"THE GREATEST PLAYER WHO EVER LIVED": FIRST EDITION OF ON & OFF THE FAIRWAY, SIGNED BY JACK NICKLAUS

NICKLAUS, Jack and BOWDEN, Ken. On & Off the Fairway: A Pictorial Autobiography. New York: Simon and Schuster, (1978). Quarto, original half beige cloth, green paper-covered boards, original dust jacket. $750.

First edition of the great Nicklaus' "running story, captured in prose and photographs," boldly signed by him.

"By the most objective measure of all—the record—Jack Nicklaus is the greatest player who ever lived. There was an immensity to Nicklaus' game. Nicklaus combined tremendous physical ability with boundless mental and psychological resources. At those times when his game was in full song, he would dominate his competition. But Nicklaus' ultimate genius was that when it wasn't, he often found a way to win because he would almost never beat himself" (World Golf Hall of Fame). "After he turned professional in 1962, Nicklaus won the Masters Tournament six times… the U.S. Open four times… the PGA Championship five times… and the British Open three times… Nicklaus was a member of the winning U.S. World Cup team six times… and was a record three-time individual World Cup winner. By 1986 he had played in 100 major championships, finishing in the top three 45 times… His career totals include 73 PGA victories—a number exceeded only by Sam Snead and Tiger Woods—and a record 18 victories in the four major professional championships" (Encyclopedia Britannica). On & Off the Fairway offers many personal insights into his life and his extraordinary impact on golf, as well as numerous photographic illustrations, many never before published. Donovan & Murdoch 65040.

A fine signed copy.