The Golf Book Club: Every day, we share a mental game lesson inspired by great golf books—stories and strategies to help you think better so you can play better.
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Mike’s book is a personal list of 100 great athletes and the numbers that define their greatness.
And since golf is Mike’s favorite sport, many of the numbers belong to golfers—starting with the number 18. Mike says:
“Jack Nicklaus is the greatest and most accomplished human being to ever play the game. Unless Tiger Woods magically discovers the Fountain of Youth, no player will threaten to win as many major championships. 18 is Jack’s number: it belongs to him.”
The major numbers don’t stop there.
Jack has won the most Masters, U.S. Opens, and PGA Championships.
He also owns the most second-place finishes with 19.
He broke into the top ten 73 times; Sam Snead is next with 48.
And Jack shot 218 major rounds under par, 67 more than anyone else.
“Jack is my role model”
We all know the story of the 1986 Masters. Jack was 46 years old and won his sixth green jacket: two more records for the history books.
But do you know about the 1998 Masters?
Jack teed off on a quiet Sunday morning. He was way back and out of the hunt. Then he made four birdies on the front nine.
As each putt fell, the fans cheered so loud, their voices roared like a bear across Augusta’s fairways.
To have a chance at a seventh green jacket, Jack needed to birdie the last four holes. He made one birdie, three pars, shot 68 and finished tied for sixth.
He was 58 years old.
Tiger still remembers that day. He says, “It was pretty neat. To see him right up there on the scoreboard. He is the standard, the best of all time. I’m proud to say Jack is my role model.”
Unbreakable performance
Here are a few more Augusta records owned by Jack:
Most second-place finishes: 4, tied with Ben Hogan and Tom Weiskopf
Most Top-5 finishes: 15.
Most Top-10 finishes: 22.
Most Top-25 finishes: 29.
Like his 18 majors, those records may never be broken.
“You’ve got to get up every morning with determination if you’re going to go to bed with satisfaction.” George Lorimer, Journalist
The six green jackets and 18 majors are impressive. But the other records are more relatable for you and me. They reveal a “never-give-up” mindset.
Our bodies, skills and schedules change. It’s easy to get lazy, stop working on our goals, and take golf for granted. But Jack says that’s the worst thing we can do.
In Golf and Life, he writes:
“You will give your mind and body an awful shock if you wake up one day and say to yourself, ‘No more challenges.’ This is a lesson in life and it’s a good one: never give up.”
That’s all for now. Tomorrow, we’ll consider the #23 which is owned by Annika Sorenstam.
Until then, keep imagining what’s possible.
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Golf Fantasy Round
Cape Kidnappers, New Zealand
Hole 3: Par 3 (215 Blue, 155 White, Red 115)
Visualize playing this tee shot: Notice the bunkers in front and the severe drop-off on the left. It’s hard to see, but pre-round planning reveals a safe landing area to the right.
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