Jack Nicklaus’s Legendary 3-Wood Story and Partnership to Make Golf More Accessible
Jack Nicklaus has long stood as a symbol of class, composure, and respect in golf. Known for his sportsmanship, Nicklaus has often emphasized the importance of self-control and grace under pressure. He once stated that he had “never broken a club from anger in a tournament,” highlighting his belief that poor performance should never be blamed on equipment. Instead, he encourages players to respect the game—finish the round, shake hands, and congratulate the better player.
Despite his calm demeanor and legendary discipline, Nicklaus had his own encounter with broken equipment—but not from anger. His famous 3-wood, a MacGregor club he used from 1958 until the mid-1990s, became the unexpected casualty of an accident. This club wasn’t just any club—it helped him win all 18 of his major championships, including his unforgettable 1986 Masters victory.
The stories behind Jack Nicklaus’ trusty 3 wood are unbelievable 🤯 pic.twitter.com/jKPJcLFDyT
— Golf on CBS ⛳ (@GolfonCBS) May 29, 2025
Nicklaus once shared the story at The Memorial tournament. In 1987, during an event at Kemper Lakes in Chicago, he tapped his 3-wood against his golf bag after a tee shot—nothing dramatic, just a light touch. But later that day, while preparing for a shot in the afternoon round, he noticed the club was bent. Shocked, he realized the tap had damaged the shaft. He quickly sent his son Jackie to retrieve a backup club from the car. After replacing the shaft, Nicklaus continued using that same club for another 7 to 8 years because it still felt just right. He even mentioned how he preferred the leather grips and had only changed the original grip once, in 1983.
In another incident, the shaft of his 3-wood snapped mid-swing and wrapped around his back. Despite that, the ball still traveled straight down the fairway. When later asked if he’d ever broken clubs during play, Nicklaus insisted he hadn’t done so intentionally, sharing that the club once hit the side of the bag after a poor shot into the water but clarified it was unintentional.
Beyond his legendary equipment, Nicklaus is also known for his long-standing partnership with MacGregor, where he used the iconic Tommy Armour 945 driver and contributed significantly to the brand’s growth. After a bidding war in 1958, he signed with MacGregor following a massive offer that helped elevate the company’s status in the golf industry.
More recently, in 2024, Nicklaus took a new step by partnering with Stix Golf—a company known for producing sleek, affordable golf gear. Their joint mission: to make high-quality golf equipment more accessible for everyone. Together, they introduced the Nicklaus™ sets by Stix. These sets prioritize both performance and affordability, reflecting Stix’s minimalist design philosophy and Nicklaus’s decades of experience.
The Nicklaus Essentials Set is built for beginners and casual players, offering nine essential clubs—Driver, 3 Wood, 4 Hybrid, 6 Iron through Pitching Wedge, 56˚ Wedge, and a Mallet Putter. It’s designed for simplicity, style, and function.
The Nicklaus Women’s Set features ten clubs tailored for women or intermediate players. It includes a Driver, 3 Wood, 5 Hybrid, 6 Hybrid, 7 Iron through Pitching Wedge, 56˚ Wedge, and a Mallet Putter. It’s crafted for comfort, consistency, and improvement on the course.
For more serious players, the Stix Compete and Nicklaus Compete Sets offer upgraded materials and expanded club options. These sets are meant for those seeking greater precision, control, and distance.
This collaboration blends Jack Nicklaus’s legacy with modern accessibility, aiming to introduce more people to the game without sacrificing quality or tradition.