Memories of 1986

It wasn’t supposed to happen. He was, after all, 46, hadn’t contended in a major in more than three years and hadn’t played particularly well that season.

But in the late-afternoon magic of April 13, 1986, Jack Nicklaus won the Masters for a record sixth time in a come-from-behind performance that still causes chills – even in the Golden Bear.

The ground at Augusta National seemed to vibrate as Nicklaus mounted his charge that sunny spring afternoon.

“It was just the end of a great week,” Nicklaus remembered in a recent interview. “It was really neat to think that here I had come back. I was playing 12 tournaments a year and just going through the motions. Why I was even playing I don’t know.”

The last round presented some of the most riveting images in golf history. Nicklaus making his charge, Seve Ballesteros dumping a ball in the water at the 15th, Tom Kite narrowly missing a putt to tie, Greg Norman bogeying the 18th.

The two most remembered images, however, are Jack Nicklaus II, his father’s caddie, jumping in excitement after Nicklaus holed an eagle putt at 15 and Nicklaus raising his putter and biting on his tongue when he triumphantly made what turned out to be the winning putt on 17.

The start to the 1986 season had been an unusual one for Nicklaus. He missed the cut in three of seven events before coming to Augusta. He was 160th on the money list. His last Tour title came at his own Memorial Tournament in 1984 and seemed a fitting way to end his competitive career.

“I might have been 46, but my nerves were still good,” Nicklaus said. He didn’t want to leave the game playing poorly.

After a first-round 74, Nicklaus was six shots behind, in a tie for 25th. A 71 on Friday left him six behind Ballesteros, tied for 17th. “They were two of the best rounds I’d played all year,” he said.

Saturday saw Nicklaus shoot a 69 and move into a tie for ninth, four strokes behind Norman.

Nicklaus was paired with Scotland’s Sandy Lyle for the final round. The final twosome was Norman and Nick Price, who had set the course record on Saturday with a 63. Nicklaus faced challengers who would eventually account for 21 major titles between them.

“If you look at that leaderboard, everybody (who) was anybody was on the leaderboard,” said Ernie Els.

Then a 15-year-old growing up in South Africa, Els recalled thinking 46 was too old to win.

“It was kind of like watching an old boxer like Muhammad Ali fighting Larry Holmes and you hope he’s going to beat the guy, but you think he’s going to get the crap beat out of him,” Els said. “It was unbelievable. My dad and I were sitting there and we couldn’t believe what we were seeing.”

The victory celebration at the Nicklaus rental house included Jack’s mother, Helen, who watched from the gallery for the first time since Nicklaus’ first appearance at Augusta as an amateur in 1959.

The ‘86 Masters was the 50th played – the golden anniversary event. Maybe the Golden Bear was destined to win it all along.