Nicklaus and Palmer Battle For Money Title in the Cajun Classic
The two rivals entered a small tournament they usually wouldn't because the money list title was so close
The final event of the 1964 PGA TOUR was an event that drew little attention and was created in 1958 as the poorer sibling to the Tournament of Champions. After five years of forcing non-winners on the tour to take a forced week off, the Las Vegas sponsors of the TOC offered a $5,000 purse to anyone who would run an alternate event. The brothers Jay and Lionel Herbert, PGA tour champions and stalwart PGA members, coaxed a small group of businessmen in Lafayette, LA, to put on an alternate tournament and the Cajun Classic was born.
Originally, the Cajun Classic ran opposite the TOC in May for one year before it was moved to November to fill an open spot, the last of the year, on the tour schedule. In 1964 it surprisingly attracted the top two stars of the Tour — Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer. Why? Well, Palmer led the money list by $318.87 and the two stars stood to make upwards of $20,000 from their endorsement deals if they were able to win the money list title. But it was more the incredible competitiveness that the rivalry created that induced the two to go head-to-head in a tournament they would have viewed as beneath their time in normal circumstances.
Five weeks earlier, at the Sahara Invitational in Las Vegas, Palmer seemed to have the money leader position well in-hand. Going into the final round he held a two-shot lead over Nicklaus which would have given him a $3,000 lead in the money race. Instead, Palmer struggled to a final round 76 resulting in a tie for 19th, while Nicklaus charged home with a 67 good for a tie for third. That closed Palmer’s lead in the money race to just $318.87.
Both players had planned for the Sahara to be their last event of the season and were scheduled to travel overseas trips. But the tightened money race made them reconsider plans before departing Las Vegas. Nicklaus, who had finished his round before Palmer had, quickly packed and then sought out PGA Tournament Supervisor, Joe Black.
“If I’m behind Arnold on the money list, enter me in Lafayette,” he instructed Black. “If I’m ahead of him and he doesn’t enter, don’t enter me either. If I’m ahead of him and he enters, then enter me too.”
Nicklaus then departed for the airport. A few minutes later, Palmer finished his round with little time to make his flight, but he first sought out Black and gave him almost identical instructions to what Nicklaus had given.
The two shared a flight to Australia and the mind games began concerning whether they would play in the Cajun.
“I doubt if I’ll be able to make it, Jack,” Palmer said with as much sincerity that he could muster.
Nicklaus responded with just as much sincerity, “No, I probably won’t either, Arnie.” Nicklaus would later admit, “I knew that if I entered, he would too. We were just trying to psych each other out.”
Palmer extended his trip back from Australia making a detour to Japan to check on his business interests there, while Nicklaus headed home. When Palmer finally returned to the states, he got a phone call from Black that informed him that Nicklaus had entered the Cajun.
“That s.o.b.” Palmer said and then packed his bags for Lafayette.
Palmer arrived with a cold and the gloomy weather in Lafayette did not help raise his spirits. In the first round he shot a two-over-par 74 and Nicklaus was four-under-par after eight holes. A sudden rain squall hit the course and the first round was washed out. The rules at this time stated that if one round was washed out by weather, then all rounds were washed out giving Palmer new life.
Palmer returned to his motel room while Nicklaus went down the road to the Poor Boy’s Riverside Inn. With his fellow pros Gordon Jones, Al Kelly and Dave Ragan watched, Nicklaus ate four dozen oysters. The next day in the rescheduled first round, both players shot 68. After a second round 71 Nicklaus enjoyed a three-shot lead. Would that be enough to make up the $388 to catch Palmer on the money list?
The weather for the final 36 holes was freezing, literally. Nicklaus had a pre-soaked towel on his bag that when he reached to use it, discovered that it was frozen solid. Nicklaus finished the morning round in second place while Palmer sat tied for fourth, two-shots back.
Nicklaus built his lead over Palmer to four-shots before Palmer got hot and playing a stretch of five holes in four under par. But just as fast as he had caught fire, Palmer cooled off with a string of bogeys. He retired to the clubhouse thinking that all hope was lost. He soon learned, however, that he still had a chance.
Miller Barber had wrapped up the title, but it was the battle for second place that mattered; if Gay Brewer could sink a 16-foot putt on the final green he would secure second place giving Palmer the money title. If Brewer missed the putt, he and Nicklaus would be tied for second and Nicklaus would win the money title by $81.13. Brewer missed the putt and Nicklaus topped Palmer for the money title.
It was quite the exciting finish for the year by two of the game’s largest stars in one of the smallest tournaments on the schedule.
Jack Nicklaus eating oysters after rain washed out the first round of the 1964 Cajun Classic (Sports Illustrated)
Bonus Fact
Nicklaus was nervous as Brewer prepared to hit his 16-foot putt that would determine who would be the money leader for the year. Make the putt and Palmer wins the title, miss the putt and Nicklaus would be the leading money winner.
As he was surveying his putt, Brewer walked over near Nicklaus on the green. Nicklaus jokingly slipped his money clip into Brewer’s hand and both men laughed lightheartedly. Nicklaus then turned his back to the green as Brewer stroked his putt.
“It was the first putt I couldn’t bring myself to watch since the 6-footer Palmer missed that would have beaten me in the 1962 Open,” Nicklaus admitted.
Brewer missed the putt securing second-place, and the money leading title, for Nicklaus.
“This is the eighth time I’ve finished second this year,” Nicklaus said. “But it is the first time in my life that I felt happy about it.”