Jack Nicklaus Receives Congressional Gold Medal

It was a day of celebration through the tears as Jack Nicklaus, the son of a pharmacist who grew up to become the greatest professional golfer of all time, was honored with the highest civilian honor, the Congressional Gold Medal today on Capital Hill. Nicklaus, whose 18 major titles remains the gold standard in golf, was presented with the award by Speaker John Boehner. Both Nicklaus and Speaker Boehner are from Ohio. Boehner said in part:

“With Jack, there are so many stories to tell, but everyone usually wants to talk about the same thing: the comeback at the 1986 Masters. People ask you where you were when it happened … that’s how big a deal it was. Even the sun brags about being in the gallery...With Jack, it’s how he gave the game a gold standard – a ladder to climb. That’s true on and off the course, as we’ve heard here. But Jack was so good that he was the best in both victory and defeat.

“You see, the toughest thing to learn in golf isn’t the swing or the short game – it’s losing. Because no matter what, you have to shake the other man’s hand at the end – and mean it, too. Then you have to go face the man in the mirror...That’s what gives the ’86 Masters its size. To win, Jack had to overcome Watson, Seve, Tom Kite, Greg Norman – and, according to some, Father Time. Not a slouch on that list. That day, we were part of something special – something bigger – just as we are now. Because in golf, as in all things, it is not whether you win or lose, it is how you play the game. And no one has played it better for longer than Jack.

So, in the immortal words of Verne Lundquist – ‘yes sir!’ – the Congressional Gold Medal goes to the Golden Bear, Jack Nicklaus of the state of Ohio.”

The full transcript of the speech can be read on Speaker Boehner's web site.

Nicklaus is the third professional golfer to receive the Congressional Gold Medal. The first was Byron Nelson, and the second was Arnold Palmer. Palmer flew into D.C. to to be at Nicklaus' ceremony, and Nicklaus greeted Palmer prior to the ceremony in an image that will be preserved in the minds of golf fans everywhere.

These two icons of the sport took a fierce rivalry in the 60's and 70's and turned it into an incredible friendship, and it is wonderful to see both of them receiving the praise and the honors they deserve after all they have done for the sport of golf. We will see Nicklaus and Palmer together again as they, along with Gary Player, hit the ceremonial first tee shot on Thursday at The Masters.

Nicklaus remains an ambassador of the game, hosting two events on the PGA Tour and working on countless course designs all over the world. He and his wife Barbara founded the Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation to provide family access to world-class pediatric health care.

Congratulations on this prestigious honor, Mr. Nicklaus, and thank you for all you have done for the game of golf.