Kel Nagle was one of the nicest, most gentlemanly, and certainly the most highly respected sportsmen that I’ve been privileged to know, and the best putter I’ve ever seen – bar none.
Australia lost a sporting giant when Kel died early Thursday morning at Mona Vale Hospital on Sydney’s north side peninsula, aged 94.
Winner of the Centenary British Open in 1960 was brilliant enough, but to stave off one of the all-time greats in Arnold Palmer by a shot at the home of golf, St Andrews, was the icing on the cake.
During my interview with Kel at his Balgowlah home five years ago in my Green and Gold Greats series on ABC News radio, I had the Centenary British Open trophy in my hand, the coveted claret jug.
“I got lucky,” was Kel’s typically humble explanation.
But I reminded Kel of his great mate Peter Thomson’s prediction pre-tournament he would win.
“But I was 100-1,” Kel added.
All that proved was that Thomson was a top class judge. And it’s fitting to mention Peter Thomson so early in a salute to Kel Nagle.
In the great Australian tradition, our sporting legends have come in pairs – Thomson and Nagle, Ray Lindwall and Keith Miller, Frank Sedgman and Ken McGregor, Ken Rosewall and Lew Hoad, with Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson, to name the elite pairings.
Thomson and Nagle won two Canada Cups for Australia in 1954 and 1959, now known as the World Cup, when the tournament was rated highly worldwide.
But this piece is for Kel Nagle, winner of 81 tournaments around the world, a record 61 of them in Australasia, 30 more than second-placed Greg Norman with 31.
To underline his incredible consistency. Kel won at least one tournament every year from 1949 to 1975. The Centenary British Open and the 1964 Canadian Open were the individual highlights, beating Palmer in both – and losing the US Open in 1965 to Gary Player in an 18-hole play-off.
It’s interesting to note Player won $26,000, and Nagle $13,500. The 2014 US Open champion Martin Kaymer banked $1.44 million, the runner-up $860,000.
Kel was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2007 in a very special way, reserved for a very special person. Kel wasn’t well enough to travel, so the Hall of Fame came to him in Sydney. That was the ultimate recognition, and a first.
So for a bloke who didn’t turn pro until he was 36 due to five years service during World War II, Kel Nagle made an enormous, and lasting, impact on the world of golf.
Rest in peace Kel Nagle, and thanks for the many memories. I’ll leave the last words to five times British Open champion Peter Thomson, because he says it all.
“Of all the people I have met in the world of golf, this fellow is the finest.”
Hi There
Guest
Kel was also an excellent rugby league prop in his time based in Darwin during his army days.
Andrew Jardine
Roar Guru
I never had the pleasure of watching Kel Nagle, but I did as a kid watch Peter Thomson play Bobby Locke at my home club of East London in South Africa. It's a pity that so many of the great players of old have been forgotten. Others I watched in those days were Dai Rees and John Panton but sadly missed Sam Snead when he drove our par-four eight-hole over the bushes. I did, as a sports writer, have the pleasure of playing 18 holes with Locke, my boyhood hero, more than 40 years later before the Legends of Golf Classic at Sun City. Locke arrived at the first tee clad in a white shirt, Troon tie tucked into it and his pants tucked into his socks (he never wore plus fours). Afterwards, I took Locke, his wife and daughter to dinner and Bobby and I played roulette later in the casino. Although I am sure Nagle was a great putter, both Snead and Byron Nelson, in a Golf Digest article, rated Locke the best putter ever, no question. Greats such as Nagle, Thomson, Locke and others have been long forgotten. It's a pity. Nelson in his heyday won 18 of 32 events on the US PGA Tour and 11 in a row. Tiger Woods's best is six. His stroke average also compares well with Tiger's. It was in the last year of the Second World War, but Nelson nonetheless in his prime beat the best players, including Ben Hogan. R.I.P. Kel, Bobby, Byron and the others who have passed on.
David Lord
Expert
Appreciate the ticks Spiro, WB, and Mickyt, but I'm very angry. There are countless Roarers who delight in throwing muck at the fan on a regular basis, which they are entitled to do, the Roar is an open forum. But when only three Roarers have taken the trouble to get off their butt, and the knockers are deafening by their silence when they could, and should be, saluting an Australian icon, that stinks, that's the pits. Shame on you, Kel Nagle deserves a whole lot better.
Mickyt
Guest
Very nice Toss.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Nice tribute Lordy, RIP Kel Nagle.
Spiro Zavos
Expert
I once skipped university studies and followed Kel Nagle and Peter Thomson around a Wellington golf course. There were only a couple of spectators and we chatted amiably to the players as they made their leisurely and assured way around a tough course. Nagle found his ball at one time behind behind a tree. 'They say trees are 90 per cent air,' he told us as he took his stance, placed his iron an inch or so to the far side of the ball and then with his quick and efficient stroke sent it soaring to the green. The golfers of that era, with Ken Nagle and Peter Thomson leading the way, were great sports on and off the course. Thanks for the memories Kel.