“Didn’t Want to Be Part of It”: Harrowing Jack Nicklaus Wound That Scarred Him Forever Yet Pushed Him to Greatness

In 1966, the Masters was a different tournament for many reasons. Almost everything remained the same, but to break a tie, an 18-hole playoff had to be contested instead of a sudden death. And that year, three golfers made it to the Monday playoff, including Jack Nicklaus. But Nicklaus didn’t want to be there at all. And how could he be there?

Nicklaus was deemed to battle out at Augusta National with other big names like Arnold Palmer, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, and more to defend his title and create history. It would not be easy, and losing his childhood friend made it harder. Just a few hours before the 6-time Masters winner teed off, Nicklaus was given the bad news that his friend Bob Barton and his wife, Linda, and Jim and Jeretta Long died in an airplane crash in Tennessee as they were coming down from Ohio to watch him at Augusta.

Indeed, Nicklaus was heartbroken; tragedy struck as he lost the man he played golf with and fished many times. He was shocked to his core, and his wife Barbara Nicklaus told NBC that he wanted to go down to Columbus, Barton’s family house, instead of playing. Nicklaus said, “I didn’t want to play; didn’t want to be part of it. I would have rather spent my time with Bob’s sister, Margie, and their family.”