“Didn’t Want to Be Part of It”: Harrowing Jack Nicklaus Wound That Scarred Him Forever Yet Pushed Him to Greatness

In 1966, the Masters was a different tournament for many reasons. Almost everything remained the same, but to break a tie, an 18-hole playoff had to be contested instead of a sudden death. And that year, three golfers made it to the Monday playoff, including Jack Nicklaus. But Nicklaus didn’t want to be there at all. And how could he be there?

Nicklaus was deemed to battle out at Augusta National with other big names like Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, and more to defend his title and create history. It would not be easy, and losing his childhood friend made it harder. Just a few hours before the 6-time Masters winner teed off, Nicklaus was given the bad news that his friend Bob Barton and his wife, Linda, and Jim and Jeretta Long died in an airplane crash in Tennessee as they were coming down from Ohio to watch him at Augusta.

Indeed, Nicklaus was heartbroken; tragedy struck as he lost the man he played golf with and fished many times. He was shocked to his core, and his wife Barbara Nicklaus told NBC that he wanted to go down to Columbus, Barton’s family house, instead of playing. Nicklaus said, “I didn’t want to play; didn’t want to be part of it. I would have rather spent my time with Bob’s sister, Margie, and their family.”

via Getty

However, Barton’s family convinced him that he needed to play as his best friend was traveling to watch him and said, “‘No, please stay. Bob would not want you to come home.’” Barbara further added as per NBC Sports, “Every member of Bob’s family had said, ‘No, please stay. Bob would not want you to come home.’” So he stayed. But did he win? Oh, he did and made the record no other great could ever do before him.

Jack Nicklaus’ strenuous act to win

Jack Nicklaus’s spirit was broken, but one thing kept him going because the 1966 Green Jacket meant more than all the others. But Nicklaus was not expected to be the winner; Arnie, who had won it four times before 1966, or Ben Hogan, a two-time Masters winner, was. As all the greats teed up at Augusta National, surprisingly, Nicklaus took off. He led the first round with 4 under 68; he was the only golfer to shoot a subpar 70 in the field of 103.

After an incredible opener, Nicklaus faltered in the next round and shot 4 over 76; however, he kept going. He has noted, “This tragedy has made me much more determined in what I hope to do this week.” The Friday round was Nicklaus’s worst round in the Masters after turning pro. However, he salvaged it on the third day with a 72, and on the final, victory slipped through his hands on the 17th. He missed a 40-footer and thought that Green Jacket was gone too. But things didn’t end there, fortunately.

Then, on the Monday playoff against Gay Brewer and Tommy Jacobs, Nicklaus shot 2 under 70 and became the first person in the history of the Masters to successfully defend his title. A tragedy led Nicklaus to become a part of the history at Augusta National and a great golfer for centuries to come.