emergency 9 at the Magnolia Country Club in Magnolia, Arkansas....most of we men had alread played 18 in the morning so we could watch the Masters that afternoon...well Nicklaus started slowly so all the men said "to hell with it, Nicklaus is out of it, let's play another nine holes"...anyway, when we got in the people who had stayed in the clubhouse told us what had happened and we were pissed, we had missed one of the greatest moment not only in golf history, but in sports history
Glued to the TV watching the greatest win his 6th.
i wasnt even thought of but three years later to the date (april 13th) i was born and now looking back on it im jealous my generation got dumbass tiger woods who if you blinked you missed his prime plus he was an ass on the course plus a bad family man it just doesnt seem fair golf is in a weird state wish i could of been born earlier so i could see jack and other greats wow me on and off the course with their class and unbeleivable performances
so pumped for the masters! tiger woods to win by 10 strokes :)
Watching with my Dad...I think we were crying...I know I was so nervous I got the flu the next day
yeah i'd rather have jack as the best golfer ever instead of tiger. Tiger is such a egotistical dirtbag who only cares about himself. I absolutely respect his commitment and devotion to the game and striving for greatness, but totally unclassless, primadonna, and showboat. Jack is so much more likable and down to earth and not disingenuous.
I was only 11 so God only knows where I was on a Sunday. But I know that Dad, Grandma, Grandpa, my aunt, and both my uncles were watching. The family lives for golf..............
I was 18 at home watching jack beat norman
could you tell me exactly what 1980 4 x 100 relay you are describing? thx.
WHERE'S TIGER'S ANSWER TO THIS QUESTION?!
I wasn't born for another 436 days after....
I was five... I was playing with my tonka truck
Wonder if they could have found a less flattering shot for the thumbnail?
I went to the store because I was sure that nothing important would happen.
Did watching Jack win the masters in 1986 have an impact on your life ? Tell us your story and we may use you in an upcoming documentary on HBO. Email your story to HBOSportsDoc@gmail.com
I drank and jumped
i was 1
I was a banana farmer in Israel.
I was 7 years old and didn't watch.
I was at Ladbrokes collecting my fifteen hundred pounds winnings.