Jack Nicklaus’ favorite thing about golf? His answer will warm your heart

This week, the PGA Tour’s Memorial Tournament is being held at Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, commonly referred to as “Jack’s Place.” Designed by golf legend Jack Nicklaus, who also serves as the tournament host, Muirfield Village is a storied venue. Nicklaus was onsite this week, engaging with the media and discussing various topics, including the state of the game and his personal memories, such as losing a U.S. Junior match at age 14 at Los Angeles Country Club.

Towards the end of the session, Nicklaus was asked a more personal question about his favorite part of golf. His response was both touching and relatable.

“Well, the game of golf isn’t, isn’t a part, there are many parts of the game,” he started. “From playing the game — people often ask me, what’s my favorite shot that I play, and I said, ‘It’s the one I’m playing right now.’ If that’s not your favorite shot when you’re playing it, then you better work on it until it becomes your favorite shot.

“I love what the game of golf does for people. These young men here growing up in the game of golf, they’re going to come out and represent their area. They have grown up around adults, they have learned how to handle adults. They have learned how to grow up and they have learned the courtesies of the game. There’s a lot of things within the game of golf that are so good. First Tee has been fantastic. First Tee has taught the lessons of life to so many kids. I think it’s unbelievable what they have done.

“We see the golf courses that are being done, the communities that are having tournaments, no different than the Memorial Tournament or Valhalla, when I went to Valhalla the first time, Dwight Gahm, the gentleman who did the golf course, he said, Jack, some day I want to have the PGA Championship here. That’s my goal. Well, he’s had what, five of ’em? He’s done pretty well.”

When a reporter followed up about the challenges of the game, Nicklaus reflected further on what golf has meant to his life.

“There’s a challenge to everything you do in life,” he said. “And if you don’t like, if you don’t like challenges, go someplace else, because golf’s got a bunch of ’em.”

“I love the game of golf,” he continued. “It’s given me the opportunity — I wouldn’t be sitting here if I had missed about 10 five-foot putts. I wouldn’t be sitting here. Nothing, none of this would have ever happened. So I was blessed to be able to do that. I was blessed to be able to take what I did and what I learned and put it to better use.”

The Memorial Tournament begins Thursday, marking the seventh of eight Signature Events on the 2024 Tour schedule.