Award named after Jack Nicklaus and Tony Jacklin to return at 2023 Ryder Cup

The Nicklaus-Jacklin Award, which recognises the player that best embodies the true spirit of the Ryder Cup, will return for the 2023 edition in Rome.



The Ryder Cup has delivered some of history's most shining examples of teamwork, sportsmanship, and performance.

The award recognises and memorialises these pillars of the Cup, highlighting the player who has most embodied the spirit of golf's greatest contest.



"Golf is a sport that embodies principles of sportsmanship, integrity, and respect" said Guy Kinnings, Ryder Cup director.

He added: 

Related: Ryder Cup 2023: Predicting the pairings for Team Europe and Team USA



The award was inspired by the famous 1969 Concession by Jack Nicklaus, which saw him give Tony Jacklin a 2-foot putt for a halved match, resulting in the first tie in Ryder Cup history.

That storied moment has gone down as one of the most iconic demonstrations of sportsmanship in sports history.



The prestigious award was launched at the 2020 Ryder Cup at Whistling Straits (which took place in 2021) and was awarded to one player from each team.

The award, presented by AON, will now be presented to a single player, beginning at the 2023 match. The recipient will be selected by Nicklaus and Jacklin and formally presented to the chosen player at the close of competition and announced on the live broadcast.

Related: Jacklin slams pro golfers over bifurcation

With Team USA now complete, who do we think will win the Ryder Cup?

— GolfMagic (@GolfMagic) August 29, 2023

The award is being highlighted in the run-up to the competition and throughout play in several ways, including features in the global television broadcast to offer additional context and engage fans, a six-part 'Defining Decisions' social media series featuring Nicklaus, Jacklin and other Ryder Cup legends past and present, and an on-site activation in the fan village to showcase the Award to the thousands of fans at Marco Simone Golf and Country Club.



The walls of both the U.S. and European team rooms will also be adorned with a personal letter, crafted by Nicklaus and Jacklin, which reinforces the enduring legacy of sportsmanship in the Ryder Cup. The following excerpts illustrate the importance of the Nicklaus-Jacklin Award presented by Aon to each of them. 

Jack Nicklaus said:

Tony Jacklin said:

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