I grew up in Australia and Nicklaus was my absolute golfing idol . The man has grace , poise and just a decent human being . The best ever in my humble opinion.
The PGA used to have a long drive competition before tournaments started on Wednesday they stopped it in 1984 30 years later the PGA resumed the competition in 2014 Oosthuizen won it with a drive of 340 yards Jack Nicklaus won it in 1963 with a 341 yard drive enough said
I once watched an interview with Gary Player. While people ogle over birdies in Major Championships, Gary Player said it best. “Jack’s greatest attribute in the Majors was not his ability to make birdie, it was rather his ability to make par. He understood the importance of par, especially in the U.S. Open. No one managed a golf course like Jack!”
I have NEVER heard Jack Nicklaus say Tiger Woods is the Greatest. I have heard Jack say Sam Snead is probably the Greatest. Yeah, Sam Snead. Tiger Woods says Jack Nicklaus is the GREATEST OF ALL TIME. ( Ref: golfchannel.com/news/tiger-woods-says-jack-nicklaus-best--all-time ) Tiger believes Jacks the BEST.
@MSgt Baca .. No. I have been alive and well here on Planet Earth. Maybe I missed Jack saying Tiger's the best. Can you source me the quoted where Jack made that statement? .. I am aware of the statement by Tom Watson where he " supposedly " said Tiger's the best and Jack " supposedly " agreed. Sounds to me, as the scene is described, Jack was giving an off the cuff reply with very little thought in it. Like a " yeah, I suppose" ... or a "yeah, I geuss. " That's the way it comes across to me. .. BTW, I have never seen or read an direct interview of Tom Watson where he claimed that little exchange with Jack ever occurred. I have heard " other " people, mainly Kyle Porter from Golf Digest, say that supposedly happened. But, I have never heard it directly from Tom's or Jack's mouth. If you know of the source where 1 of those 2 gentlemen directly said it, I like to see it. .... I know Tiger said Jack was the best. I gave you the link. I can give you more. You don't believe Tiger when he freely admitted Jack was the best?
Greatest golfer we will ever see. Major championships in 3 different decades, outstanding human being, and a credit to his sport. He never trash talked, was never anything other than a an exemplary professional who respected the game
Jacks 18 professional major championship record will never be broken. The state of the game has changed dramatically. Heck, professional golf as it is today may not even exist. Tremendous amounts of money pouring into the game from all directions has definitely changed professional golf. Congratulations Jack. Your record will stand.
19 runner up finishes in majors is incredible! If he won even just 1/4 of those, he would have 22-23 majors, and Tiger wouldn't even have a sniff at that record anymore.
The 19 second-place finishes at majors really doesn't get the respect it deserves. 37 top-2 finishes in majors...and many of the majors he won weren't by large margins either, meaning he knew how to hit clutch shots in clutch moments
He lapped the field, on several occasions. Notably, his early wins at Augusta. A Palmer victory, in 1964, stopping a run of 4 straight Green jackets. Being as he was the champion in 1963's 65, and 66. Amazing, is euphemistic.
Jack was the best of his era, and Tiger was the best of his era. I think it will be a long time until someone is even in the conversation of the best ever. They both dominated.
Jack Nicklaus was before my time. I grew up watching Tiger dominate the PGA from 1997-2008 but when I see that Jack won 18 majors and finished in 2nd place 19 times in major championships i feel there is no argument. Jack is the greatest golfer ever and Tiger will not under any circumstance surpass this incredible record! He has to many injuries and too many demons following him not to mention he is now 41 years old! Now even though he has 34 more majors to play in to win 5 majors before he hits the senior tour Tiger is a shell of a his former self and I can't see him winning anymore majors
Jordan Spieth is a class act and humble golfer like Jack. As long as he doesn't follow the footsteps of Tiger then he may end up being the one who could be close to Jacks record.
+Thamac15 No one win will break 18, Winning majors is the hardest tournaments to play in golf . Phil Mickelson started on tour in 1991 it took him till 2004 to win a major (Masters)he has 5 majors now but it just goes to show, every ones chances are limited.
Jack was known for his charges! I remember as a teenager in Australia watching a final round late at night (in Australia) in the early 70s. My memory doesn't serve me well re the tournament name and the exact year. Anyway, at the turn on the final round with 9 holes to go, I think Jack was about 8 or 9 shots behind a long list of well known quality golfers of the day. Then he got on an exhilarating run of golf, with miraculous golf shots from one hole to the next. I was entranced and couldn't go to bed. Somehow Jack won that event from a seemingly impossible position. I would love to view the footage again but have never seen it posted on RUclips or heard anyone mention it in his achievements. Does anyone else remember that event? Does anyone know whether the vision of it has been saved? If so, can it be watched on-line? Thanks.
