Justin Rose wins the Nicklaus-Jacklin Award, the ultimate symbol of the Ryder Cup

Justin Rose has won the Nicklaus-Jacklin Award, the ultimate symbol of the Ryder Cup.

The Briton’s sportsmanship earned him this prestigious award at the 44th edition of the Ryder Cup, on the Guidonia Montecelio course near Rome. Rose’s exemplary behaviour was a credit to the two men, Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin, who gave their name to this award 54 years ago.

The Niklaus-Jacklin trophy is in good hands. Justin Rose’s. The first Olympic golf champion (in 2016) has stood out throughout this 44th Ryder Cup, establishing himself as a pillar of the European team and always putting the team first, like his putt on the 18th hole on the first day, when he immediately turned around to celebrate with his team-mates.

“Winning this prize is a real privilege. This event really pushes you to the limit because there’s so much passion. You have to find the edge and get close to it, while always staying on the right side and being respectful of your opponent. (…) Winning this award makes winning the Ryder Cup all the sweeter in my eyes,” summed up Justin Rose, a worthy winner of the Nicklaus-Jacklin Award.

Collective and altruistic, Justin Rose also acted as a spiritual guide for his companion Robert MacIntyre, with whom he teamed up for two days. For his first Ryder Cup, the young Scot was understandably impressed, but he was able to count on Rose’s patience and wisdom to help him get through the event. Together, they made a major contribution to Europe’s final victory over the United States.

“The Ryder Cup is above all a team effort,” summed up the winner of the Nicklaus-Jacklin trophy. “And while I did hit a few putts at the right time, Robert was able to show himself to be regular and consistent so that we could keep up the momentum. Together, the two men forged a bond not unlike that between Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin. Except the latter were not partners but opponents.

“Golf is a sport that embraces the values of sportsmanship, integrity and respect,” said Ryder Cup Director Guy Kinnings recently. To illustrate his point, he could think of no better example than the gesture that illuminated the famous competition, which pits the United States against Europe, in 1969. On that day, two men were to write an entire page in the history of the Ryder Cup, golf and even sport in general.

A gesture that has become iconic, known in English as ‘the concession’, it is so symbolic of the values of fair play that golf conveys, that it has been given an honorary, but oh so precious, award: the Nicklaus-Jacklin Award.

Flashback to 1969, the USA and Europe have battled it out for the 18th edition of the tournament, held at Royal Birkdale in Lancashire, England. Among the American team was a beginner who was nevertheless considered the best player of his time: Jack Nicklaus. The man nicknamed ‘The Golden Bear’ has already won 7 Majors, but according to the rules in force, he could not be selected for the US team until he had spent 5 seasons on the professional circuit. For his first appearance in the Ryder Cup, the Ohio native is set to make his mark. And not just with a golf club in hand.

The setting is perfect, as the Americans and Europeans have been at each other’s throats since the start of this Ryder Cup. It all comes down to the last single of the last day. It pits Nicklaus against Jacklin. Jacklin had already beaten his rival that morning. But this time, the match was much tighter between the two men, who went into the 18th and final hole together to decide the winner!

The tension was palpable on the green, with spectators and players alike holding their breath. A born competitor, Jack Nicklaus did not crack under the pressure and sank his last shot, a 1.20m putt. Tony Jacklin, for his part, had to face the same exercise, but from 60cm out, to equalise. Will the Englishman’s arm shake? We’ll never know, because then the unthinkable happens: Nicklaus stepped up to Jacklin’s ball and picked it up, signalling the end of the game and the final draw between the two teams!

A crazy gesture of absolute class. As Nicklaus said, “I don’t think you would have missed, Tony, but I didn’t want to give you a chance”. This famous ‘concession’ marked the first draw in the history of the Ryder Cup in the most beautiful of ways.

But, above and beyond the sporting result, it was of course Jack Nicklaus’ chivalrous attitude that marked this edition. The American had just demonstrated that it was possible to be a fierce fighter while transcending the rules to further elevate his sport. “That gesture will bind us forever,” Nicklaus recalls in a cross interview with Jackin. “It’s just camaraderie, it’s trying to do the right thing at the right time,” he adds, modestly.

“When you gave me that point, you showed the world that sportsmanship is as important as winning,” says an emotional Tony Jacklin to the American. “And I’m proud that this concession has become a legacy and that its spirit lives on through the Niklaus-Jacklin Award”.

For this 2023 edition, Justin Rose had the privilege of receiving this honorary trophy. The British Olympic champion in 2016 stood out throughout this 44th Ryder Cup, establishing himself as a cornerstone of the European team and always putting the collective effort first, as demonstrated by his putt on the 18th hole on the first day when he immediately turned to celebrate with his teammates. “Winning this award is a true privilege. This event really pushes you to the limit because there’s so much passion. You have to find that edge and get close to it while always staying on the right side by being respectful of your opponent. (…) Winning this award makes this Ryder Cup victory even sweeter in my eyes,” summarized Justin Rose, a worthy recipient of the Nicklaus-Jacklin Award.