Incredible Jack Nicklaus Stats at The Masters

For decades, Jack Nicklaus has been the benchmark for what a Masters champion can be, setting the standard for all that have followed, and will likely remain so for generations to come. 

The Golden Bear holds just about every record you can think of at Augusta National, but what are the most incredible among them? 

Arnold Palmer may have been more popular and Tiger Woods more transformative, but these statistics should give you a flavour of why Nicklaus is the ultimate Masters champion.

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His Victories

Jack Nicklaus won the Masters a record six times. His first triumph came in 1963 and the last in 1986, a winning span of 23 years, which also sets him apart. His success in 1965 set a scoring record of 271 (17-under) that (while matched by Raymond Floyd in 1976) stood for 32 years until Tiger Woods came along in 1997. In 1966 he became the first player to successfully defend the title.

Nicklaus' final victory made him the oldest Masters champion in history at 46.

Runner-Up Finishes

While a winner above all else, Jack Nicklaus was also a regular contender, finishing second on a record of four occasions, an accomplishment that he shares with Ben Hogan and Tom Weiskopf.

Nicklaus was second at the Masters in 1964, 1971, 1977 and 1981, the closest calls being in '71, '77 and '81 when he finished two shots behind Charles Coody and Tom Watson (twice) respectively.

Top 10 Finishes

We mentioned that Nicklaus was a perennial contender, who was somehow able to peak his game for the biggest moments. Therefore, it should come as no surprise that he finished inside the top five on an unfathomable 15 occasions, which is three more than Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson.

Nicklaus' total of 22 top ten finishes is also the best in history by five ahead of Ben Hogan.

Most Cuts Made in History

Jack Nicklaus played in 45 Masters Tournaments and he made the cut in 37 of them. We suspect that record may never be matched as he sits six ahead of his nearest challenger Fred Couples.

In 2000, Nicklaus played all four rounds for the last time at the age of 60. He then missed the cut in his final four appearances, underlining that for decades he was reliably consistent.

Throughout the 1970s, Nicklaus finished in the top ten at Augusta every year with eight top four finishes.

Scoring Average

Playing 163 competitive Masters rounds between 1959 and 2005, Nicklaus' scoring average was 71.98, which is bettered (among those with over 100 rounds) by Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. But Nicklaus has played 45 more rounds than Mickelson and 63 more than Woods, so may yet find himself back at the top of that particular statistic when the dust finally settles.

Birdies & Eagles

You won't be surprised - given his accomplishments - that Nicklaus holds the record for eagles made at the Masters with 24, and he also made a career 506 birdies at Augusta National - yes, another milestone yet to be matched.

Longevity

Everyone knows that Nicklaus is the oldest Masters champion, but he's also the oldest to record a top ten finish. In 1998, the 58-year-old Nicklaus had one last run for the title, edging into unlikely contention with four birdies on the front nine. The legendary champion was within two of the lead.

Rick Reilly wrote in Sports Illustrated of the fevered atmosphere: "Couples kissed. Strangers hugged. Women in heels threw elbows for position. Fifty-eight-year-old Jack Nicklaus had just birdied the 15th hole on Sunday to get within two shots of the Masters lead, and all heaven was breaking loose."

Years later, Nicklaus reflected on the charge: "I got to the 15th hole, and I looked at Steve (son, caddie) and I said, ‘Steve, if we finish the same way I finished in ’86, we’re going to win this golf tournament.’ I didn’t. We didn’t win."

Nicklaus parred the last three holes and finished four shots back of winner Mark O'Meara in sixth place.

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