The best by a country mile. Tiger Woods mopped up the weakest period in golf history, and still couldn't match Nicklaus. Jack was playing against Palmer, Player, Trevino etc; and could hit a 1 iron in his sleep. And a nuclear family man to boot, forgoing many PGA tour events to spend time with his family. He could have won twice as much as he did. The golden bear is in his own plateau. That is all.
+George Wallace The dude's a troll George, don't bother. Tiger certainly had a chance to be the better golfer (and may still). But as it stands now it's Jack. Too many demons following Tiger.
Tiger is just a run of the mill dope addict today.... Although his record wont be broken any more than Jacks... Tiger not only isnt the golfer Jack was he could never be the man Jack is...
My uncle Bill was in the same division as Bongs brother so he got to see Betty Grable at Pearl before he went oversees.Interesting tie in with Golf and saving private Ryan. If I had known it would be shown on ABC I wouldn't have written it.
Jack knew he could beat all the guys he played against. All the guys he played against knew he could beat them. Jack knew that they knew that. They knew that Jack knew that they knew that.
Who wouldn't want to see: Hagen, Jones, Sneed, Nelson, Hogan, Nicklaus and Tiger playing in thier prime with the same equipment and golf course conditions? That would be something. And I think it would be really close. Much more so than people would think.
I somewhat agree with what you're saying and I think Tiger will be better than Jack if he stays healthy. But Tiger won the majority of his majors between 2000-2006 and the PGA competition then was very bad. Tiger may have tougher competition now in 2013, but win he was winning majors there was nobody else worth a damn. Els, Singh, Garcia and Mickelson vs Palmer, Player, Trevino, and Watson, I'm taking the old farts any day.
You can look at it that way too. But I think the reason there are very few multiple major winners nowadays is that the competition is much tougher and it is way harder to stay on top. It's not that the other players are bad, but they are all so talented that it's almost impossible to dominate the game of golf like Tiger has done. That's why it may seem like he has no competitors, but he has to go against the whole field whereas in Jack's days there was a handful of favorites. Now anyone can win.
Jay Smooth Six USGA Amateur titles in a row ( 3 US Jr Am, 3 US Am), 4 majors in a row. In his prime Tiger was the best golfer there has ever been. Sorry.
Aware2128 ha! Yeah, cause ametuer championships are what every golfer dreams of at the end of the career. Every single established golfer wants nothing but majors and even the non established want majors more than anything.
Jay Smooth Thanks for revealing you know nothing about golf. The US Amateur is one of the most prestigious tournaments of all time and Tiger's record there is one of the greatest achievements in the history of golf. Sorry.
There have been few game changers. In golf it was both jack and tiger. Equipment and training aside, they both took the landscape by storm in their time. Premier athletes will always be judged. Talent, equipment, training...Most tournament or major wins will be an argument for the ages. Be it golf, BB, baseball, hockey, boxing or track and field. No playing field can be compared across generations. The variables are inconceivable. Let it be said, as professionals both jack and tiger are the best of the best.
On your first question: Yes Second, when no discernible group of people win a lot, that means no group stands out, which means less talent in the field. Third, they hit the ball farther and straighter?? Jack drove a 300 plus yard green in the 60's, in playoff pressure. Arnie used to hit it 280 constantly. Fourth, the field now is physically fitter, but not better golfers. There's a difference. And, the smaller field before had a chance to win multiple majors INDIVIDUALLY.
You MUST look at it in the correct way. Nobody remembers who finished second, although Jack did it 19 times. It is, and always shall be how MANY majors you've won and oh my golly, that is also Jack with 18.
I get that. But I stick to my point and say that every player on tour is incredibly good. Every one can win when they get on a roll and the margins are very small. And therefore it's harder to stay constantly on top and stand out as a high talent player. Pretty much no one but Tiger can compete for the win in almost every tournament he plays in. But yeah I get your point and this is just a matter of opinion and a never ending argument.
Although Jack played in the "modern era", the technology of golf has come light years since his prime competitive days. No disrespect to Tiger becuase I actually like Tiger a lot and think that he may break Jack's major 18 record, but Jack never benefitted from Trackman analysis and Swingvision tracking and the latest graphite driver shaft technology, player adjustable lie and loft drivers, multi layer balls. etc...etc. Give Tiger a persimmon and a balata ball as see what happens.
