About The Lost Bet

Hello! Welcome to the The Lost Bet Photo website. I truly hope you enjoy seeing, and owning, the single rarest photo of Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus. The story really begins with the photographer, my father, William F. Thompson, who passed away in 2001. When The Lost Bet Photo was taken we lived in Houston, Texas and that is where The Lost Bet Photo was taken. Some say it was at Champions Country Club in 1967. Others have said that it was not at that course but do not know where it was, still others insist that it is at Augusta. The photo of “Arnie Laughing” was taken at the same tournament. If you are reading this then you are probably enough of golf fan or player to know that most folks place bets with fellow players before rounds begin and then settle up afterwards.

This is exactly what happened the day he snapped the world famous Lost Bet Photo. In the morning he was standing with a group of the golfers set to play that morning and was close enough to hear Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus speaking to one another about the stakes for the round. Therefore he knew that at some point afterwards they were going to have to get together and take care of business. With that in mind he waited patiently as he followed them through each hole and took some other great shots of the rest of the field. Folks like Ben Hogan, Lee Trevino, Gene Sarazen and many other famous golfers were there that day. (Golf retailers should contact me if they would like to display and sell The Lost Bet Photo and these other fantastic photos). Well, that morning it went back and forth and Dad really expected that Arnold Palmer was going to win out. But that is not what happened. On the back nine the up-and-coming Jack Nicklaus (who was the Tiger Woods of his day) bested Arnie by winning the last seven holes.

Dad knew that Arnie’s famous money clip was going to come out of his pocket and that some bills were going to be peeled off and given to the man who would go on to become known as The Golden Bear. As they approached the clubhouse The King was still on a golf cart and Jack was walking nearby. Before he stood up Arnie called to Jack and motioned him over. My father knew that the time had come and so positioned himself for the best angle. Then it happened. Arnold Palmer, The King, the leader of Arnie’s Army, pulled out a wad of bills and handed a fifty to a young Jack Nicklaus. CLICK! HE GOT THE SHOT! Caught that day on film for the first and only time were the world’s two greatest golfers captured in what Golf Digest refers to in it’s November 2006 article about the photo as “the man-to-man act of a financial transaction”. Both men were caught completely off guard.

Both Jack and Arnie knew instantly what that photo was of and neither were very happy at the thought of this photo appearing on every sports page in the country. They both turned to him and stared. There was a brief uncomfortable silence that was finally broken by them each imploring him not to sell it to the wire services. My father told them that he would not sell it to Associated Press or United Press International and would take their secret to the grave. And that is exactly what he did. My father truly respected these men and the game enough to sacrifice a very lucrative payoff.

My father was an honorable man and he kept his word for almost forty years despite being contacted by numerous outlets wanting to confirm the existence of, and possibly publish the photo. It was only after his death, and after both Jack and Arnie had retired from the game that I decided the world had a right to see and own this wonderful photo. I really think that it should be hanging on the wall of every country club clubhouse in the country as a testiment to two great golfers and that one thing that makes so many rounds of golf so much more interesting… the wagers! Every clubhouse should hang this historic image on the wall nearest the door that leads out to Hole #1. I mean c’mon folks, who doesn’t have at least a little something riding on the days play? Especially at ” Augusta National Golf Club “! Please tell your friends about The Lost Bet Photo and be sure to mention that it is available to be both seen and ordered right here at TheLostBet.com!

Blake Thompson,

In honor of Arnold Palmer, Jack Nicklaus, and my father William F. Thompson