She has a keen eye for Woods plight. Arjun Athreya is a senior writer at Essentially Sports and has been contributing In fairness, playing in Europe wasnt as common in Nicklaus time, but the number is impressive nonetheless. There are any number of ways to compare Woods and Nicklaus. 1, 2 and 3-ranked players in the world share the lead after 36 holes, which is the first time the top three ranked players in the world are tied at the top of any major ever. For the casual golf fan, hearing the names Palmer, Player, Trevino, and Casper coupled together as Nicklaus main competitors immediately leads one to believe that Nicklaus faced some of the toughest competition imaginable during his career. pic.twitter.com/Qz8D6j7th0, Golf Digest (@GolfDigest) April 5, 2022. Nicklaus did still own the advantage in major titles, 18-16, after all. For instance, Usain Bolt is faster than Carl Lewis was and Carl Lewis was faster than Jesse Owens. My puttings good. He said, I just cant walk. And he says, If it helps where I can walk, Im willing to do it. . He went on to win 28 of them (84.8 percent). Who would go down as the best in history? Even in a sports such as sprinting, where numbers on a stopwatch tell what appears to be a cut-and-dried story, theres more than meets the eye. The off-course earnings arent even a comparison. With one exception, that comparison neatly pits Masters against Masters, U.S. Open against U.S. Open, etc., for the first 17 years of each mans career as a pro taking Nicklaus to the end of 1978 and Woods to the end of 2013. At various points in his career, Jack won three of six majors (1966 Masters to 1967 U.S. Open) and four of eight (1970 British Open to 1972 U.S. Open). The only men to truly go toe-to-toe with him in the final round of a major were Y.E. For some people, its as simple as this. Tigers best 33-major streak featured 21 top 10s. It just says that Tigers peers never put pressure on him on a Sunday and he never put pressure on them. Then theres Tiger, who never had a Sunday showdown with any of the modern greats. (They pretty much won those titles in the same time span, though Nicklaus went 17-straight seasons with a win, compared to Tigers 14.). he pursued a Journalism degree and graduated from Madras Christian College. Not that we wont keep arguing about it for the next 25 years. In the 1975 Masters, for instance, the entire top 10 was from the United States. Devika Pawar is a Golf and NBA writer at Essentially Sports. But lets get back to the golf and what Tiger has done on the course. While Jack does have more major victories, Tiger still has more PGA Tour wins. The casual golf fan will associate Nicklaus competition withthe likes ofArnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Billy Casper, and Tom Watson. When Tiger won the 1997 Masters his score of 270 broke by one shot therecord that Jack had set in his 1965 rout. Nicklauss best streak was 105. In other words, each time Nicklaus teed off in a major championship, there were four other legitimate contenders who were capable of taking home the trophy. Without Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus, the PGA Tour might not be what it is today. 7. Tiger Woods matched that streak with his run from the 1996 U.S. Open to the 2006 Masters. The question of who is the greatest golfer of all time comes down to two men: Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus. 1959 Colonial National Invitational (46) arnold palmer. 14 best photos of Tiger Woods' first day at the 2023 Masters Tournament, Ranking every NFL team's 2023 draft class from 32 (sorry, 49ers) to 1 (whoa, Colts), Kentucky Derby 2023: post position draw results and morning line odds, Ranking all 32 current NHL away jerseys, from worst to best, The Brewers' Willy Adames got ejected after a blatantly spiteful sequence from umpire Adam Beck, 13 Winners (Bill Belichick!) Woods has played in eight Ryder Cups and boasts a 13-21-3 record. In any given tournament, Jack Nicklaus was essentially playing against a field of four or five players,outstanding players be that as it may. Home sinking his putt on the 18th green to win during the final round of the Masters So heres how these two legends faired in major championships in their respective careers. Woods was able to monetize his talent more in his era, topping the PGA Tours all-time earnings list at a whopping $120,895,206. Well, guess what: Back in 1986, Nicklaus' position was wait for it T-17. birdie putt in 1986 on No. This is an astonishing success rate! (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images). On the other hand, Nicklaus won 54 tournaments in his first 300 starts. The Golden Bear would have an encore in the 80s, winning threemore majors to bring his total to 18, a number as well known to golfenthusiasts as the batting average of.406 is to baseball lovers. Jack 3, Tiger 2, Hogan 1 Category 7:. (And the first is debatable too.) Meanwhile, Nicklaus came back in eight of his majors. At a Farmers Insurance Open or AndyWilliams Classic as it was called decades ago or any other regular Tourevent, Tiger would've beaten Jack like Jack beat Arnold. Jack: Won the Masters at age 46, making him the third-oldest major winner ever. With his 24-year-old eldest son Jackie as his caddie, Nicklaus opened with a modest 74 but improved with rounds of 71 and 69 to