Jack Nicklaus’ legendary 1-iron shot at the 1972 U.S. Open is forever frozen in time with Jack at 17: Pebble Beach 6/18/72. Painted in the format of a vintage Polaroid, this work reimagines the moment the Golden Bear battled ocean winds and nearly aced Pebble Beach’s par-3 17th, sealing a three-stroke lead on his way to his third U.S. Open title.
Released on the 50th anniversary of the shot, the painting reflects the atmosphere of the California coastline and the focus of one of the game’s greatest athletes. I walked the grounds of Pebble Beach just weeks before the painting’s release, gaining a firsthand understanding of the terrain, layout, and difficulty of the hole, an experience that translated directly onto the canvas in texture, perspective, and storytelling.
