Golf legend Jack Nicklaus becomes honorary citizen of St Andrews

Video caption, Golfing great Jack Nicklaus expresses heartfelt gratitude 'for making me one of you'
  • Author, Jack Ewing
  • Role, 91热爆 Scotland news

Golf legend Jack Nicklaus has been made an honorary citizen of St Andrews.

The 18-time major winner won two of his three Open Championships at St Andrews in 1970 and 1978.

The 82-year-old becomes only the third American to be awarded the honorary citizenship of St Andrews, following Bobby Jones in 1958 and Benjamin Franklin in 1759.

This year marks the 150th anniversary of the Open Championship and the 30th to be held at St Andrews in Fife.

The Open Championship starts at the Old Course on Thursday.

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Jack Nicklaus (left) made his first appearance at St Andrews in 1964

Nicklaus received the honour at a public ceremony at the town's Younger Hall on Tuesday.

The accolade was the equivalent of being awarded the Freedom of the City, the University of St Andrews said.

Other golfers, including Sandy Lyle, Lee Trevino and Catriona Matthew, received honorary degrees from the university, recognising their outstanding service to golf.

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Nicklaus's first major win at St Andrews was at the 1970 Open Championship

Nicklaus said he was "thrilled" to receive the honour and that St Andrews was a "magical golf course".

"I always said St Andrews looked like an old grey town until the Open came around. All of a sudden it just lit up like a light, and it was beautiful," he said.

"St Andrews in the week of the Open Championship is always beautiful. I imagine anybody who makes a pilgrimage here to play this golf course feels that way."

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Nicklaus won his final Open Championship at St Andrews in 1978

The Open Championship in 2005 was Jack Nicklaus's final competitive golf tournament. Nicknamed the "Golden Bear", he birdied the 18th hole at the Old Course in an emotional finale to his career.

This year he has returned for the first time since then to receive the honour.

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Nicklaus takes the applause of the crowd during his final Open appearance at St Andrews in 2005

"When I first came here in 1964, I couldn't believe that St Andrews was a golf course that still tested golfers of that time," he said.

"The game of golf essentially started here and it's just absolutely mind-blowing to me that it still stands up to the golfers of today - and it does, especially when you get the weather."

Image source, Getty Images

Image caption, Nicklaus was joined by his family at Monday's Celebration of Champions challenge event ahead of becoming an honorary citizen of St Andrews

On Monday, Nicklaus joined other former and current golfers for the celebration of champions event on the Old Course.

The event offered golf fans a chance to see many legends of the game play.

Find out how to follow this year's championship on 91热爆 Scotland.