Before meeting Nicklaus, McGimpsey had played the course twice, seeing the holes before the turn for the first time in an age when only the back nine was televised.

Some local knowledge had clearly been acquired with McGimpsey and a fellow amateur beating Nicklaus and his playing partner.

“Jack said we’d play a $2 Nassau,” said McGimpsey. “I didn’t know what that was, but it didn’t sound too expensive.

“We played away and there was no talk of, ‘oh, you’re one up or two down’, we just played.

“Walking off the 18th green, my brother said to me, ‘you didn’t get paid’.

“I looked at him and said, ‘don’t be daft, I just played at Augusta with the greatest golfer of all time, I’m sure he’s more important things to be thinking about’ and off we went.”

Nicklaus’ week would end considerably better than it started. His Sunday charge through the field, culminating in his 18th and final major at the age of 46, is one of the most famous rounds in golf history.

To McGimpsey’s amazement, ‘The Golden Bear’ did not forget their wager in the aftermath.

“A week later I got a letter from Jack Nicklaus with a cheque for $4.

“It’s a cheque from a joint account and in the notes it says ‘getting beat at Augusta National’. The letter said ‘I hope this doesn’t infringe your amateur status’.

“That tells you everything about the man, that he took the time to do that having just won the Masters. Sheer class.

“He was my hero before but even more ever since then. He always will be.”