Q&A with Golf Legend Jack Nicklaus

The golfer reflects on his decades of achievements and how he built his success

John Lewinski,

AARP

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Published April 29, 2024

Jack Nicklaus in yellow shirt against gray background

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Jack Nicklaus, 84, is considered one of the greatest golfers of all time. AARP spoke with the Golden Bear on what keeps him connected to the game and how life is so much more today.

If the 18-year-old Jack Nicklaus could see where his 84-year-old self ended up, what would astound him more: 18 golf major championships or 24 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren?

I don’t know about “astounded,” but I’d be flabbergasted by either one of those numbers.

You’ve said you believe you could’ve won even more tournaments, but you prioritized family time while you competed. Do you think that’s a value today’s PGA Tour players share?

Some do. Could my record have been better? Absolutely — but my family would have suffered for it. As a result, I would have suffered. I was fortunate to have a good balance.

Is it more difficult for an elite professional athlete to come to terms with aging?

I didn’t have any problem with it. When your time to compete is up, your time to compete is up. Fortunately, in golf, you can compete much longer on the senior tour (now the PGA Champions Tour). I was able to compete reasonably well into my early 60s.

What do you do these days to stay healthy and focused?

I keep myself busy doing an awful lot of work with our (Nicklaus Children’s Health Care) Foundation. We probably do about 30 events a year. I do speeches and public appearances. I’m still designing golf courses. Physically, I do my set of exercises twice a day. So I stay pretty active, but I’d still like to be even more active.

You were a successful all-around athlete. Was that crucial to your golf success?

When I started out, I played all the sports I could until I quit to play only golf. But even then, I played in a rec basketball league until I was about 40. Then I kept active by being involved with my kids. If they played football, I’d get to their football practices a lot. I’d throw to receivers. I’d kick with the punters and place kickers. For basketball, I used to scrimmage with the kids. For baseball, I used to pitch batting practice. I just like all sports, but I don’t think I was ever a gym rat. Hanging out in gyms — that seemed as boring to me as all get-out. I just kept myself in condition for golf by playing other sports.

It seems you weren’t playing much golf for a time, as you were busy with the course design business and family activities. Do you play more often now? Has your relationship with the game changed?

I don’t play at all now. I haven’t hit a golf shot since the traditional opening tee shot at Augusta National (to kick off the Masters in April 2023). Not one. Putting or otherwise. That doesn’t mean I won’t, but my relationship with the game now is talking to the younger players. Most young people don’t want to listen to their father or grandfather, but these kids want my advice. I feel very flattered and humbled by that. That keeps me active in the game.

For a while, you were constantly linked with Tiger Woods when it appeared he might challenge your record for majors won. Has your relationship with him evolved through the years?

I haven’t spent a lot of time with Tiger. He’s something like 35 years younger than I am, so we don’t have a close bond as two people. But I like Tiger. Whenever there’s an issue in the game of golf, one of us will call the other. We both have the same interests and want to do what’s best for the game of golf. As it relates to today’s issues, he’s got a good head on his shoulders as to what’s good for the game and what’s not, and I think today’s players look up to him for that.

Jack Nicklaus leaning on desk, holding 2 rolled up pieces of long paper; golf club set next to him; pictures and globe in the background

With 18 major golf championships, Nicklaus, seen here in March 2022, is considered one of the greatest golfers of all time.

Jamie Squire/Getty Images

Your charity work focuses on children’s health via children’s clinics and hospitals. How did you and your wife, Barbara, get involved with that cause?

A children’s hospital saved my daughter’s life when she was less than a year old. When the opportunity came for my wife and I to get involved with charities, we decided to start a foundation to improve children’s health care. I spend most of my time now working with Barbara on the foundation and with the children’s hospitals. Barbara is really, really good at it, and I learn a lot from her.

Your philanthropic efforts are an extended family affair with children and grandchildren participating. What does it mean to you and Barbara to see the generations now involved in your foundation’s work — to see your cause become their cause?

We just set out to start a little foundation. Now, it’s grown to the point that the size of it means it needs more support. We’re just blessed that our kids see the same need we do. Then the grandkids come along and get involved—and they’re starting to raise meaningful money now. It’s fantastic. We had no idea it would lead to this.

Back to golf for a moment. Who is the greatest professional golfer of all time?

I refuse to answer that question on the grounds that I couldn’t answer it honestly. If you want to take me out of the equation, maybe I could answer it.

I think you answered the question. - John Lewinski

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