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Jack Nicklaus Quizzes, Trivia and Puzzles
Jack Nicklaus Quizzes, Trivia

Jack Nicklaus Trivia

Jack Nicklaus Trivia Quizzes

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3 Jack Nicklaus quizzes and 40 Jack Nicklaus trivia questions.
1.
  Who Beat Jack?   popular trivia quiz  
Multiple Choice
 20 Qns
Jack Nicklaus won 18 professional golf majors from 1962 to 1986, but what truly separates Jack from the rest are his 19 runner-up finishes listed below. You need to figure out who beat him. TIP: Two of the players in each list have never won that major.
Tough, 20 Qns, jcmttt, Dec 11 08
Tough
jcmttt gold member
862 plays
2.
  You Think You Know Jack? [1]    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
If you think you know a thing or two about Jack Nicklaus, the greatest golfer of all time, give this a try. This quiz covers the early part of Jack's career. Good luck.
Very Difficult, 10 Qns, Misregistered, Dec 03 09
Very Difficult
Misregistered
1343 plays
3.
  You Think You Know Jack? [2]    
Multiple Choice
 10 Qns
Part two of the Nicklaus quiz. Part 1 dealt with the early part of Jack's career, this quiz deals with the latter part. Some of these questions should stump even the biggest Nicklaus fan. Good luck!
Difficult, 10 Qns, Misregistered, Dec 03 09
Difficult
Misregistered
1051 plays
trivia question Quick Question
Who beat Jack in the 1971 US Open at Merion?

From Quiz "Who Beat Jack?"





Jack Nicklaus Trivia Questions
1. Who beat Jack in the 1960 US Open at Cherry Hills?

From Quiz Who Beat Jack?

Answer: Arnold Palmer

Palmer beat Nicklaus, who was still an amateur, by two shots. Nicklaus turned pro in 1962. His first professional victory was the 1962 US Open over Palmer at Oakmont in an 18-hole playoff. The real story was Ben Hogan's attempt to win his 5th US Open just two months shy of his 48th birthday. The final day, Hogan hit the first 34 greens in regulation and thought he needed to birdie one of the last two holes to tie Palmer, so he decided to go for the pin on the 35th hole. Hogan mis-hit the shot just enough for it to spin off the green into a water hazard. As it turned out, Hogan just needed pars on the final two holes to tie Palmer. If you were wondering, in 1960, they still played 36 holes on Saturday. The first US Open final round on Sunday was in 1965. This was because Ken Venturi, the winner, almost didn't finish the 1964 US Open. Venturi had a doctor follow him around the course during his final round. I don't think he knew what he was doing at times, he was just trying not to pass out.

2. In 1979 Nicklaus had the worst year of his career, finishing 56th on the money list and failing to win a tournament for the first time in his professional career. What was his previous worst finish on the money list up to that time?

From Quiz You Think You Know Jack? [2]

Answer: Fourth

Nicklaus had finished fourth on the money list twice in his career prior to 1979, which were his worst showings to that point.

3. Who beat Jack in the 1964 Masters?

From Quiz Who Beat Jack?

Answer: Arnold Palmer

Palmer triumphed over Dave Marr and Nicklaus, by six shots. This was Palmer's final major championship victory. Palmer was nine ahead of Nicklaus after three rounds.

4. In the 1980 U.S. Open Nicklaus won by two strokes over Isao Aoki. His oldest son Jack Jr. had a message put on the scoreboard on the 18th hole for Jack Sr. to read as he approached the green on the final day. The message said: Jack's _______ ?

From Quiz You Think You Know Jack? [2]

Answer: Back

Nicklaus proved he was indeed back later that summer by capturing the PGA Championship as well.

5. Nicklaus has won the United States Amatuer title twice. What were the two years that he won?

From Quiz You Think You Know Jack? [1]

Answer: 1959 and 1961

He defeated Charles Coe in the final in 1959 and Dudly Wysong in 1961.

6. Who beat Jack in the 1964 Open at St. Andrews?

From Quiz Who Beat Jack?

Answer: Tony Lema

Palmer had something to do with this. He couldn't make it, and told Tony Lema to use his caddy, Tip Anderson, who then helped Lema win his only major championship by five shots over Nicklaus. Palmer didn't make the trip to St. Andrews for personal reasons.

7. As an amateur in 1960, Nicklaus finished runner-up to Arnold Palmer in the U.S. Open. Still an amateur in 1961, what place did he finish as Gene Littler won the same title?

From Quiz You Think You Know Jack? [1]

Answer: 4th

This was his final year as an amateur. He turned pro later in 1961, and won the U.S. Open in a playoff with Arnold Palmer the following year.

8. Who beat Jack in the 1964 PGA at Columbus?

From Quiz Who Beat Jack?

