He spent hours on the practice range as a teenager, and cured himself of a hook that sometimes plagued him. In 1959, at 19 years and 7 months, he became the youngest player in 50 years to win the U.S. Amateur. He won his second amateur two years later. In between, at the 1960 U.S. Open, he shot a 282, finishing second by two strokes to Palmer, who won the tournament with a final round 65. Despite his outstanding showing, Nicklaus wasn't thrilled.
Nobody ever remembers who finished second at anything.
That's not always true, for we all remember Germany for finishing second in world wars, but Nicklaus' sentiment showed his competitive fire. After maintaining that he wouldn't turn pro, Nicklaus did, in late 1961, and left Ohio State. In his first pro start, at the Los Angeles Open in January 1962, his 289 left him 21 strokes behind the winner. But you'd better watch the fat boy. His par 71 was three strokes better than Palmer's 74.