'Old Golf Emperor' Nicklaus: "My First Pro Prize Money Was $33~"

Published 09 Jan.2020 18:53(KST)

Updated 09 Jan.2020 19:07(KST)

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Tied 50th at the 1962 LA Open "Bought a Shower Curtain," Career Earnings Total $5.73 Million

Jack Nicklaus wearing the green jacket when he won the Masters in 1965.

[Asia Economy Kim Hyun-jun, Golf Specialist Reporter] '33 dollars and 33 cents.'

This was the first prize money earned by the 'former golf emperor' Jack Nicklaus (USA) on the PGA Tour. He tied for 50th place at the Los Angeles Open in January 1962. On the 9th (Korean time), Nicklaus posted a photo of the check he received 58 years ago on social media, joking, "I bought a shower curtain," and added, "I don't remember where I spent the 33 cents in change." At that time, 33 dollars was equivalent to one ounce of gold. The current market price is 1,550 dollars (1.8 million KRW).

It is surprising that Nicklaus swept three wins in the same year he joined the PGA Tour. He made it to the final round in all 27 tournaments, with three second-place finishes and three third-place finishes, totaling an impressive 16 top-10 finishes. He earned 60,000 dollars. Compared to Brooks Koepka (USA), the 2019 money leader who earned 9.68 million dollars, it shows how times have changed. Rory McIlroy (Northern Ireland) won the Tour Championship, the final third round of the playoffs (PO), hitting a '15 million dollar jackpot' in one go.

Nicklaus, who will turn 80 on the 21st, has won a total of 73 tournaments including 18 majors, and his total PGA Tour earnings amount to 5.73 million dollars. Of course, after retirement, he has expanded into golf course design, golf apparel, real estate, and wine businesses, bringing his current assets to 300 million dollars (348.3 billion KRW). The 'returned golf emperor' Tiger Woods (USA) tied Sam Snead's PGA Tour record for most wins (82) at the Zozo Championship last October. His total earnings are 120.46 million dollars, and he is still active.