The 17-month-old grandson of the golfer Jack Nicklaus has drowned after falling into a hot tub at his home in Florida.

Jake Nicklaus, the son of Steve Nicklaus, was pulled gasping from the tub by his nanny at the house in North Palm Beach. Despite attempts at resuscitation, he was pronounced dead in hospital.

The nanny, who has not been named, had spent about an hour with Jake and his four-year-old brother playing in the hot tub adjoining a swimming pool. They left the pool and went into the house to get ready for dinner.

But Jake slipped away through a sliding glass door and made his way to the tub, which was uncovered. When his nanny noticed he was not in the house, she ran back to the pool area and found the boy floating face down.

Jack Nicklaus, winner of 18 majors and known as the "Golden Bear", was 65 in January.