It's really not as close as you think. Can Tiger get up in front of the entire golf world and ever say; "I took on legends of the game"? No. He'd be the laughing stock of the golf world. He's a fantastic golfer; but Jack played in tougher course conditions (the golf courses may have been lengthened since his time; but rough has gotten shorter; fairways and greens have gotten bigger; and there was no machines back then to manicure the courses like in Tiger's era); against tougher competition, and still ended up with his wins and majors.
IMO, you play both the field and the course. If the wind is blowing bad, the whole field will do bad. But, if it is a good day weather-wise, the field might play well as a whole meaning you have to play the course. Right?
It shows consistency of play at the peak of a players game. In Nicklaus' case, a very long time of consistency of great play. But, you're right. Second is the first loser. And, yes, as soon as anyone beats his 18 major wins, that guy will be number one and not technically either. But, that's not going to happen anytime soon.
Unbelievable. First of all, it's exactly the point that Nicklaus didn't get himself into a sex scandal by humiliating and betraying his wife and kids. Secondly, stop with the "poor Tiger, he has so much media coverage" bullshit. It's part of making the endless dollars. Jack did just fine in the limelight, and there is every reason to believe he would've done just as well with it today. Such adolescent whining. "Only the hero of my generation could possibly be best of all time."
Correct. No one is close to him therefore no one is as talented or in the same realm of talent. Jack, on the other hand had to fend of competitors that were capable of winning MULTIPLE majors. How many multiple major winners does tiger need to beat?
I love how the current generation thinks there so great, like the guys back in jacks day couldn't hit a golf ball. I dont think the 50th ranked golfer would just totally dominate the 50th ranked in 1970. Watch Bobby Jones hit a golf ball, looks pretty good to me. We shouldn't just assume these guys are that much better, the physics of the golf swing haven't changed in golfs history. What the hell are we basing this premise that the current guys are so much better
Like if Palmer, Player, Watson or Treveno weren't competition !! Who was the greatest rival for Tiger? Mickelson with 5 majors. And all the players I did name has 6 majors each or more. I don't think Tiger had much competition. 19 2nd place for Jack prove how his era was so much competitive.
Totally agree. This point is not made often enough. Nicklaus was head over heels better than his playing field, but those fields were simply not as deep as they are today. Tiger>Jack regardless of whether he gets to 18 majors....but not by a lot. The greatest thing they have in common is the ability to make that putt when they absolutely had to do it. Nicklaus was just as amazing with the flat stick as Tiger is.
Not an anti-woods man. Just trying to give some perspective and credit where it is due. Yes, Tiger is and will be a hall of famer for sure. Yes, he is lapping the field in his era. No, he is not the greatest yet. Jack is. I just remind those that are too blinded to see that 18 majors is still the target.
Wait Tom Watson almost won The Open at 59, now I know Tom is an all time great, but it just goes to show you he's a bad ass back then and a bad ass now. His competition, like jack's wasn't inferior, cause he showed it was him, not the bad competition when he stripped a 8 iron over the green to lose the Open... to today's competition, Jack kind of did the same in 98'. So this weaker competition thing has got to go.
40 years to get that many majors. Yeesh. No doubt tiger is the greatest golfer. Jacks contributions to the game will never fade. Great guy for sure. Obviously took a personal toll, but no one will ever be more dominant on the course than Tiger.
Any golfer on tour will tell you that the success of any career is based on major championships. Unfair or not, that's the yard stick. And, if you compare the number of multiple major winners in Jack's era as opposed to Tiger's, Jack's era had more. Your first time winners example doesn't say depth of field. It says no consistent, dominant forces against Tiger since Tiger hasn't had a good major in 5 years so it was everyone else's to win.
what do you think now after THE OPEN? Ask Kuchar what he thinks!!! Ask anybody. Sit back in awe and watch this young man for the next 30 years. He is as humble as they come, loves the game intensely for the chance to show what he has in the tank and is only just learning how to step on your throat for the win in the clutch. Three majors at 24... only second to Nicklaus. Possible Grand Slam with the PGA in 2 weeks (at 24). 11 wins before 24 never ever accomplished. Armchair QB labeling him a "choker" at 24 is a little harsh from someone that couldn't even carry his bag to the driving range. Greg Norman has a bazillions dollars and the respect of countless elite and peasant golfers worldwide...including some that won tournaments because he "choked". Everyone is obviously entitled to their opinion.....but in my opinion, your is severely misguided.
Just remember, when everyone is special, no one is. You're saying there's a lot more that can win therefore there's a lot more talent. I profer that there's a lot more winners not because of higher talent than before but because a spurt of great golf during the weekend is never challenged by the others. That's not a more talented pool. That's a less talented pool.
