nˈɪkəlz bɪɡˈæn plˈeɪɪŋ ɔnðə pˌiːdʒˌiːˈeɪ tˈʊɹ ɪn nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd sˈɪksti ænd ɹᵻkˈoːɹdᵻd twˈɛlv vˈɪktɚɹiz, wˈʌn ʌvwˈɪtʃ, ðə pˌiːdʒˌiːˈeɪ nˈæʃənəl tˈiːm tʃˈæmpiənʃˌɪp, wʌz nˌɑːt fˈʊli ɹˈɛkəɡnˌaɪzd ʌntˈɪl tˈuː θˈaʊzənd twˈɛlv.
Nichols began playing on the PGA Tour in 1960 and recorded 12 victories, one of which, the PGA National Team Championship, was not fully recognized until 2012.