Answer: Bobby Nichols

Bobby Nichols defeated Nicklaus and Palmer, even though Palmer became the first player to break 70 in all four rounds in a major championship. Nichols shot 64-71-69-67 (9 under), Palmer shot 68-68-69-69 (6 under). Trevino was the first to do it in the 1968 US Open. It wasn't until 1994 before Nick Price and Jesper Parnevik did it in The Open. Believe it or not, this has never happened in the Masters. Nichols credited his victory to a putter he bought for five dollars from a friend's pro shop the week before the tournament.

9. In 1984 Nicklaus won the tournament that he created on the PGA Tour, The Memorial, for his second-last career victory. How many times did he win this tournament in his career (it was created in 1976)?

From Quiz You Think You Know Jack? [2]

Answer: 2

Nicklaus won the 1978 Memorial as well as the 1984 event.

10. Who beat Jack in the 1965 PGA at Laurel Valley?

From Quiz Who Beat Jack?

Answer: Dave Marr

Dave Marr won this one playing in the same group as Nicklaus on the final day.

11. In 1986 Nicklaus won the Masters for his final victory on the PGA Tour, as well as his 18th professional major championship. What two men finished tied for second, one shot behind Jack?

From Quiz You Think You Know Jack? [2]

Answer: Greg Norman and Tom Kite

Kite missed a ten footer on for birdie on 18 to tie Nicklaus, while Normas missed a twenty footer for par that would have forced a playoff.

12. After Arnold Palmer nearly accomplished this several times, Nicklaus was the first man to win the Masters in back-to-back seasons. What years did he accomplish this?

From Quiz You Think You Know Jack? [1]

Answer: 1965 and 1966

Nicklaus set a Masters scoring record with 271 in 1965, and won a three man, 18 hole playoff the following year. Nick Faldo was the second man to win consecutive Masters, in 1989 and 1990.

13. Who beat Jack in the 1967 Open at Royal Liverpool?

From Quiz Who Beat Jack?

Answer: Roberto de Vicenzo

De Vicenzo, at the age of 44, won the 1967 Open by three shots over Nicklaus who was still in his 20's. De Vicenzo had nine top 4 finishes in The Open between 1948 and 1969. Royal Liverpool (Hoylake) will host the 2006 Open, a span of 39 years in between Opens. De Vicenzo was much more widely known for his scorecard mistake in the 1968 Masters when he signed for a score higher than what he actually shot. He would have been in a playoff with Bob Goalby. De Vicenzo's famous quote? "What a stupid I am."

14. In the final round of the 1986 Masters, Nicklaus shot a 65 to come from four shots back to win. What did he shoot on the back nine to finish off the victory?

From Quiz You Think You Know Jack? [2]

Answer: 30

He made five birdies and an eagle to go along with one bogey and two pars on that nine for a record-tying score of 30. This record would be broken in the 1990s when Mark Calcavecchia shot a 29 for the same nine holes.

15. From 1959 to 1983 Nicklaus finished either first or second in at least one major championship every year except one. What year did he fail to do this?

From Quiz You Think You Know Jack? [1]

Answer: 1969

His best showing in a major in 1969 was a sixth place finish at the British Open.

16. Who beat Jack in the 1968 US Open at Oak Hill?

From Quiz Who Beat Jack?

Answer: Lee Trevino

Trevino gained his first major victory by four shots over Nicklaus. Trevino became the first golfer in US Open history to shoot four rounds in the 60s. Trevino wasn't the first to break 70 all four rounds in a major championship. Arnold Palmer did it in the 1964 PGA. It wasn't until 1994 before Nick Price and Jesper Parnevik did it in The Open. Believe it or not, this has never happened in the Masters.

17. Who beat Jack in the 1968 Open at Carnoustie?

From Quiz Who Beat Jack?

Answer: Gary Player

Gary Player defeated Nicklaus and Bob Charles by two strokes. Player won six other titles world-wide in 1968.

18. At the Senior Player's Championship in 1990, Jack set a 72 hole scoring record for the Senior Tour. What was his 72 hole total?

From Quiz You Think You Know Jack? [2]

Answer: 261

He shot a 72 hole toal of 261 (27 under par) with rounds of 65, 68, 64 and 64.

19. Who beat Jack in the 1971 Masters?

From Quiz Who Beat Jack?

Answer: Charles Coody

Jack was two shots back, tied with Johnny Miller. Coody and Nicklaus were tied for the lead after the third round. Coody shot 70. Miller had been leading by two with four holes left, but Coody birdied 15 and 16 to pull out the win.

20. In the 1972 season, Nicklaus shattered the single season money record after winning the Masters, the U.S. Open and five other titles. With this 1972 Masters win, it was his _____ green jacket.

From Quiz You Think You Know Jack? [1]

Answer: 4th

Jack won his first in 1963. Others to follow were in 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, and 1986.

