Geoff Shackelford

Talk about a buzzkill, but someone cut from Jack Nickaus--as emotional as you'll ever see him talking about another golfer--to the supremely forgettable speech by Ohio Governor John Kasich--before returning to the eloquent Tom Watson in the below Columbus Dispatch highlight package of today's ceremony for 2012 Memorial honoree Watson.

I Tweeted the event as it happened, and as wonderful as it was, I was stunned to see no active PGA Tour players sitting in on a ceremony involving the greatest ever and one of the all time greats. Even worse, for the "optics" obsessed tour, watching players walking by in the driving range background with a bag of balls in their hand, oblivious to the emotional tributes by two men who I believe have won as many majors as this year's field combined, was, to say the least, bizarre.

Anyway, back to these great champions. Here is a Golf Channel highlight package reported by Whit Watson. And Shawn Mitchell's written account for the Columbus Dispatch blog.

And the video by the Dispatch:

Doug Ferguson on the USGA jumping into the film business in a big way, turning over an idea for a one-hour documentary on the 1962 U.S. Open to the renowned Ross Greenburg, recently of HBO Sports fame.

Greenburg, who won 51 Sports Emmy awards during his tenure at HBO Sports, already has spent two hours with Palmer and Nicklaus. The real treat comes next month when the King and the Golden Bear return to Oakmont.

The hole locations will be where they were that Sunday afternoon for the 18-hole playoff, when Nicklaus built an early lead, withstood a charge by Palmer in the middle of the round and wound up with a 71 for a three-shot victory.

"It literally was a creation of what went on to be the best rivalry in golf we've ever seen, or one of the best," USGA executive director Mike Davis said. "We went to NBC and said, 'What do you think of our concept?' NBC loved the idea. That got us to thinking. Why wouldn't we promote some of this wonderful history? People love the game. And this is a great way to educate people."

Update on 2012-04-30 16:17 by Geoff

**The USGA release...

USGA ANNOUNCES PRODUCTION OF “1962 U.S. OPEN: JACK’S FIRST MAJOR”

New Documentary is the USGA’s First Film Produced for Network Television

One-Hour Feature to Make U.S. Premiere Sunday, June 17 at 2 p.m. EDT on NBC

Far Hills, N.J. (April 30, 2012) – The United States Golf Association today announced the production of “1962 U.S. Open: Jack’s First Major,” the USGA’s first-ever film produced for network television. The one-hour documentary chronicles Jack Nicklaus’ first U.S. Open victory in 1962 at Oakmont Country Club, which set in motion one of the most prolific careers in professional golf and at the same time ignited one of the greatest rivalries in sport between Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer.

“1962 U.S. Open: Jack’s First Major” will premiere in the United States on Sunday, June 17, 2012, at 2 p.m. EDT on NBC (check local listings) prior to the network’s live final-round coverage of the 112th U.S. Open Championship at The Olympic Club in San Francisco. The film will make its international debut Sunday, June 10 on Sky Sports (SS3).

A preview trailer of the documentary film is available at www.usga.org/62usopenfilm.

“We’re proud to make our network television film debut by bringing golf fans around the world this compelling and dramatic documentary that celebrates the 50th anniversary of Jack’s first major championship,” said USGA President Glen D. Nager. “This film masterfully tells the story of the turning point in Nicklaus’ career, from successful amateur and collegiate player to U.S. Open champion, which set into motion a major championship record that has remained unmatched for 50 golden years.”

“1962 U.S. Open: Jack’s First Major” is a USGA film, produced in collaboration with the USGA Museum and Ross Greenburg Productions, and features archival footage of the 1962 U.S. Open from the Museum’s own collection, and other archival material from Oakmont Country Club, the Jack Nicklaus Museum, Augusta National Golf Club and The R&A, and newsreels of the day. The film also includes fresh interviews with Nicklaus, Palmer and other luminaries from golf and journalism to tell the complete story of the 1962 U.S. Open Championship, from the opening round through the dramatic 18-hole playoff, covering events both on and off the course.

“Jack Nicklaus is one of the most compelling sports figures of the last 50 years, and we’re delighted to tell the story of his win at the 1962 U.S. Open through this new film,” said Robert Williams, director of the USGA Museum. “The 90 holes played at Oakmont proved to be a major turning point in golf history, as the U.S. Open validated Nicklaus’ great potential as a professional through the toughest examination in the game. It is a privilege to partner with the storytelling talents of Ross Greenburg in documenting an exciting period in USGA history and celebrating the emerging era of the ‘Golden Bear.’”

“It is an honor and a thrill to be working for the USGA on this legendary story about the 1962 U.S. Open at Oakmont,” said Ross Greenburg, a 51-time Sports Emmy Award winner. “It is also a dream come true to spend time with two icons in the world of golf, Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer, as they document this historic moment in each of their storied careers.”

Narrated by accomplished actor and Emmy Award® winning narrator Peter Coyote, who has lent his rich voice to over 120 films and documentaries, “1962 U.S. Open: Jack’s First Major” culminates in a retelling of the final rounds of the 1962 U.S. Open and Sunday’s dramatic 18-hole playoff, exploring the emotions of Nicklaus, the undaunted young champion, and Palmer, the hometown favorite. The film closes with reflections from Nicklaus on what the victory meant to him then and now, and how it set the tone for an unrivaled career—one that included a record-tying four U.S. Open titles and a total of 18 major wins, a record that stands today.

“I have never been one to reflect on past achievements, but this production allowed me the opportunity to look back on and relive a very significant part of my life and career,” Nicklaus said. “To the credit of the USGA Museum and Ross Greenburg Production, their combined research was evident in the interview process. They covered aspects of that U.S. Open that I haven’t thought of in close to 50 years. For example, they unearthed letters exchanged after that U.S. Open between my father and my childhood idol Bob Jones.”

"At that time in 1962, I was a 22-year-old kid with blinders on, focusing on the task at hand which was winning my first professional tournament and our national championship,” added Nicklaus. “Fifty years later, it was nice to take the blinders off and think about all the elements that made for such a meaningful week in my life.”

The film’s high-profile list of interviewees also includes: golf professionals Gary Player, Deane Beman, Dow Finsterwald and Billy Maxwell, all of whom played in the final two rounds of regulation play with Nicklaus; golf journalists Dave Anderson and Marino Parascenzo, who covered the 1962 U.S. Open; USGA Executive Director Mike Davis and Rand Jerris, the USGA’s senior managing director for Public Affairs and noted golf historian.

“1962 U.S. Open: Jack’s First Major” is executive-produced by the USGA Museum and Ross Greenburg Productions.

Funding and support for the USGA film has been generously provided by the Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS), a longtime supporter of Jack Nicklaus and the United States Golf Association. As an RBS Ambassador, Jack Nicklaus represents RBS at business and hospitality functions across the globe.