Jack's father was indeed a phamacist; however, he was more of a profitable businessman that ruled many pharmacy's in Ohio. Had Jack's dad not been so profitable, he would have never earned a membership at the elite Scioto Country Club.
As someone who was born during Tigers peak, I don’t get the argument that he’s better than Jack. Golf isn’t a team sport. It’s battle royal. Everyone in each era is using the same level of equipment. Jack used shittier equipment, faced way better high end competition, and still won more majors (yes that’s what matters). How is he not the GOAT easily?
Jack just hit really great, solid, conventional Golf shots under pressure when it really mattered. But he didn’t have anywhere near the flair, imagination, charisma, or just pure Golfing Genius that Tiger has. So for me Tiger is the most naturally gifted player the game of Golf has ever seen, at his best Tiger would beat Jack at his best.
With all due respect, you are wrong sir. It will always be results that indicate the greatness of a player and the ultimate yardstick is major wins. There is simply no other valid method of measuring greatness. I appreciate Tiger's record hugely, he will likely top Sneads all time win tally later this year or early next but until he gets to 19 majors he can never be said to be jacks better. And the argument that there are better players around now is false, Jack had to beat Player, Floyd,
And by the way, just to respond to your idiotic statement that "their caliber is determined by how they play relative to the field"...that's totally wrong. they don't play the field they play the course and all things being equal, their caliber is determined by how well they play the course. In 1965 Jack shot 271to win the Masters. in 2001, Tiger shot 272 to win the Masters. Tiger had graphite and titanium clubs and juiced up golf balls. Jack had persimmon and steel and balata. Same course.
There is Winning, and there is Class! - This guy put them both together. Untouchable
I grew up in Australia and Nicklaus was my absolute golfing idol . The man has grace , poise and just a decent human being . The best ever in my humble opinion.
As great a human being as he was an athlete. He stands head and shoulders above anyone else.
Agreed.
disagreed
18 Majors and 19 second places in majors.
Astounding numbers and will never be beaten.
You are the man and will always be THE man in golf, Jack.
The PGA used to have a long drive competition before tournaments started on Wednesday they stopped it in 1984 30 years later the PGA resumed the competition in 2014 Oosthuizen won it with a drive of 340 yards Jack Nicklaus won it in 1963 with a 341 yard drive enough said
With persimmon wood. What a beast!
I once watched an interview with Gary Player. While people ogle over birdies in Major Championships, Gary Player said it best. “Jack’s greatest attribute in the Majors was not his ability to make birdie, it was rather his ability to make par. He understood the importance of par, especially in the U.S. Open. No one managed a golf course like Jack!”
Simply the greatest golfer ever.
Nope tiger is the GOAT
Agree. 18 Majors is the Bench Mark. Until Tiger gets 18 Majors Jack is the man.
I have NEVER heard Jack Nicklaus say Tiger Woods is the Greatest. I have heard Jack say Sam Snead is probably the Greatest. Yeah, Sam Snead.
Tiger Woods says Jack Nicklaus is the GREATEST OF ALL TIME. ( Ref: golfchannel.com/news/tiger-woods-says-jack-nicklaus-best--all-time ) Tiger believes Jacks the BEST.
@MSgt Baca .. No. I have been alive and well here on Planet Earth. Maybe I missed Jack saying Tiger's the best. Can you source me the quoted where Jack made that statement?
.. I am aware of the statement by Tom Watson where he " supposedly " said Tiger's the best and Jack " supposedly " agreed. Sounds to me, as the scene is described, Jack was giving an off the cuff reply with very little thought in it. Like a " yeah, I suppose" ... or a "yeah, I geuss. " That's the way it comes across to me.
.. BTW, I have never seen or read an direct interview of Tom Watson where he claimed that little exchange with Jack ever occurred. I have heard " other " people, mainly Kyle Porter from Golf Digest, say that supposedly happened. But, I have never heard it directly from Tom's or Jack's mouth. If you know of the source where 1 of those 2 gentlemen directly said it, I like to see it.
.... I know Tiger said Jack was the best. I gave you the link. I can give you more. You don't believe Tiger when he freely admitted Jack was the best?
@MSgt Baca .. How old was McIlroy when Palmer did his run from 1960 -1962?
Arnold Palmer : 22 wins. 1960-1962.
Tiger Woods " 22 wins. 1999-2001.
Palmer, Player, Nicklaus were the triumvirate of golf legends whose skills,
charisma, charm, respect, and manner will be hard to duplicate.
Not only a great championship golfer, a great family man, but a fantastic person. Those qualities you just do see too often, maybe Phil.
Jack Nicklaus; eighteen major championships, along with nineteen second place finishes; what more is there to say?