21. Who beat Jack in the 1971 US Open at Merion?

From Quiz Who Beat Jack?

Answer: Lee Trevino

The second time Trevino defeated Nicklaus in a US Open. This time, it was in a playoff after the "rubber snake" incident where it was first thought to be unsportsmanlike of Trevino to "scare" Nicklaus prior to their match. Actually, Nicklaus saw something in Trevino's bag and wondered what it was, so Trevino pulled it out and threw it to Jack. 1968 was the first time Nicklaus finished second to Trevino. This was the only time Nicklaus lost a major championship playoff. He won the 1962 US Open, the 1965 Masters and the 1970 Open in playoffs.

22. When Jack retired, Sam Snead had the most wins in the history of the PGA Tour with 83, and Jack Nicklaus was in second place on this list. How many career PGA Tour victories did Jack have?

From Quiz You Think You Know Jack? [2]

Answer: 70

Modern lists show Nicklaus with 73 wins, but until the late 1990s the British Open was never considered a PGA Tour event, it was a European Tour event. For Nicklaus's entire playing career, it was not considered a PGA Tour win. Any breakdown or statistical analysis of Jack's career while he was an active golfer showed his PGA tour wins as 70. Only now do they say it as 73, because they have retroactively credited him for his 3 British Opens. There are still far more lists out there showing 70 than 73.

23. Jack's ultimate goal was to win the Grand Slam (all four majors in one season), but he never won more than two in a single year. How many times did he win two majors in one year?

From Quiz You Think You Know Jack? [1]

Answer: Five

In 1963 he won the Masters and the PGA, in 1966 he won the Masters and the British Open, in 1972 he won the Masters and the U.S. Open, in 1975 he won the Masters and the PGA, and in 1980 he won the U.S. Open and the PGA.

24. Who beat Jack in the 1972 Open at Muirfield?

From Quiz Who Beat Jack?

Answer: Lee Trevino

Jack finished with a final-round 66 and waited for the others to fall apart. They all did, except for Trevino, who pulled off a miracle chip-in on the 71st hole for par, which helped him win by one shot. It wasn't the last time a miracle chip-in on the 71st hole helped beat Jack. Tom Watson also did it to Jack in the 1982 US Open at Pebble Beach. Trevino was upset about botching his chance to win, so he just walks up to the ball, takes one look and hits it. It goes in and Trevino is shocked. He drops his club and just laughs with a "How did that happen?" look on his face.

25. Who beat Jack in the 1974 PGA at Tanglewood?

From Quiz Who Beat Jack?

Answer: Lee Trevino

Trevino beats Jack by one stroke yet again, this time with a putter he found in an attic, which goes to show that putting is more mental than anything else. Nicklaus surrounded this narrow defeat with wins in the 1973 and 1975 PGA. However, the most exciting story of this tournament was Sam Snead at 62 years old shooting a final-round 68 to finish in a tie for third place. Trevino also won the 1972 Open by one. Jack had won the Masters and US Open that year. From the 1970 Open through the 1978 Open, a span of 33 majors, Jack was out of the top 10 just two times, and in the top five 25 times. His two worst finishes were 11th and 13th. Let's see anybody try to beat that.

26. Who beat Jack in the 1976 Open at Royal Birkdale?

From Quiz Who Beat Jack?

Answer: Johnny Miller

Johnny Miller won by six shots over Ballesteros and Nicklaus. Believe it or not, Ballesteros, at just 19 years old, was leading Miller by 2 and Jack by 5 going into the final round.

27. Who beat Jack in the 1977 Masters?

From Quiz Who Beat Jack?

Answer: Tom Watson

Watson, leading Nicklaus by three shots going into the final round, won by two with a final round 67. A birdie by Jack at 18 would have tied Watson.

28. Who beat Jack in the 1977 Open at Turnberry?

From Quiz Who Beat Jack?

Answer: Tom Watson

Yep, Watson won the 1977 Open by one shot. The Shootout at Turnberry. Nicklaus shot 65-66 the last two days, but Watson did him one better with a 65-65. As a matter of fact, they both shot 68-70 the first two rounds. It was a good thing Watson had just a two footer for birdie to win on the last hole after Jack holed a 35-40 footer for birdie after driving in the tall grass. Hubert Green, in third place, was ten shots behind Jack.

29. Who beat Jack in the 1979 Open at Royal Lytham & St. Anne's?

From Quiz Who Beat Jack?

Answer: Seve Ballesteros

Seve Ballesteros got up and down from everywhere, including a parking lot which somehow was not out of bounds, to defeat Nicklaus and Crenshaw by three shots.

30. Who beat Jack in the 1981 Masters?

From Quiz Who Beat Jack?

Answer: Tom Watson

Watson defeated Johnny Miller and Nicklaus by two shots with a final round 71.

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