Jack Nicklaus to appear on Scottish bank notes

Jack Nicklaus has been given keys to the city, received honorary degrees and had a bronze monument erected in his honor at Augusta National. But nothing prepared him for his latest tribute.

Nicklaus will join rare company next week when the Royal Bank of Scotland issues currency with his picture. RBS will put into circulation 2 million 5-pound notes in Scotland during the British Open at St. Andrews, where Nicklaus won in 1970 and 1978.

RBS has been issuing its own bank notes since 1727, and Nicklaus will be the only living person to appear on a Scottish note besides Her Majesty the Queen and the late Queen Mother.

``That one is something I have a hard time just fathoming,'' said Nicklaus, who has had an endorsement deal with RBS the last three years.

Nicklaus has said the British Open will be his last major championship, and he considers St. Andrews a second home. He speaks often of the affection the Scottish people have shown him since his first trip to the home of golf in 1964. Nicklaus is the only American to win the Open twice at St. Andrews.

``I'm an American -- not a Scot or a Brit,'' Nicklaus said. ``St. Andrews and Scotland ... RBS has realized that's been a special part of my life and my career, and they wanted to commemorate my last Open Championship. I thought that was just something very, very special.''

The special note will be unveiled July 12 at the Royal & Ancient Golf Club.

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