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ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND – JULY 11: Jack Nicklaus looks on during the Celebration of Champions prior to The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 11, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Stuart Kerr/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)

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ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND – JULY 11: Jack Nicklaus looks on during the Celebration of Champions prior to The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 11, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Stuart Kerr/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
Jack Nicklaus is arguably the most accomplished golfer in the sport. Yet despite his massive list of accolades, he has always chosen to be known as a family man rather than a golfer. This isn’t just a random choice that the ‘Golden Bear’ made; in fact, he learned this from his father and mother! And it wasn’t the only thing his parents, Charlie Nicklaus and Helen Schoener, had taught him. In truth, Jack still lives his life according to their ways. And his deepest fear? Well, that involves them too!
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Nicklaus’ greatest fear is revealed
ESPN’s Father Bear: An Intimate Portrait of Jack Nicklaus explores the golf legend’s life in depth. From his greatest accomplishments to his grave moments of despair, the ‘Golden Bear’s’ entire personal and professional life was an open book. And within those words was also how much of an influence his parents were on him.
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ST ANDREWS, SCOTLAND – JULY 11: Jack Nicklaus speaks in a press conference during a practice round prior to The 150th Open at St Andrews Old Course on July 11, 2022 in St Andrews, Scotland. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/R&A/R&A via Getty Images)
The 18-time major winner’s longtime employee, Andy O’Brien, revealed in his memoir how the 83-year-old lived his life. All his choices were driven by maxims involving his parents, and his greatest fear was also all about them. “What scares him?” said O’Brien. “My best guess is doing anything that would hurt the name his mom and dad entrusted him with.”
Read More – How Many Kids and Grandkids Does Jack Nicklaus Have?
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The loyal employee also believed that the PGA Tour legend was doing anything to ruin his family name, and it is clear that he was right. Every business decision and choice that the golf great ever made, he always asked himself how it would affect the Nicklaus name. And he never took any step that could even remotely dredge that prestigious name through the mud.
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How did Charlie’s death affect Jack Nicklaus?
The 73-time PGA Tour winner’s father passed away at quite a young age of 56, after a furious battle with pancreatic cancer. His death tore a hole right through the golf legend’s heart. He was heartbroken, more so because his father never got to see any of the great golf courses he built in his career, since he passed when Nicklaus was working on his first project.

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DUBLIN, OH – JUNE 02: Jack Nicklaus hits a shot during the Memorial Skins Game prior to the start of the 2010 Memorial Tournament at the Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 2, 2010 in Dublin, Ohio. (Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images)
But making his father proud in the spirit became the golf legend’s mission. Every choice he made and also the path he took, he ensured that Charlie would be proud of him. And clearly, that worked out great for the golf champion. Wouldn’t you agree?
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Watch This Story – Meet Jack Nicklaus’ Family
What do you think about the maxims and fears that the 83-year-old lives his life by? Let us know in the comments below.
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