Arnie & Jack: Palmer, Nicklaus, and Golf's Greatest Rivalry

by Ian O'Connor

Surprisingly, one of sport’s most contentious, complex, and defining clashes played out not in the boxing ring or at the line of scrimmage but on the genteel green fairways of the world’s finest golf courses. Arnie and Jack. Palmer and Nicklaus. Their fifty-year duel, in both the clubhouse and the boardroom, propelled each to the status of American icon and pushed modern golf to the heights and popularity it enjoys today.

Yet for all the ink that has been spilled on these two essential golf figures individually, no one has ever examined their relationship in this way. Arnie was the cowboy, with rugged good looks, Popeye-like forearms, a flailing swing, and charm enough to win fans worldwide. Jack was scientific, precise, conservative, aloof, even fat and awkward. Ultimately, Nicklaus got the better of Palmer on the course, beating him in major victories, 18-7. But Palmer bested Nicklaus almost everywhere else, especially in the hearts of the public and in endorsement dollars -- Palmer was the top-grossing athlete for thirty years, until Michael Jordan surpassed him.

With dogged reporting and crisp, colorful storytelling, the award-winning sports columnist Ian O’Connor explores this heated professional and personal battle in fascinating, intimate, and revelatory detail. Drawing on unique and exclusive access to Palmer and Nicklaus, and informed by some two hundred new interviews, O’Connor illuminates the two men’s extreme differences and sprawling influence through mini-dramas, such as their little-known first meeting on the course at the topsy-turvy U.S. Open in 1962, their early involvement with marketing and a small agency called IMG, and their intense competition for golf-course designs in their later years.

By the end of this page-turning narrative, which spans five remarkable decades, we see that each man wanted what the other Arnold had the adoring fans but wanted the trophies. Jack had the trophies but wanted the love.

Genres: Sports, Biography, Nonfiction, Biography Memoir, History

368 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Brent Lloyd · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Arnold Palmer-Jack Nicklaus rivalry in golf mirrors the greatest individual rivalries in all of sports, from Joe Dimaggio and Ted Williams to Larry Bird and Magic Johnson, Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier to Gordie Howe and Rocket Richard, even to Tiger Woods and Phil Mickelson. Each of these rivalries not only itilated audiences and resulted in thrilling contests and drama, they also brought their sports to new heights by pitting the best of the best against each other in adversarial settings that were often tinged with past, current, or later friendship. The Palmer-Nicklaus rivalry built on the Hogan-Nelson rivalry before it, and lined up perfectly with the advent of television to help bring golf to a wider audience and increase interest in the worldwide sport. O’Connor excellently breaks down not only the seminal moments of the rivalry between the two greats, but also the characters of the men themselves, publicly and privately, and what led to their friendship after their careers ended.
This is a story that celebrates each man and his accomplishments, welcoming readers to see how each man became who he would be, and what defined them as great golfers and people. This is not a story of bitter rivalry, but of dogged competition underlined by a deep respect between two competitors tied together by their wives who loved each other like sisters. For any fan of golf this is a must read, and an excellent story for anyone who appreciates sport, especially the battles between all time rivals.

[Bill Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

I remember as a teenager golfing with my uncle and my dad and they would jokingly call each other Arnie and Jack. It was my introduction to two of golf’s greatest and the rivalry that they shared. I found this book at a library sale and couldn’t pass it up. Very happy I didn’t. It was interesting to learn much more about the history Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus shared and the effect it had on the game of golf and on the world.

The author does great research and weaves a very colorful story. He focuses on the interaction of the two characters as he describes their successes and failures playing golf as well as in life. Arnie had the distinction of being the greatest ambassador the game has ever seen because of the following he created. And a major success in endorsements and business. While Jack is often viewed as the greatest golfer of all time because of the major tournaments he won. And became quite successful as a golf course designer.

