My Story

Sporting News, The, June 30, 1997 by Steve Gietschier

Biography or autobiography: That is the question. Whether 'tis nobler for the greatest golfer ever to suffer the stings and arrows of having his life's story written by someone else or to take pen in hand and tell the tale himself. Ah, there's the rub.

Shaw, biographer of Pete Dye, approached Nicklaus about his project and was tersely rebuffed. Nicklaus refused to cooperate and urged others to do likewise. He dusted off an old manuscript, updated it and offered Shaw some direct competition.

So, which of these books is definitive? The answer, unfortunately, is neither. Both have merit, but both are flawed.

I read Nicklaus' book first. Despite its title, it professes to be not really an autobiography, but rather the story of his victories in golf's major championships. And this it is, often in numbing detail. Nicklaus is said to have a fantastic memory, and this text, shot by shot, is the proof.

Given this focus, whatever personal stuff Nicklaus chooses to write about should be considered a lagniappe. And some of this is quite good, especially his recollections about his decision to turn pro at a time when a career as an amateur, emulating Bobby Jones, was not out of the question.

Shaw's book opens with great promise. It is certainly more lively and anecdotal. The narrative quits, though, after about 200 pages, when Shaw abandons chronology for a series of topical essays that has absolutely no flow. Shaw's work is additionally marred by his decision to weave the story of Nicklaus' 1972 season, when he won two majors and four other tournaments, in and out of the rest of the story. It makes for awkward reading. Shaw is more open than Jack himself about Nicklaus' business dealings, especially the travails of Golden Bear, Inc. The books, too, have different takes on Nicklaus' relationship with Arnold Palmer, which Jack asserts has always been much more friendly than Shaw or most other observers are willing to acknowledge.