sit in a tie for ninth going into the final day. While Nicklaus finished second more than 10 times to players on that list, Woods' runner-up finishes have been to one-hit wonders like Trevor Immelman, Zach Johnson, Rich Beem, Y.E. Are players such as Mickelson, Els, Singh, and Goosen just as good today as Palmer, Player, Trevino, Casper, and Watson were, and is Tiger just that much better than them? RIDGEDALE, MISSOURI SEPTEMBER 22: Jack Nicklaus talks to Tiger Woods of the That feeling didnt last long. Life is good if youre a great golfer, thanks to Tiger Woods. In 2007, aside from Tiger Woods, the remaining members of the worlds top five won just 10 percent of PGA Tour events. When you think of Jack Nicklaus, the first thing that comes to mind is major championships. And were all still asking the same question: Tiger or Jack? But he wont need to top Jacks 18 to pass him as the greatest; given the circumstances, if he can win two more majors and, say, eight more tournament titles, itd be hard to say he was second-best to anyone. United States on the 19th tee during the Paynes Valley Cup on September 22, If Augusta National is the best test in golf, Nicklaus earned slightly better marks. Instant access to the latest news, videos and photos from around the world of golf. An important stat is their Masters win, where Woods is just one win away from Nicklaus record. Nicklaus is 1-1 as a U.S. captain in the Ryder Cup and 2-1-1 leading the Americans in the Presidents Cup. Jack won six Masters, four U.S. And as Tiger Woods returns to major championship competition with this weeks British Open, resuming his pursuit of Nicklaus 18 majors, the debate is officially rekindled. Despite his thrilling 2019 Masters victory, Tiger's 45th trip around the sun is a reminder that he will almost certainly not reach the ever-elusive 19-major championship mark to best Jack. Both are Hall of Famers and have been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nations highest civilian honor. But consider: Nicklaus made 43 starts at the Masters over a span of nearly a half-century. One interesting fact is Woods has three more majors than any other player and five more than anyone who has played in the last 60 years. The 2022 Masters can be an opportunity for Woods to tie it up, and maybe even surpass the 82-year-old later on. Who knows.. As of 2019, Tiger Woods has won 82 PGA Tour events, while Jack Nicklaus has won 73. I play a lot of golf. But what about golf? When he won a greenjacket again in 1965 by nine shots over Palmer and Gary Player (theonly time the Big Three would ever finish in the top three together in amajor), he shaved three strokes off the scoring record of 274 set in 1953 byHogan. This ones mind-blowing: Jack finished inside the top 10 in 31 of 33 majors from 1970-78. Another impressive Woods number is cuts made. Clearly when it comesto theweek-to-week grind of the Tour, Tiger has no equal. 2023 USA TODAY, a division of Gannett Satellite Information Network, LLC. ORLANDO, FLORIDA DECEMBER 20: Tiger Woods of the United States hits his tee shot on the 15th hole during the final round of the PNC Championship at the Ritz Carlton Golf Club on December 20, 2020 in Orlando, Florida. But man, tacos are freakin good, too. Woods stands at 15, and his last major title being the 2019 Masters. Of the four, only Yang beat Tiger, taking him down at the 2009 PGA Championship. From the 1973 Masters to the 1976 Masters , Nicklaus had 13 straight top-10 finishes in majors. Many casual golf fans immediately think that Nicklaus played during golfs golden age and was faced with more competition from greater players. So while both golfers have had incredible careers, it does appear that Tiger Woods has had a slightly more successful run. While the 46-year-old is confident about a win this year, Woods clinching the Masters title is not easy. Tigers reign was 14 years, not including his two lost seasons of 2010 and 2011. Neither did Ernie, Vijay, Retief, David Duval or any other top golfer of the last 20 years. Let's look at the numbers: Most wins in golf 1 Tiger WoodsSam Snead 82 3 Jack Nicklaus 73 4 Ben Hogan 64 5 Arnold Palmer 62 Tiger Woods is tied with Sam Snead for the most wins in golf with . Jack Nicklaus, whose record of 18 majors is looking more safe with every passing day and every injury Woods sustains, prefaced his comments . But, looking at the other side of the coin, no one has really stepped up to consistently challenge Woods the way Palmer, Player, Trevino, Casper, and Watson challenged Nicklaus. With every passing year, however, the Tiger Slam becomes more and more remarkable. This is an astonishing success rate! The Tiger Slam. Woods made his debut as a U.S.. The numbers favor Jack, at least in terms of majors. . This is a simple debate. Jack vs. Tiger is always a great debate. There are more talented golfers coming from more diverse locales, but very few of Woods' contemporaries have stepped up in majors. (Two of Tigers poor final rounds made Ben Curtis and Michael Campbell major champions.) Before Tiger, winners would often get. Woods made his debut as a U.S. captain at the 2019 Presidents Cup, where he also played and went 3-0-0. If Woods wins three or more, then theres no need for a discussion and he would be the undisputed GOAT. Woods holds the record for both the lowest adjusted