For golfers, spring begins with the Masters Tournament at the Augusta National Course in Augusta Georgia. The course is already getting ready for the 2009 tournament, to be held April 6-12. To get you in the spirit of the Masters, here are a few facts about the event:
The first event was held in 1934, with Horton Smith winning the tournament.
The Masters was originally called the Augusta National Invitational Tournament.
Horton won $1500; last year’s winner, Zach Johnson took home $1.3 million.
No tournament was held during WWII (1943-1945). Chickens and turkeys were raised on the grounds to support the war effort.
Jack …read more

The golf world is gearing up for the Ryder Cup, to be held at the Valhalla Golf Club in Louisville, Kentucky from September 16 to 21 (2008). A few facts about the course:

Valhalla’s golf course was designed by Jack Nicklaus; it opened in 1986.
It is a Par 71, 7496 yard course.
The course’s signature hole is #13 with features an approach over water to an island green.
The 16th hole to accommodate amphitheater-style seating for spectators.
For more about the 2008 Ryder Cup, see:

US Finalizes its Ryder Cup Team
Team Europe Picks its Final Ryder Cup Members
How the US Ryder Cup Team is …read more

…a few excerpts from the HBO series “Legends of Golf. In this clip, Jack Nicklaus talks about his dad and their friendship and his influence on Jack and his game. Take a look:

This Sunday, June 15, is Father’s Day in the United States. It’s a good chance to look at some of professional golf’s dads and sons:
Michelle Wie with her dad and caddy, B. J. Wie
Colin Montgomerie with his dad, James
Ernie Els with his dad, Neels.Of course, many pro golfers are dads, too. Here are a couple of father/son photos:
Vijay Singh with his son, Qass
Greg Norman with his son, GregoryJack Nicklaus with his son and caddy, Steve
(all images © Newscom)

The top eight players (sans Tiger Woods and Adam Scott) and the rest of the PGA entourage are in central Ohio this week for the Memorial Tournament. The tournament, played at Jack Nicklaus-designed Muirfield Country Club, is closely associated with Nicklaus. Nicklaus grew up in the Columbus suburb of Upper Arlington and graduated from Ohio State University. Nicklaus established the tournament in 1976 and designed it to benefit a number of central Ohio charities, primarily the Columbus Children’s Hospital.
Below are a few facts about the Memorial Tournament:

The tournament was originally played over Memorial Day weekend (hence the name), but Ohio’s …read more

Next weekend, beginning on Memorial Day, the PGA Tour heads to my neck of the woods–to Muirfield Village Golf Course in Dublin, Ohio, just outside of Columbus. The Jack Nicklaus-designed course (one of his first) is ranked by “Golf Digest” magazine as the best course in Ohio and among the top 25 in the US. I grew up in Columbus and have fond memories of volunteering for the Memorial Tournament as a teenager. Here’s a fly-over of the course:

In 2000, Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer, and Gary Player were paired for the Masters Championship, the first time former champions had played together for the event. Among the three, they have 13 Masters titles.

Today begins Masters week. To get in the mood, take a look at this highlight clips from the 1975 Masters Tournament where Jack Nicklaus put together a string of birdies to win his fifth green jacket. (Note too the stylish white, polyester pants.)

With all of the talk this weekend about Tiger Woods’ winning streak, it’s a good time to look at who holds a variety of PGA Tour Records.
Most PGA Tour career wins – Sam Snead (82)
Most PGA Tour wins in one year – Byron Nelson (18 in 1945)
Most consecutive years with a PGA Tour win – 17 years – Jack Nicklaus (1962-1978) and Arnold Palmer (1955-1971)
Lowest score for 72 holes in a PGA event – 254 by Tommy Armour III in the Valero Texas Open in 2003
Most Birdies in a 72-hole PGA event – 32 by Mark Calcavecchia in the 2001 …read more