But I do have some issues with this book. The author stresses an existing hatred they had towards each other yet seems to disprove his own theory. They were friends and competitors. They greatly respected each other. And yes they hated to lose to each other. The author also has a chapter about the round of golf a young Johnny Miller played that had little bearing on the story but he just wanted to throw it in anyway. All in all still a good read, especially for fans of the game.

[Ryan Beltz · Rating 4 out of 5]

Arnie and Jack is a fantastic read that dives deep into one of golf’s most legendary rivalries—between two incredibly different men who shaped the sport in ways that are still felt today. On one side, you’ve got Arnold Palmer, the blue-collar son of a country club groundskeeper. On the other, Jack Nicklaus, the golden boy country club member. The contrast in their upbringings alone sets the stage for a compelling story.

What I really appreciated about this book was how it didn’t just focus on their battles on the course. It zoomed out and gave a fuller picture—how their families, especially their wives, played a role in keeping things competitive but never bitter. It shows how even though they were rivals, they also pushed each other to greatness far beyond just golf. They both dove into aviation, golf course design, and in a lot of ways, they helped take golf mainstream. You can see the line from Arnie and Jack straight through to Tiger and the modern era.

It’s just a well-rounded, solid book that gives you a real appreciation for two giants of the game—and the impact they had on each other and on golf as a whole.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Somewhat repetitive as the author continuously talks about Jack being the better player and better golf course designer and Arnold being the better businessman, nicer guy and way more popular with hundreds of endorsements. That is what the book is based around along with details of their biggest competitions, even into their old age. I have read a couple of books on Arnie and this is a different take, so it was interesting that they had such a competition lasting so late into their lives. They competed on and off the golf course which I did not know, even competed on size of their private jets. And it was a passive aggressive relationship on top of all that, they were friends yet enemies on the course, loved beating the piss out of each other, but also liked what each other did for the game of golf. And they could be petty, Palmer stopped playing the Memorial tournament because Jack would not play the Bay Hill tournament, so yes they were fierce competitors in everything, including spite!

[Lietke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hard to rate this one. For its scholarship and throughness, this book is great. Not sure what it wanted to be though. I kept reading it, and found a couple of things less satisfying.

On Palmer: Seemed to have less direct conversation with Arnold. More direct quotes from Nicklaus. Alluded to, but did not fully acknowledge Arnie's unfaithfulness to Winnie while touting their awesome union. Hey, everybody marries, stays married, or breaks up based on whatever it is in their relationship. It just came home in the reading as a little disingenuous.

On Nicklaus: If one more mention of Nicklaus' heftier times ever shows up in print, I will personally punish the author. O'Connor latched onto it for Jack and rode it for all it was worth. Even in the chapters well after that when he was acknowledged as the best, it had to be brought up "in case we forgot." Sloppy.

[Mark Drinnenberg · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent, well written account about a great sports rivalry and a great friendship. This is more than just a discussion about statistics and wins and losses and such. This is an examination of two men who love their families, love to compete, love to win, and loved each other as dear (though hyper-competitive) friends. I was so gripped and moved by this book that I dreamt about Arnold Palmer (one of my greatest sports heroes) four or five nights in a row. I guess I can't give a greater endorsement of a book's impact than that.

[Mike Balsom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not really a bio of either golfer, but a great look at the rivalry and friendship between two of the best who ever played the game. This book took my back to my tween-age years, when the soothing voices of Jim McKay and Chris Schenkel would accompany me to my father's apartment many Sundays. O'Connor's writing sheds light on the majesty of the way these two hit the ball, and put the Tiger Woods story into perspective. Palmer and Nicklaus made the game what it is today, for better or worse. That that's a huge accomplishment.

[Chad Rexin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book. I always knew both were great golfers having still seen them on tv growing up, but this book gave insight into how they became great and to show glympses of their family life. They were friends, but were fierce competitors. They competed in marketing and in golf course design as well as many successful companies. Not everything ended up a success, but it was clear both were devoted to their families. And while super competitive, their wives helped calm the tension and we're probably a big reason for each of their success in golf and in business.

