For Nicklaus, $2 Million Was the Magic Figure

Twenty-six years ago today, golfer Jack Nicklaus won the Walt Disney World Open at Lake Buena Vista, Fla., to become the sport’s first player to surpass $2 million in career earnings.

Nicklaus’ victory, his 51st in a PGA event, was worth $30,000 and was a Page 1 story that day.

Golfers today can earn $2 million in a few weeks.

There are 149 golfers who have earned more than $2 million in their PGA Tour careers, led by Greg Norman with $12.5 million. Led by Tiger Woods’ $6.6 million, nine golfers earned more than $2 million on the tour this year.

In 1973, the total purses of PGA tournaments (75 events) was $8,657,225. In 1999, it was $131,700,000 (47 events). The purse for the U.S. Open championship was $3 million, $315,000 to the winner.

Yet $2 million was a huge number in 1973, and Nicklaus himself said as much.

“I’d hate to think what Sam Snead, Ben Hogan and Byron Nelson would have won if they’d been playing for the purses we have today,” he said, after shooting a final-round 67 to turn back fast-finishing Mason Rudolph by a stroke.

“It’s of value as a yardstick only when compared with players of today. It’s always great to attain a milestone nobody else has reached. It would be nicer if I could keep some of it.”

Nicklaus had reached $1 million in winnings in 1970.

Later, he would become the first golfer to reach $3 million, $4 million and $5 million in winnings.

Also on this date: In 1997, the Golden State Warriors’ Latrell Sprewell, twice within a 20-minute span, assaulted his coach, P.J. Carlesimo, choking him on the first occasion and later punching him. . . . In 1964, the Houston Colt .45s baseball franchise announced it had changed its name to the Astros. . . . In 1956, USC’s Ernie Zampese ran 38 yards through Notre Dame’s defense in the fourth quarter to give the Trojans a 28-20 win at the Coliseum, overcoming a 95-yard kickoff return by Paul Hornung.