I have always been a fan of what I consider golf’s golden era with the likes of Tom Watson, Tom Weiskopf, Greg Norman, Tom Kite, Seve Ballesteros, the list goes on. But leading the pack, for me, was always Jack Nicklaus. I had a fascination with the Golden Bear and that admiration peaked in the spring of 1986 as I sat down to watch the Masters.

At 46 years of age, Nicklaus was thought to have passed his prime, with retirement a strong possibility. 

"I knew I still had it in me," Nicklaus later reflected. "I just needed to prove it, not just to the world, but to myself."

Did He Have What It Takes?

Nicklaus was at an age when most golfers had already retired. He had not won a major tournament in six years, and his form had been inconsistent. Many believed that he was past his prime and that his glory days were well behind him.

Nicklaus, himself, admitted that he had doubts about his abilities.

"I didn't know if I had it in me anymore," he said in an interview with Golf Digest. "I was struggling with my swing, and I wasn't sure if I could compete at the highest level anymore."

That was doubly evident in the first two rounds when he shot uninspiring scores of 74 and 71 – not tournament-winning calibre by any stretch. A third-round 69 kept him within striking distance but heading into the final round he was still four shots back of leader Greg Norman, tied for ninth place.

Masters Sunday

The final round of the 1986 Masters is legendary. Five different players held at least a share of the lead at any one point.

Things didn’t start well for Nicklaus.

Eight holes in he had one birdie but also one bogey and was down the leader board.

Then something special started to happen.

He made a difficult downhill putt on the ninth for a birdie, another birdie on 10, and after draining a long-range birdie on the 11th hole, the gallery began to take notice.

Breaths were held on 12, though, as he missed the green with his approach and had to settle for a bogey.

Had the great charge ended?

Not yet….

Nicklaus bounced back with a birdie on 13 and then a par on 14.

The Miracle on 15

By the time he reached the par five 15th hole, he was just two strokes of the lead. A solid drive left him the defining approach shot.

“Jack Nicklaus has 200 yards and he’s never needed an eagle more,” opined CBS commentator Ben Wright.

Nicklaus dropped a 4-iron in over the water and into the centre of the green.

Could it be…

Yes, it could - a spectacular eagle 3 that sent the crowd into a frenzy. 

"Never have I seen a more perfect shot," said commentator Jim Nantz, echoing the awe that swept through the spectators.

“The ground felt like it was moving,” writer James Achenbach wrote in Golfweek. “It was a surreal experience. I half expected the trees to bow down in homage to Nicklaus.”

"Yes sir! The battle is joined. My goodness. There is life in the old Bear yet," added Ben Wright.

Then on to 16 and with it being Sunday, the flag was in a good spot and Nicklaus took advantage, nailing a good approach and draining the bridie putt.

One back.

“And there’s no doubt about it, the Bear has come out of hibernation,” extolled Jim Nantz.

On the 17th tee, Jack drifted his drive left into the trees, leaving himself with a tricky second shot. But he found the green and had a 12-footer for birdie.

Nicklaus and his 24-year-old son Jackie – Dad’s caddy – talked about the putt. Would it break toward Rae’s Creek? Jackie wasn’t so sure but the Golden Bear knew the green well. It was a light touch with the putter as he barely hit the ball. It started left before breaking, veered right and then followed a straight path into the hole.

Nicklaus had dropped a knee and raised his left arm in the air with his putter as if to will the ball into the hole.

“Maybe… Yes, sir,” exclaimed commentator Verne Lundquist as the ball dropped for a birdie. 

Nicklaus’ double arm pump punctuated the word “Sir.”

His raised arm has become one of golf’s most iconic images.

He now owned sole possession of the lead for the first time in the tournament.

On to 18 and the crowd was thickly gathered around him, primed with emotion, perhaps sensing they were witnessing history.

His drive was true – the ball comfortably landing on the fairway. Onto the green next and a safe two-putt to record a -9 and a one-shot lead.   

Jack’s Fate Lies with Others

But the story was not over, with Norman, Ballesteros and Tom Kite still lurking, still in contention.

Ballesteros three-putted the 17th to fall out of contention, but Kite had 12 feet for birdie on 18 to tie Nicklaus. Kite barely missed his putt on the high side to miss a playoff by one shot.

Norman, left for dead after his double-bogey on 10, birdied 14, 15 and 16 to pull within one shot of the lead.

After hooking his drive way left on 17, Norman made an incredible shot between two pines to within eight feet. Norman buried the birdie putt, his fourth straight, to tie for the lead.

He then hit a perfect drive on 18, needing birdie for his first major championship. However, Norman pushed his approach shot into the gallery and subsequently missed his 15-foot par putt to finish one stroke behind.

Nicklaus had stormed back, shooting 30 on the back nine, to win his sixth Masters title and became the oldest Masters champion ever.

Both Ballesteros and Norman stated the most regretful shots of their careers were during the final round of the 1986 Masters. For Ballesteros, it was his approach shot to the 15th hole and for Norman his approach shot to the 18th.

His Legacy

Nicklaus’s victory in 1986 wasn't just about that one tournament. It was a defining moment in his career, a symbol of his undying passion for the game. It was a victory that transcended the boundaries of sport, inspiring countless individuals to chase their dreams, regardless of the odds.

Nicklaus himself summed it up perfectly when he said, "It's not about the trophies or the fame. It's about the love of the game, the thrill of the challenge. That's what keeps me going."

In the years that followed his victory, Nicklaus continued to inspire golfers around the world. He won two more major tournaments and finished his career with a total of 18 major titles, a record that still stands to this day.

In an interview with Golfweek writer Alex Miceli, Nicklaus remarked: “I think the neat part of that week, in my opinion, was having my son Jack on the bag and having my mother there. It was the first time she had actually been to the Masters since I was a pro. She went down the first year when I was an amateur. And I don’t know why, but she said she wanted to go back one more time, and she did.”

And one more time for the Golden Bear – a last but most memorable 6th green jacket.