Masters Legends - No 1: Jack Nicklaus

Image: Jack Nicklaus: Won the Masters six times

On the eve of the first major of the year, Jack Nicklaus completes the countdown of the top 10 Augusta greats.

Quite simply the undisputed heavyweight champion of Augusta National, Nicklaus donned his first Green Jacket in 1963 and collected a memorable sixth title in 1986.

The Golden Bear made his Masters debut as a tubby 19-year-old amateur in 1959, but he served notice of his love for the course when he finished seventh two years later while still in the unpaid ranks.

Advertisement
Jack Nicklaus became the oldest Masters winner ever with an eagle, birdie, birdie streak in the final round ending with this amazing putt on the 17th

He became the youngest Master at the age of 23, perhaps significantly in the year that inaugural winner Horton Smith graced the Georgia parkland for the last time.

More from The Masters 2015

Nicklaus lost out to friend and rival Arnold Palmer in 1964 but he won the next two editions, setting a new scoring record before becoming the first man to defend the title.

Mark Roe takes a closer look at one of the most famous putts in Masters history

A final-round 74 was still good enough for a three-shot win in 1972, and he pipped Johnny Miller and Tom Weiskopf by a shot in a thrilling final day in 1975.

And then in 1986, 23 years after his first win, an astonishing back-nine 30 capped a closing 65 and earned him a one-shot win over Tom Kite and the luckless Greg Norman, who said magnanimously: "Everybody here loves Jack. This is his place."

Watch all four days of the Masters live from Thursday on Sky Sports 4 - your home of golf. 

Outbrain