American golfing great Doug Sanders who almost beat Jack Nicklaus in the 1970 British Open dies at 86

  • American Doug Sanders came three feet away from beating Jack Nicklaus in the 1970 British Open
  • He won 20 PGA Tour events, but never got his hands on a major, coming in as a runner-up four times 
  • Golfing legend Tommy Bolt once called Sanders, 'The man looks like a jukebox with feet' 
  • Sanders was born in Cedartown, Georgia, and went on to play golf at the University of Florida
  • Sanders went on to sponsor the Doug Sanders Celebrity Classic for six years and a junior golf championship in Houston following his retirement

By REUTERS and TAUREN DYSON FOR DAILYMAIL.COM

Published: | Updated:

American Doug Sanders, who was three feet away from beating Jack Nicklaus and winning the 1970 British Open at the home of golf, has died of natural causes aged 86, the PGA Tour said on Sunday.

Sanders suffered the disappointment of coming so close to lifting the Claret Jug and etching his name into history.

Standing over the winning putt on the famous 18th green at St Andrews, he made an ugly stab at the ball, pushing it wide of the hole and falling into a playoff with Nicklaus. 

American golfing legend Doug Sanders, who nearly beat Jack Nicklaus in the 1970 British Open, died on Sunday of natural causes

American golfing legend Doug Sanders, who nearly beat Jack Nicklaus in the 1970 British Open, died on Sunday of natural causes

Doug Sanders swings away on the second hole at the 1966 Masters Tourament at the Augusta National Golf Club in 1966

Doug Sanders swings away on the second hole at the 1966 Masters Tourament at the Augusta National Golf Club in 1966

Frank Sinatra and Doug Sanders pose for a photo at Bermuda Dunes Country Club in Bermuda Dunes, California during at the Bob Hope Desert Golf Classic

Frank Sinatra and Doug Sanders pose for a photo at Bermuda Dunes Country Club in Bermuda Dunes, California during at the Bob Hope Desert Golf Classic

Sanders won 20 PGA Tour events but never captured a major, although he did finish as a runner-up four times

Sanders won 20 PGA Tour events but never captured a major, although he did finish as a runner-up four times

'If I was a master of the English language, I don't think I could find the adjectives to describe how I felt when I missed that short one,' Sanders said after Nicklaus beat him by one shot in a playoff. 'But that's golf, and that's the fascination of the game.' 

To add insult to injury, Sanders subsequently lost an 18-hole playoff by one stroke to Nicklaus.

Sanders would say years later that sometimes he could go as long as five minutes without thinking about that missed putt. He was only half joking. 

'The two most frequent questions on tour were, "What did Arnold Palmer shoot?" and "What's Doug Sanders wearing?"' Sanders said during a Golf Digest interview. 

'And there but for the grace of god,' said renowned commentator Henry Longhurst.

Golfing great Tommy Bolt once call Sanders, 'The man looks like a jukebox with feet.'  

Doug Sanders attends the British Open golf championship on the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, July 18, 2015

Doug Sanders attends the British Open golf championship on the Old Course in St. Andrews, Scotland, July 18, 2015

Sanders drinks from a champagne bottle at St. Andrews, Scotland with his wife Scotty following the British Open Championship

Sanders drinks from a champagne bottle at St. Andrews, Scotland with his wife Scotty following the British Open Championship

Doug Sanders was once called 'The man looks like a jukebox with feet' by golfer Tommy Bolt

Doug Sanders was once called 'The man looks like a jukebox with feet' by golfer Tommy Bolt

Doug Sanders practices prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia

Doug Sanders practices prior to the Masters at Augusta National Golf Club in Georgia

Sanders won 20 times on the PGA Tour, but never did capture a major, finishing as a runner-up four times. 

Sanders also played in a Ryder Cup with golf great Ben Hogan, who was captain of what some say is maybe the best U.S. team ever. 

He was born in Cedartown, Georgia, and later went on to play golf at the University of Florida.

After his retirement, Sanders sponsored the Doug Sanders Celebrity Classic for six years and a junior golf championship in Houston.

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