Greatest golfer we will ever see. Major championships in 3 different decades, outstanding human being, and a credit to his sport. He never trash talked, was never anything other than a an exemplary professional who respected the game
A legend 😃👍
I was fortunate to interview Nicklaus, and Woods and Stewart. Jack loved a good question.
Bob De Witt Great to hear what did you ask him?
That putt he made like it was nothing was insane and it didn't even count because he was showing someone else how to putt. Haha
My favorite tournament was watching him win his last Masters with my late Dad. I will go back and watch it, when I’m missing my Dad.
The best of all time IMO. Jack is the reason I started watching golf in the first place.
i have so much respect for this man! one of the greatest golfers of all time.
He never, ever beat himself, his preparation was amazing!
My father and I were there when Jack dotted the i. What a day 🌰
Jack Nicklaus, the greatest golfer ever...enough said !!!!!
Jack over Tiger. Jack's astonishing number of second place finishes shows he was in it all the time for years and years.
THE greatest golfer of all time!!
You, sir...are awesome. I have been compiling data for over seven years and nothing indicates the fields are deeper today. Excellent posts!
Jacks 18 professional major championship record will never be broken. The state of the game has changed dramatically. Heck, professional golf as it is today may not even exist. Tremendous amounts of money pouring into the game from all directions has definitely changed professional golf. Congratulations Jack. Your record will stand.
19 runner up finishes in majors is incredible! If he won even just 1/4 of those, he would have 22-23 majors, and Tiger wouldn't even have a sniff at that record anymore.
The 19 second-place finishes at majors really doesn't get the respect it deserves. 37 top-2 finishes in majors...and many of the majors he won weren't by large margins either, meaning he knew how to hit clutch shots in clutch moments
He lapped the field, on several occasions. Notably, his early wins at Augusta. A Palmer victory, in 1964, stopping a run of 4 straight Green jackets. Being as he was the champion in 1963's 65, and 66. Amazing, is euphemistic.
Jack was the best of his era, and Tiger was the best of his era. I think it will be a long time until someone is even in the conversation of the best ever. They both dominated.
Jack Nicklaus was before my time. I grew up watching Tiger dominate the PGA from 1997-2008 but when I see that Jack won 18 majors and finished in 2nd place 19 times in major championships i feel there is no argument. Jack is the greatest golfer ever and Tiger will not under any circumstance surpass this incredible record! He has to many injuries and too many demons following him not to mention he is now 41 years old! Now even though he has 34 more majors to play in to win 5 majors before he hits the senior tour Tiger is a shell of a his former self and I can't see him winning anymore majors
Jordan Spieth is a class act and humble golfer like Jack. As long as he doesn't follow the footsteps of Tiger then he may end up being the one who could be close to Jacks record.
+Thamac15 He's not good enough, the competition is too high now.
+Thamac15 No one win will break 18, Winning majors is the hardest tournaments to play in golf . Phil Mickelson started on tour in 1991 it took him till 2004 to win a major (Masters)he has 5 majors now but it just goes to show, every ones chances are limited.
Jordan isn't smooth / natural enough, competition is getting stronger every year. He might never win another major.
Jack was known for his charges! I remember as a teenager in Australia watching a final round late at night (in Australia) in the early 70s. My memory doesn't serve me well re the tournament name and the exact year.
Anyway, at the turn on the final round with 9 holes to go, I think Jack was about 8 or 9 shots behind a long list of well known quality golfers of the day. Then he got on an exhilarating run of golf, with miraculous golf shots from one hole to the next. I was entranced and couldn't go to bed.
Somehow Jack won that event from a seemingly impossible position.
I would love to view the footage again but have never seen it posted on RUclips or heard anyone mention it in his achievements.
Does anyone else remember that event?
Does anyone know whether the vision of it has been saved? If so, can it be watched on-line?
Thanks.
Yep, Jack is the Secretariat of golf.
I think a better analogy is this: Jack is Affirmed and Tiger is Alydar
The best by a country mile. Tiger Woods mopped up the weakest period in golf history, and still couldn't match Nicklaus. Jack was playing against Palmer, Player, Trevino etc; and could hit a 1 iron in his sleep. And a nuclear family man to boot, forgoing many PGA tour events to spend time with his family. He could have won twice as much as he did.
The golden bear is in his own plateau. That is all.
Well don't count Tiger out just yet. :)
And Tiget is back 🤷♂️🤷♂️
@@rsting4ever328 No, Tiger's back .
Don’t hate on Tiger he might not be the greatest to you but he’s still an all time great
Tiger will beat him...
Simply the best, nothing more nothing less.