[Jake Blackman · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read that showcases the talent and competitiveness these men possessed while on tour together. Palmer’s approach was more cool and casual while Jack had the fire and bravado to counter. Finishing this book made me wish I could have watched them compete, but also made me thankful I was able to witness Tiger’s greatness early in my life.

[Mike Rooney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed reading Arnie and Jack by Ian O’Connor. It’s about the two men and how they competed in so many ways. It provided a lot of insights into what two great golfers and super stars were really like. I recommend it.

[Nick Sabatini · Rating 5 out of 5]

Just simply a delight to read. Two of the fiercest competitors story’s from young yo old. How 2 of the games greatest ever dueled it out for half a century in every walk of life and became the greatest of friends along the way. Great read for all golfers!

[Cole Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I like how the careers of both Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus are introduced and what got them into golf. I enjoyed reading about the 1960s and the Championships each won. Got redundant later in the book but a good read overall.

[Brian F. Loesch · Rating 5 out of 5]

phenomenal read!

Thoroughly enjoyed reading about Arnie, Jack & their relationship all the way through. Really great stuff & loved hearing our their relationship
grew & evolved during their careers.

[Robert DuPrau · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love these two. Great rivalry. I am one of “Arnie’s Army.” Respect the hell out of the Golden Bear though.

[Chuck Stanton · Rating 2 out of 5]

did not finish

[Steve B · Rating 3 out of 5]

After reading this book I know why I idolized Arnold Palmer!

[David · Rating 1 out of 5]

Stopped reading after I found out Nicklaus was/is a Trump supporter. Who cares about the racist piece of garbage.

[Paul McCormack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not too bad but had scope to be better

[Rob Wheeler · Rating 4 out of 5]

(Audiobook): Loved this. This book is a wonderful look at the relationship between two of the greatest rivals and friendships in sports history, during a time when the popularity of professional golf and television viewership was just beginning. Arnie and Jack were both trail-blazers and decent, admirable men.

[Adam Jacobs · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting topic since this was before my time but the writing style made it tough to get through this book.

[Mitch Koehler · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Arnie and Jack: Palmer, Nicklaus, and Golf's Greatest Rivalry" was a good story that explained and informed its readers the great relationship on and off the golf course between Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. Ian O'Conner, the author of this story, goes into detail about the great golfers making each other the best players in the game of golf between themselves, and best friends off of the golf course. O'Connor did a fantastic job explaining that not one of the two golfers was dominant at this time. They were both so talented in the game of golf, that if one would win a tournament one weekend, you could almost guarantee that the other man would probably win the next weekend.

I think the overall theme of this story, is not that when your friends are succeeding in the same thing you are, you should both be satisfied. Instead of being satisfied, you should both continue to get better and keep striving to beat each other because you two are the top of your league. I also think a theme of this story is you always can't receive exactly what you want. In the story O'Connor states that Jack Nicklaus was a better golfer than Palmer, but he had no fans. Even though Jack was better than Arnold, Arnold had fans and Jack did not understand why. Jack was a great golfer, but the fans did not like the way he acted so he did not get to receive what he wanted.

This story was written in a narrative style because it was a story telling book that explained the memories and experiences between the two men in their careers. Whether O'Connor was describing the men's lives or golf games, he had a specific story for each time period of their lives. Hearing the funny little stories that Jack and Arnie shared really made me laugh and reminded me of my friends and I in some parts of the stories. The two men were in the top of the golf game, and were having a lot of fun while doing it.

Overall I loved this story. I would recommend it to anyone that loves the game of golf, or even is just interested in sports. The book goes in to detail about two legends in sports history, and describes their relationship off of the course. It teaches people that even if you are successful, just remember to treat everyone the right way, and respect every individual for who they are. Ian O'Connor did a great job writing this story, and I think it is one of the best stories that I have ever read.

