Suzanne Lukas, age 17, of Cumberland, Md., for her question:

HOW OLD IS JACK NICKLAUS?

Jack William Nicklaus is one of America's most popular professional golfers. He was born in Columbus, Ohio, in 1940.

Nicklaus began playing golf at the very tender age of 10. At the age of 16 he won his first major tournament, the Ohio Open. His next important tournament victory was in 1959 at the age of 19 when he won the United States amateur championship, a feat he repeated two years later.

Between 1959 and 1961, when he turned professional at the age of 21, Nicklaus won all but one of the 30 amateur matches he entered.

In 1972 Nicklaus tied the career record of the American golfer Bobby Jones of having taken 13 major titles, and the following year he surpassed it. Also in 1972, Nicklaus became golf's all time top career money winner.

During some 25 years as a professional, Nicklaus won four U.S. Opens, five masters, five Professional Golfer Association titles and three British Opens.  In his career he won a total of 73 PGA events.