Jack is the best, even by Tiger's own standard..Major tournaments.
People will argue forever who was the better golfer between Jack and Tiger, but there's no question who the better man is.
+George Wallace The dude's a troll George, don't bother.
Tiger certainly had a chance to be the better golfer (and may still). But as it stands now it's Jack. Too many demons following Tiger.
Exactly Tiger > Jack
Tiger is just a run of the mill dope addict today....
Although his record wont be broken any more than Jacks...
Tiger not only isnt the golfer Jack was he could never be the man Jack is...
buckfan1969 yeah tiger
on the day i would bet on tiger
The GOAT 🐐
One of my heroes! On and off the course.
My uncle Bill was in the same division as Bongs brother so he got to see Betty Grable at Pearl before he went oversees.Interesting tie in with Golf and saving private Ryan. If I had known it would be shown on ABC I wouldn't have written it.
The Golden Bear - STILL the greatest golfer of all time, yes, even better than Tiger.
I think it's feeling more that way now tigers career is struggling
+Jimmy Ridinman Yep Jack is full of class 😃👍
+Jimmy Ridinman yep hands down Nicklaus is the current greatest 😃👍
Tiger has been through a lot and he is still trying to beat him... and he will
dont forget -73 top ten finishes in a major by jack.25 more than anyone else.insane.
Jack knew he could beat all the guys he played against. All the guys he played against knew he could beat them. Jack knew that they knew that. They knew that Jack knew that they knew that.
Watson, Palmer, Trevino etc. All multiple (5+) major champions.
Who wouldn't want to see: Hagen, Jones, Sneed, Nelson, Hogan, Nicklaus and Tiger playing in thier prime with the same equipment and golf course conditions? That would be something. And I think it would be really close. Much more so than people would think.
No Palmer?
Maximillian Urdiales well, we've seen Palmer with Nicklaus under thos circumstances. Palmer lost. But... He is still the king.
Sounds like the perfect premise for a new video game!
Arnie won 6 majors from 60-64, half of those against Jack. He didn't lose em' all.
he's in a class by himself that's for sure.
The best ever.
I somewhat agree with what you're saying and I think Tiger will be better than Jack if he stays healthy. But Tiger won the majority of his majors between 2000-2006 and the PGA competition then was very bad. Tiger may have tougher competition now in 2013, but win he was winning majors there was nobody else worth a damn. Els, Singh, Garcia and Mickelson vs Palmer, Player, Trevino, and Watson, I'm taking the old farts any day.
You can look at it that way too. But I think the reason there are very few multiple major winners nowadays is that the competition is much tougher and it is way harder to stay on top. It's not that the other players are bad, but they are all so talented that it's almost impossible to dominate the game of golf like Tiger has done. That's why it may seem like he has no competitors, but he has to go against the whole field whereas in Jack's days there was a handful of favorites. Now anyone can win.
18 Major wins and 19 second place majors!? G.O.A.T!!!! Sorry Tiger fans.
Jay Smooth Six USGA Amateur titles in a row ( 3 US Jr Am, 3 US Am), 4 majors in a row. In his prime Tiger was the best golfer there has ever been. Sorry.
Aware2128 ha! Yeah, cause ametuer championships are what every golfer dreams of at the end of the career. Every single established golfer wants nothing but majors and even the non established want majors more than anything.
Jay Smooth Thanks for revealing you know nothing about golf. The US Amateur is one of the most prestigious tournaments of all time and Tiger's record there is one of the greatest achievements in the history of golf. Sorry.
Aware2128 OK. I see what your doing. I'll pass. Its still about the majors. Sorry
Cool. I'll take 2000 Tiger vs any player in history. Sorry.
What a legend
Golden bear
Anyone who plays Golf ...we have a kinsmanship...we all understand how insane this is.
There have been few game changers. In golf it was both jack and tiger. Equipment and training aside, they both took the landscape by storm in their time. Premier athletes will always be judged. Talent, equipment, training...Most tournament or major wins will be an argument for the ages.
Be it golf, BB, baseball, hockey, boxing or track and field. No playing field can be compared across generations. The variables are inconceivable.
Let it be said, as professionals both jack and tiger are the best of the best.
On your first question: Yes
Second, when no discernible group of people win a lot,
that means no group stands out, which means less talent
in the field.
Third, they hit the ball farther and straighter?? Jack drove a 300 plus yard green in the 60's, in playoff pressure. Arnie used to hit it 280 constantly.
Fourth, the field now is physically fitter, but not better golfers. There's a difference. And, the smaller field before had a chance to win multiple majors INDIVIDUALLY.
