Golf Channel Films' '86 Premiers Tuesday at 9 p.m.

Film celebrates 30-year anniversary of Jack Nicklaus' historic Masters victory at age 46

(ORLANDO, Fla.) – Golf Channel Films’ ’86, commemorating the 30-year anniversary of Jack Nicklaus’ historic 18th major championship victory at the 1986 Masters, will make its worldwide premiere on Golf Channel Tuesday at 9 p.m. ET.

The one-hour special will tell the full story of Nicklaus’ remarkable come-from-behind victory to secure his record sixth Green Jacket. Highlighted by a final-round 65 and a 6-under-par 30 on the final nine holes, Nicklaus became the oldest winner of the Masters at age 46 and the second-oldest winner of any major championship in history.

’86 will feature interviews with Nicklaus, his wife Barbara, sister Marilyn and oldest son, Jack II – who caddied for his father at the ’86 Masters. Additional interviews include members of the broadcast team in 1986, including host Brent Musburger and tower announcer Verne Lundquist; fellow professionals Donnie Hammond, Tom Kite, Gary Koch, Curtis Strange, Sandy Lyle and Bill Kratzert; members of the media, volunteers and patrons who were on hand.

Quotes from ‘86
“The greatest sporting events are the ones where you remember where you were when you saw it.” Brent Musburger, CBS announcer for the Masters in 1986
“Very few things in life are perfect. This was.” NBC Sports’ Bob Costas
“It was like the earth was shaking. I had never experienced anything like that.” Golf Channel analyst Charlie Rymer, a patron at the 1986 Masters.
“We had gotten to the point where we started looking backwards. A lot.” NBC golf analyst Gary Koch, who played in the group in front of Nicklaus during the 1986 Masters final round.
"Jackie said, ‘Be right.’ I just turned to him and said, ‘It is.’” – Jack Nicklaus, on his tee shot to the par-3 16th that ended up three feet from the hole.
“I get asked a lot, ‘What is your favorite?’ My fallback position for 30 years has always been Nicklaus on the back nine at Augusta in April of 1986. That was my favorite sporting event, ever.” – CBS Sports’ Verne Lundquist, tower announcer during the 1986 Masters.

The special also will feature “Where was I” stories recalling that historic Sunday 30 years ago. More than 500 submissions from all over the world were submitted for the special. A sampling of stories includes:
- David Price and Sharon Price, Pittsburgh, Pa.: Price and his wife were watching the final round at home when she went into labor during Nicklaus’ surge on the second nine. Both avid Nicklaus fans, they watched his victory before heading to the hospital, where their daughter was born six hours later.
- Ron Goldberg, Syosset, N.Y. – Goldberg and his wife were on their honeymoon in Hawaii. Ron spent the entire morning and early afternoon watching the final round in their hotel room, nearly missing their flight to Maui in order to watch the tournament’s conclusion.
- Jeff Holman, Alpharetta, Ga.: A huge Nicklaus fan, Holman was in Germany playing professional soccer, and stayed up all night to watch the final round on German television, ultimately waking up his host family with screams to the television during Nicklaus’ final-round comeback.

’86 is produced by Golf Channel Films, which has developed award-winning, critically acclaimed long-form documentaries and specials including the Emmy-nominated Payne; the three-part documentary Arnie and a follow-up fourth installment, Arnie & Me; and Ben Crenshaw: A Walk Through Augusta.

Nicklaus’ memorable victory came 23 years after he donned his first green jacket, and put an exclamation point on a 25-year period in which he won his record 18 majors. The Golden Bear’s final round in ’86 was highlighted by an eagle-birdie-birdie streak at Nos. 15, 16 and 17 for a second-nine 30. GOLF Magazine called the Nicklaus’ win the “Best Tournament of the 20th Century.” GolfWorld called it the “Greatest Masters Tournament” in history, and the final-round 65 the “Greatest Final Round in Major Championship” history. Golf Digest ranked the ’86 Masters as one of the “10 Defining Moments in Golf History.”

From 1959-2005, Nicklaus made 45 starts at the Masters, winning in 1963, 1965, 1966, 1972, 1975, and ’86. He also holds records for the most top-5, top-10, and top-25 finishes at Augusta National. Even 30 years removed from his final Masters’ victory, and more than 10 years after his final round at Augusta National, Nicklaus owns or is tied for no fewer than 35 Masters’ records.