Barbara Nicklaus has been named the Honoree for the 2025 Memorial Tournament. We asked Barbara about joining that esteemed list and to share her reflections on a life of charity, golf and Muirfield memories. 

Barbara: First, I was speechless. Then I was overcome with emotion. Each year, I like to take a stroll through Memorial Park to see the plaques of the past Honorees. Looking at the list of those who have been honored since 1976, I can’t express how humbled I am to join this elite group.

Barbara: When our daughter Nan was just 11 months old, she had these choking episodes. We took her to Columbus Children’s Hospital, which is now known as Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Doctors found that she had inhaled a crayon. Pieces of crayon fell into Nan’s lungs, and she went into pneumonia. She ended up in intensive care for about six days. Jack and I were young parents and were very scared. 

At that moment, we said to ourselves that if we were able to help others, we wanted it to be children. When you look back on our charitable history, there is a theme of helping children and the families who dearly love them. Children’s Hospital has been beneficiary of the Memorial Tournament since its inception.

In 2004 we created the Nicklaus Children’s Health Care Foundation. We have raised over $200 million for the support of children and families in South Florida, nationwide and around the world. I could never choose a favorite charity. Among our various charitable works, however, the Foundation consumes much of our time and focus.

Barbara: Never in my wildest dreams did I expect to be chosen as the Honoree for the Memorial Tournament. The Memorial Tournament has been our passion, and we always try to set new goals for the betterment of the event and our hometown of Columbus, Ohio.

I just feel blessed to have lived a very special life with a loving and dedicated husband and partner like Jack. We are coming up on 65 years married! When people ask the key to a successful marriage, I like to say it’s 95 percent “give” and 5 percent “take”—on both sides!

Jack always made his success my success. While I never hit a golf shot for him, he always made certain to acknowledge that we were a team. Without the support and sacrifice of each other, there would not have been such success. While I was proud to walk alongside Jack through his playing career, he was always there for me in everything I did. That includes our Foundation. We would not have reached such heights in 20 years if Jack was not there to support me every step of the way.

Barbara: When I met Jack, I had no clue what golf was. But I figured I better learn something about it—and quickly. Jack loves to tell the story about the time I took a golf class at The Ohio State University. The first time our class went out, we played five holes. I finished with three pars and two bogeys. When I saw Jack, I told him about the round and said, “This game isn’t so hard. I don't know why you have to practice so much.” Of course, I was only kidding!

I never took up the game in earnest, but I have a deep-rooted respect and love for the game of golf. The game has given Jack and me so many blessings, and it’s provided us a platform to help so many others.

Barbara: Our vision for Muirfield Village Golf Club was to bring something very special back to Greater Columbus, because Columbus had given so much to Jack growing up and, later, to me. The Memorial Tournament has been such an important part of our lives, and we feel blessed that we have been able to give back because of this wonderful game of golf.

BARBARA: Touching hearts. The Memorial Tournament, and the game of golf, has given us a vehicle to give back and to touch more hearts.