[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 33 (Thursday, March 17, 2005)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E500]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    A TRIBUTE TO JACK NICKLAUS' ILLUSTRIOUS CAREER IN GOLF AND LIFE

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                          HON. CHARLIE NORWOOD

                               of georgia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, March 17, 2005

  Mr. NORWOOD. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to pay tribute to Jack 
Nicklaus for his service to our Nation, the game of golf and the 
Masters Tournament. Few events in the world of sports compare to the 
beauty and grace of the Masters Tournament in Augusta, GA. There is no 
one that has won more Masters' titles than Jack Nicklaus. He is the 
owner of six coveted Green Jackets.
  Early in his career, Jack Nicklaus became the role model for an 
untold number of individuals aspiring to play the game of golf. He has 
also become a role model for millions of people for his personal 
values, particularly his dedication to family.
  Named the Golfer of the Century and Golfer of the Millennium by every 
major media outlet, Jack Nicklaus' record stands unparalleled at the 
top of the golf world. He has collected more than 100 professional 
victories worldwide. This includes 73 PGA Tour victories and 10 more on 
the Champions Tour. He has won a record 20 major championships: 6 
Masters, 5 PGA Championships, 4 U.S. Open Championships, 3 British 
Opens, and 2 U.S. Amateur titles. In his career he has been the top 
money-winner 8 times, number one in scoring 8 times, and has recorded 
20 holes in one. Jack Nicklaus has been a member of six Ryder Cup 
teams, captained two others, and this fall, he will serve for the third 
time as captain of the U.S. Presidents Cup team.
  Many things have been said about Jack Nicklaus. At the 1962 World 
Series of Golf, Arnold Palmer rose to make the following statement, 
``Jack Nicklaus is just a youngster and a newcomer to the professional 
ranks. But you gentlemen saw one of the greatest out there today. He'll 
be a headliner for a long time and could put together the greatest 
career the game has ever known. He has everything.''
  In addition to Jack Nicklaus and his sons/family growing the game of 
golf by designing close to 300 courses worldwide, the Nicklaus family 
gathered on June 12, 2003, with sand wedges instead of shovels, to 
break ground on the Nicklaus Children's Hospital at St. Mary's Medical 
Center in West Palm Beach, Florida. The hospital officially opened last 
November. They have also formed the non-profit Nicklaus Children's 
Health Care Foundation. This foundation, chaired by Mrs. Barbara 
Nicklaus, provides charitable support for activities that advance and 
enhance the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of childhood diseases 
and disorders. The Nicklaus Children's Health Care Foundation also 
supports not-for-profit programs and projects aimed at pediatric health 
care and health-related services, with the Nicklaus Children's Hospital 
located at St. Mary's Medical Center as the major focal point.
  So. Mr. Speaker, the name of Jack Nicklaus will always be synonymous 
with the game of golf and his accomplishments, on and off the course, 
will live forever.

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