It was one of the most touching, if not signature moments, in Jack Nicklaus's remarkable career.
Son Gary ran on to the 18th green, jumped into his father's arms, and was carried off by the Golden Bear after the second round of the 1973 PGA Championship at Canterbury Golf Club.
Nicklaus went on to cap his 14th major championship and cement his legacy as a champion who balanced with skill his family and a legendary career.
The PGA of America celebrates the family legacy in golf once again this year at the 70th Senior PGA Championship, May 18-24, at Canterbury Golf Club in Beachwood, Ohio.
Juniors age 17 and younger are admitted free throughout the week when accompanied by a ticket-bearing adult. Practice rounds tickets, Monday, May 18 through Wednesday, May 20, are $15; and Championship tickets, May 21-24, are $30 each. Weekly grounds tickets are $95 and Weekly Clubhouse tickets are $200.
In a historical twist, Nicklaus's victory at Canterbury was a four-stroke triumph over Bruce Crampton.
The Golden Bear's lone victory in Senior PGA Championship history came in 1991 at PGA National Golf Club in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla. Nicklaus defeated Crampton by six strokes. It was the fifth time that Crampton had finished as the runner-up in a major championship - each time to Nicklaus.
Founded in 1937, the Senior PGA Championship was first conducted at Augusta National Golf Club at the invitation of legendary Bobby Jones. The Championship perennially attracts the deepest international field and its list of Champions includes virtually the greatest players to play the game.
Canterbury Golf Club, designed by Herbert Strong and opened for play in 1921, is recognized by Golf Digest as one of the top 100 courses in America, and next year will joined Oak Hill Country Club of Rochester, N.Y., as the only courses to host all U.S. men's rotating championships.
About The PGA of America
Since 1916, The PGA of America's mission has been twofold: to establish and elevate the standards of the profession and to grow interest and participation in the game of golf.
By establishing and elevating the standards of the golf profession through world-class education, career services, marketing and research programs, the Association enables PGA Professionals to maximize their performance in their respective career paths and showcases them as experts in the game and in the multi-billion dollar golf industry.
By creating and delivering dramatic world-class championships and exciting and enjoyable golf promotions that are viewed as the best of their class in the golf industry, The PGA of America elevates the public's interest in the game, the desire to play more golf, and ensures accessibility to the game for everyone, everywhere. The PGA of America brand represents the very best in golf.