Sorry to tell all of you but Jack is the god of golf..... STILL....
Jack is an incredible man. Impactful is a Millenialist’s word.
You MUST look at it in the correct way. Nobody remembers who finished second, although Jack did it 19 times. It is, and always shall be how MANY majors you've won and oh my golly, that is also Jack with 18.
I get that. But I stick to my point and say that every player on tour is incredibly good. Every one can win when they get on a roll and the margins are very small. And therefore it's harder to stay constantly on top and stand out as a high talent player. Pretty much no one but Tiger can compete for the win in almost every tournament he plays in. But yeah I get your point and this is just a matter of opinion and a never ending argument.
Although Jack played in the "modern era", the technology of golf has come light years since his prime competitive days. No disrespect to Tiger becuase I actually like Tiger a lot and think that he may break Jack's major 18 record, but Jack never benefitted from Trackman analysis and Swingvision tracking and the latest graphite driver shaft technology, player adjustable lie and loft drivers, multi layer balls. etc...etc. Give Tiger a persimmon and a balata ball as see what happens.
No question who the better man iss. Absolutely. My hero is Mr. Nicklaus. He's a lot like Ben Hogan but without the very hard edges
Best by far
The greatest of all time!
Amazing!
6 Masters, 5 PGA Championships, 4 US Opens, 3 British Opens, and 2 US Amateurs to the "Golden Bear" Jack Nicklaus.
The GOAT but it’s close between Jack and Tiger. Tiger is a close second.
It's really not as close as you think. Can Tiger get up in front of the entire golf world and ever say; "I took on legends of the game"? No. He'd be the laughing stock of the golf world. He's a fantastic golfer; but Jack played in tougher course conditions (the golf courses may have been lengthened since his time; but rough has gotten shorter; fairways and greens have gotten bigger; and there was no machines back then to manicure the courses like in Tiger's era); against tougher competition, and still ended up with his wins and majors.
Recon 0326 agree to disagree
He wasn’t honoured by the university, they were honoured by having him!
IMO, you play both the field and the course. If the wind is blowing bad, the whole field will do bad. But, if it is a good day weather-wise, the field might play well as a whole meaning you have to play the course. Right?
He had better competition than Woods as well.
It shows consistency of play at the peak of a players game.
In Nicklaus' case, a very long time of consistency of great play.
But, you're right. Second is the first loser. And, yes, as soon as
anyone beats his 18 major wins, that guy will be number one and not technically either. But, that's not going to happen anytime soon.
golfer of the century...twice.
Unbelievable.
First of all, it's exactly the point that Nicklaus didn't get himself into a sex scandal by humiliating and betraying his wife and kids.
Secondly, stop with the "poor Tiger, he has so much media coverage" bullshit. It's part of making the endless dollars. Jack did just fine in the limelight, and there is every reason to believe he would've done just as well with it today.
Such adolescent whining. "Only the hero of my generation could possibly be best of all time."
Couldn't have been said better. Stuck with what was more important and that was family.
Correct. No one is close to him therefore no one is as talented or in the same realm of talent. Jack, on the other hand had to fend of competitors that were capable of winning MULTIPLE majors. How many multiple major winners does tiger need to beat?
"Jack knew that he was going to beat you. You knew Jack was going to beat you, and Jack knew that you knew he was going to beat you." - Tom Weiskopf
I love how the current generation thinks there so great, like the guys back in jacks day couldn't hit a golf ball. I dont think the 50th ranked golfer would just totally dominate the 50th ranked in 1970. Watch Bobby Jones hit a golf ball, looks pretty good to me. We shouldn't just assume these guys are that much better, the physics of the golf swing haven't changed in golfs history. What the hell are we basing this premise that the current guys are so much better
Like if Palmer, Player, Watson or Treveno weren't competition !! Who was the greatest rival for Tiger? Mickelson with 5 majors. And all the players I did name has 6 majors each or more. I don't think Tiger had much competition. 19 2nd place for Jack prove how his era was so much competitive.
Ok.. what I want to know is:
when was the last time Jack actually paid for a round of golf???
Probably when he was 12 😂
Totally agree. This point is not made often enough. Nicklaus was head over heels better than his playing field, but those fields were simply not as deep as they are today. Tiger>Jack regardless of whether he gets to 18 majors....but not by a lot.
The greatest thing they have in common is the ability to make that putt when they absolutely had to do it. Nicklaus was just as amazing with the flat stick as Tiger is.
Firstly
There is Jack and Jordan
Secondly
Tiger and James
Not an anti-woods man.
Just trying to give some perspective
and credit where it is due. Yes, Tiger
is and will be a hall of famer for sure.
