Gary Nicklaus

Nicklaus made one more attempt to qualify for the PGA Tour in 2009 at the age of 40, but came up short. He continued to play in amateur events and managed to qualify for the U.S. Amateur in 2012, when the tournament was once again being held at Cherry Hills. He shot 4-over-par in the stroke play portion of the event and failed to advance to the match play.

On August 20, 2008, a fire in Jupiter, Florida destroyed a home that was being built for Nicklaus.

In 2007, Nicklaus was reinstated as an amateur by the United States Golf Association.

Forced to return to the qualifying tournament, Nicklaus again earned his card for 2002. But that season saw him make just six cuts in 26 events and it would be his final season on the PGA Tour. After spending 2003 primarily on the Tour's minor-league circuit (now the Korn Ferry Tour), Nicklaus stopped playing professional golf to focus on the family business.

In 2001, Nicklaus made just 12 cuts in 34 starts, with a best finish of 15th at The Memorial Tournament, an event founded by his father. He also qualified for the U.S. Open, his second appearance in a major tournament, but missed the cut. He placed 184th on the Tour money list and lost his playing privileges.

Nicklaus started fairly slowly during his first year on the PGA Tour in 2000 but in April he put together three strong rounds at the BellSouth Classic in Atlanta, Georgia and found himself tied for the 54-hole lead with Phil Mickelson. When torrential rains struck on Sunday, leaving much of the course unplayable, Tour officials canceled the final round and called for a sudden-death playoff to determine a champion. On the first hole, a par-three, Mickelson hit the green while Nicklaus left his shot just short in a bunker. It took Nicklaus two more shots to get on the green, while Mickelson sank his birdie putt to win the tournament. Despite his disappointment, Nicklaus was encouraged, saying, "It just lets me know that there are good things coming down the road."

But the rest of 2000 did not bring much success for Nicklaus, who finished no higher than 25th in any subsequent tournament. However, the money he earned by finishing runner-up in Atlanta was enough to help him place 119th on the Tour money list and he retained his PGA Tour card.

Over the next eight years, Nicklaus would make numerous failed attempts to qualify for the PGA Tour. He played in 26 PGA Tour events during that time, including the 1997 U.S. Open, but made only two cuts. Nicklaus spent most of his time playing overseas, including the European Tour in 1998, and on mini-tours. Finally, in 1999, Nicklaus made it through the PGA Tour Qualifying Tournament on his eighth try. A few weeks later, Nicklaus teamed with his father to win the Father/Son Challenge, a 36-hole tournament played in a scramble format.

Nicklaus returned to Ohio State to finish his college career in 1991, then won the prestigious Porter Cup and qualified again for the U.S. Amateur. Later that year, he would turn professional.

Gary Nicklaus (born January 15, 1969) is an American professional golfer. He spent three years as a member of the PGA Tour from 2000-2003. After an 11 year stint in the amateurs, Nicklaus returned to pro ranks on PGA Tour Champions in January 2019, 10 days after his 50th birthday. He is best known as the son of golfer Jack Nicklaus.