[J.C. · Rating 4 out of 5]

An enjoyable read. Not exactly the in depth biography I am used to reading but good none the less. It author chose to focus more on the rivalry that existed between Nicklaus and Palmer (with a few asides from some of Nicklaus' more memorable victories and defeats that had not involved Palmer) as opposed to writing a book that examined the lives of both men. I liked it more than I thought I would, especially near the end when there were not many golf stories to tell and more stories involving the boardrooms and golf course design. Apparently these two would compete against each other full tilt, no matter what the contest was. Who had more fans, who had more endorsements, whose golf course design was better, who could eat ice cream faster (I made that last one up, but it wouldn't surprise me to find out that there was an ice cream eating contest in some exclusive clubhouse between these to friends and rivals). An interesting book about an intense rivalry between two very different men who loved nothing more than beating the other guy in any contest they could devise.

[Jarrad Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Arnie and Jack" is a fabulous read on the lives of two of the most iconic golfers in the sport's history. Ian O'Connor does a really good job of intertwining the stories of Arnold Palmer & Jack Nicklaus together. He explains the introduction to the game, upbringing, family life, triumphs, setbacks, etc. By the end of the book, you want to reread it again to relive the memories once more. Recommended for anyone. It's descriptive enough to hold the attention of those who were alive to see the two men battle it out in their prime (like myself), yet gives enough of a backstory and oral history from the two men central to the story and many other supporting people in the lives to be a great read for even the most knowledgable Arnie or Jack fan.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

My late father was a golfer and loved to watch Arnie on TV. At the time I didn't appreciate golf as a competetive sport. I'm really enjoying reading about these 2 (pre-Tiger) icons. A well researched book. The author stuck to his theme throughout: the on-going competition between these 2, which continued long after their abilities to win a pro tournament ended. At the end, I was left with the thought that, from the fans POV it was like the Beatles v. The Stones -- in the early days if you were a fan of one you could not be seen to like the other. Later, time passed and things changed...
I would like to have known both.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Not just for golf fans, but for fans of sports in general. What I loved about this book is it treated the 'untouchable reputations' of Jack and Arnie with honesty yet respect. I told one of my 'Tiger-hating' friends that there are many reasons one might not like Tiger, but not because the legends of the game handled it (or each other) any more respectfully. Arnie and Jack could nearly as easily have been Phil and Tiger. I came away respecting them even more for their humanity and for their fierce spirit of competition. And for what they did for the game in their generation.

[Pat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected this book to be better than it was. It was just okay. It told the story of how Palmer got started and how Micklaus followed him and how both of them ended up making a lot of money and changing the course of golf (I agree with O'Connor that without Palmer and Nicklaus, there would be no Tiger Woods today). However, O'Connor can't seem to make the people real - probably because he doesn't really seem to have had that much access to either Palmer or Nicklaus.

[Joe · Rating 4 out of 5]

An engaging and informative recap of the professional careers and personal relationship of Nicklaus and Palmer. The author does a good job presenting the arcs of both of these greats professional successes - as well as the impact of those matches upon their personal lives.

Also draw out some interesting conclusions regarding each of their backgrounds and how those background influenced both their style of play and the "post-PGA" endeavors.

[Brian123 · Rating 5 out of 5]

Good book, nothing really earth shattering for golf fans who think they know everything about Jack and Arnie. In the 1960s they didnt like each other but today they do. They both had different upbringings that shaped them. They both have different personalities. The book has some good stories, I enjoyed it!!!

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

"Arnie and Jack" appeared like a labor of love: well-researched and in-depth with plenty of interviews. Unfortunately, it felt a little too grinding, not like a nice walk on the links, shooting the breeze with your friends. Maybe my expectations were too high because I normally enjoy Ian O'Connor's columns, but this book failed to break par for me.

[Tom Gase · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well written book by Ian O' Connor on one of sports biggest rivalries of all time, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. The book takes you through the 1960s when they dominated golf, the 1970s and even the 1980s when Nicklaus won a Masters in 1986. Before there was Brady and Manning or Ali and Frazier, these two excellent golfers went head-to-head for years. Good stuff.