‘It Was Touch and Go’: After Almost Losing His Daughter When She Was Less Than a Year Old, Jack Nicklaus Once Recounted the Scary Incident

Published 12/26/2022, 4:30 AM CST

The greatest golfer of all time, Tiger Woods, has been trying to break the record for most major championship victories, Jack Nicklaus. However, he still has a long way to go because Nicklaus is not just a former legendary golfer but a great human too. He has done wonders on and off-court, and no one has come even near to his wondrous deeds.

Even though he is retired, his hands have not stopped working. He strapped on boots and went to work, only it was not golf, but children, and the reason was her daughter, Nancy. ‘Nicklaus Children’s Hospital’ in Miami is proof of his greatness.

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In 2016, he talked to CNN about his business and its success. Even though the worldwide financial meltdown of 2008 had a significant impact on the golf industry. However, he was happy about how his company was touching the roof. His company was offering everything from ice cream to golf equipment. However, a significant percentage of his company’s profits goes to children’s healthcare. It was a tradition that started with an unfortunate event that involved his first daughter.

What made Jack Nicklaus work for children?

Nicklaus and his wife, Barbara, had their first daughter and named her Nancy. She was not even a year-old baby when an accident almost killed her. The Nicklaus couple found their daughter choking and immediately took her to the Columbus (Ohio) children’s hospital. Doctors found that she had lodged a crayon in her windpipe.

‘I Always Thought That Was Terrible’: Jack Nicklaus Once Exposed the Reason For Despising Alcohol During Tournaments

The situation was on edge, but thankfully, doctors saved her. That is when Nicklaus and his wife decided to devote their lives to children’s welfare. They promised to do everything in their power for the underprivileged children. The legend recalled the time and said, “It was touch and go for a while, but the hospital saved her life, and Barbara and I said that if there was anything we could ever do for children, we would do it.”

He linked up with billionaire banker and investor Howard Milstein, who bought a 49% stake in the Nicklaus Companies group for $145 million in 2007. Therefore, his company was doing good. And as the couple promised, a percentage of the profits always goes to the welfare of the children. That unfortunate incident with their daughter introduced them to the pain of loss. Therefore, they wanted to help as much as they could.

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Why did Nicklaus choose to work after retirement?

Everyone wondered what a 20th-century man would do when his golfing career ended. Nicklaus was surprised all by working after retiring from professional golf. Nicknamed “Golden Bear,” he bid his last goodbye to professional golf in 1996. However, he did not just leave; he left a mark. He signed off from the tour with two wins on the Seniors Tour, which made his total tally 116 worldwide.

He believes that people work their whole life, then retire and play golf. But in the case of Nicklaus, he played golf his entire life, and after that, it was time for him to work. He said, “Most people work all their life to retire to play golf – I played golf all my life to retire to work.” However, he did attend occasional PGA tour events and tied up for sixth at the 1998 Masters.

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Watch this story- ‘Leave It at That’: Golf Legend Jack Nicklaus Revealed Why Greg Norman Won’t Look at Him Eye to Eye Despite Their Longtime Friendship

Jack Nicklaus was not only an outstanding golfer but also a great man. His daughter was the reason today it benefits many children.

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Written by:

A Commerce graduate who turned her passion into her profession, Saumya is a Golf writer at Essentially Sports. Having developed the love for the sport at a very young age, she watched Tiger Woods and caught inspiration from his legacy early on. Apart from Woods, she shares great admiration for her country's players like Vishwanathan Anand and Neeraj Chopra.

Edited by:

Rohini Kottu

‘It Was Touch and Go’: After Almost Losing His Daughter When She Was Less Than a Year Old, Jack Nicklaus Once Recounted the Scary Incident

What made Jack Nicklaus work for children?

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Why did Nicklaus choose to work after retirement?