Yes, he is lapping the field in his era.
No, he is not the greatest yet.
Jack is. I just remind those that are
too blinded to see that 18 majors is still
the target.
Wait Tom Watson almost won The Open at 59, now I know Tom is an all time great, but it just goes to show you he's a bad ass back then and a bad ass now. His competition, like jack's wasn't inferior, cause he showed it was him, not the bad competition when he stripped a 8 iron over the green to lose the Open... to today's competition, Jack kind of did the same in 98'. So this weaker competition thing has got to go.
40 years to get that many majors. Yeesh.
No doubt tiger is the greatest golfer. Jacks contributions to the game will never fade. Great guy for sure.
Obviously took a personal toll, but no one will ever be more dominant on the course than Tiger.
Any golfer on tour will tell you that the success of any career is based
on major championships. Unfair or not, that's the yard stick. And, if you compare the number of multiple major winners in Jack's era as opposed
to Tiger's, Jack's era had more. Your first time winners example doesn't say depth of field. It says no consistent, dominant forces against Tiger since Tiger hasn't had a good major in 5 years so it was everyone else's to win.
Is there a single video on this site that doesn't have arguments in the comments? Good hell
Nobody will ever beat that record
Jordan Spieth is on his way to breaking Greg Norman's choke record
what do you think now after THE OPEN? Ask Kuchar what he thinks!!! Ask anybody. Sit back in awe and watch this young man for the next 30 years. He is as humble as they come, loves the game intensely for the chance to show what he has in the tank and is only just learning how to step on your throat for the win in the clutch. Three majors at 24... only second to Nicklaus. Possible Grand Slam with the PGA in 2 weeks (at 24). 11 wins before 24 never ever accomplished. Armchair QB labeling him a "choker" at 24 is a little harsh from someone that couldn't even carry his bag to the driving range.
Greg Norman has a bazillions dollars and the respect of countless elite and peasant golfers worldwide...including some that won tournaments because he "choked". Everyone is obviously entitled to their opinion.....but in my opinion, your is severely misguided.
Jack Nicolson.
That's Nicholson, and HEEERe's Johnny!
Just remember, when everyone is special, no one is.
You're saying there's a lot more that can win therefore
there's a lot more talent.
I profer that there's a lot more winners not because of higher talent
than before but because a spurt of great golf during the weekend
is never challenged by the others. That's not a more talented pool.
That's a less talented pool.
Jack's father was indeed a phamacist; however, he was more of a profitable businessman that ruled many pharmacy's in Ohio. Had Jack's dad not been so profitable, he would have never earned a membership at the elite Scioto Country Club.
Houbengal Thank you kindly.
1947 PGA tour
give me the old farts too. Sheesh those guys were good. Proven multiple major champs with nerves of steel.
🐐
read means full natural uncut
0:10 bosh!!!
More like championships over a HALF of a century!
Borning video.
+John White What does "borning" mean?
1949 PGA tour
As someone who was born during Tigers peak, I don’t get the argument that he’s better than Jack. Golf isn’t a team sport. It’s battle royal. Everyone in each era is using the same level of equipment. Jack used shittier equipment, faced way better high end competition, and still won more majors (yes that’s what matters). How is he not the GOAT easily?
1954 PGA tour
1960 PGA tour
Jack just hit really great, solid, conventional Golf shots under pressure when it really mattered. But he didn’t have anywhere near the flair, imagination, charisma, or just pure Golfing Genius that Tiger has. So for me Tiger is the most naturally gifted player the game of Golf has ever seen, at his best Tiger would beat Jack at his best.
With all due respect, you are wrong sir. It will always be results that indicate the greatness of a player and the ultimate yardstick is major wins. There is simply no other valid method of measuring greatness.
I appreciate Tiger's record hugely, he will likely top Sneads all time win tally later this year or early next but until he gets to 19 majors he can never be said to be jacks better. And the argument that there are better players around now is false, Jack had to beat Player, Floyd,
1951 PGA tour
1944 PGA tour
And by the way, just to respond to your idiotic statement that "their caliber is determined by how they play relative to the field"...that's totally wrong. they don't play the field they play the course and all things being equal, their caliber is determined by how well they play the course. In 1965 Jack shot 271to win the Masters. in 2001, Tiger shot 272 to win the Masters. Tiger had graphite and titanium clubs and juiced up golf balls. Jack had persimmon and steel and balata. Same course.
Exactly.
Jack is the better Champion holding 18 majors! Tiger is the best golfer i.e.. Skills this comes from the old school players.
what??? better champion but not best golfer? sorry for misunderstanding butplease help me here...