and unadjusted scoring average . In the 1970s, Nicklaus only finished outside the top 10 in five majors. At the majors. While Woods' win at the 2019 Masters finally ended a decade-plus drought in the game's biggest events, it's this lesser-known record that has come into focus since Major No. But he is so tough. How big is that task? My naming this group of players as Tigers competition, all of whomhappen to bePGA Tour winners, is not to say that these players are comparable to Palmer, Player, Trevino, etc. The overall win total in tournaments reveals one interesting thingWoods in his prime was better than prime Nicklaus. But those symmetries became more realand eerieon Saturday morning when they wrapped up the second round of play at Augusta National. That was never the case for Tiger. Who won the Masters? Lefty won five major championships. Result: Tiger by 37. That leaves him at T-17 for the tournament. Then the back surgeries happened and we didnt know if hed ever be back again. This is where the debate gets interesting and harder to quantify. The man with the most major championships is the greatest golfer in history. The overall win total in tournaments reveals one interesting thingWoods in his prime was better than prime Nicklaus. Hes actually swinging pretty well; he just cant walk., These two @jacknicklaus @InsperityInvtnl pic.twitter.com/lN0ftjGEOJ, PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) April 29, 2023. Jacks best four-year runs were 22 (from 1970-73) and 17 (from 1964-67). And now, with Tiger making his comeback amidst more international winners than ever, the field is even deeper because of the wider reach that Tiger brought to the game. I think its a lot more serious. A record-setting streak of cuts made. But you dont want to see anybody in pain. In 1999, aside from Tiger Woods, the remainder of the top-five ranked players in the world won only 10 percent of PGA Tour events. Even if you think Tiger will win more majors (and I do), getting five and topping Nicklaus is nearly unfathomable. And so courageous.. Copyright 1996 - But, Tigerhas also hadto compete against the likes of Rocco Mediate, Boo Weekly, Woody Austin, Hunter Mahan, Chad Campbell, Stephen Ames, J.B Holmes, Johnson Wagner, Ryuji Imada, Anthony Kim, Kenny Perry, and Chez Reavia. Usain Bolt made me look harder at the careers of Carl Lewis and Jesse Owens. She loves NBA a little too much, and is Furthermore, hes made it to the Top-10 on the leaderboard 41 times in 87 appearances. Tiger Woods has 7 major runners-up finishes and 33 major Top-5 finishes. In the 70 majors that Jack played from the 62 Masters tothe 79 U.S. Open, he was out of the top 10 just 16 times while winning 15. Let's review Jack's stats in 1968 compared to Tiger's today: This gives us some idea about the performance of each golfer and how they ranked against the field. While Nicklaus has the slight advantage on the course, Woods has the upper hand off of it (scandal and injuries aside). That's more than one stroke better than Nicklaus' per-round average of 71.98. This cut streak will likely never be broken again. He never came back to win, despite a half-dozen opportunities to win majors with a Sunday charge. When Woods was growing up, he had a poster of Nicklaus on his wall. Hear what our crew of Anna Whiteley, Dam. To call most of them journeymen would be too kind. Woods stands at 15, and his last major title being the 2019 Masters. The Golden Bear won 18 of them and finished as the runner-up 19 times! graduate from KJ Somaiya, Devika has an experience with sportswriting at One has 18 majors, the other 15. WATCH THIS STORY: John Daly Announces He Will Be Following His Bizarre Masters Tradition This Year, Full Spectrum Services LLP 2022 | All Rights Reserved. They account for a large amount of success in this aspect, as theyve won a combined 33 major titles together. Tiger Woods has had to compete against the likes of Phil Mickelson, Vijay Singh, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Jim Furyk, and many other perennial PGA Tour winners. While there is really no conclusive answer, several bits of statistics might offer some perspective. After a disappointing Masters in 2000, Tiger had won just one of the last 12 majors and despite his historic victory in Augusta three years before, it felt like he was underperforming. And I know Nicklaus had Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Tom Watson, and many others but Tigers time, especially over the last 10 years, has been much more competitive. The No. Jack, of course, never won four straight, though he did come close. In a particular major where they are both playing theirbest, Tiger wins in a playoff. Tiger won four majors in a row from the 2000 U.S. Open through the 2001 Masters, a Tiger Slam instead of a Grand Slam only because all four wins did not come in the same calendar year. Embracing such comparisons without bashing a particular golfer is the right spirit! In order to surpass him, Woods needs to win five more majors. Nobody had seen players like them. You dont want to see anybody, theyre hurting. I dont know a whole lot about what hes been through, Nicklaus began. During Tiger Woods' career, his main competitors in majors have been Phil Mickelson, Ernie Els, Retief Goosen, Vijay Singh, and Jim Furyk. But. Jack Nicklaus is a legend, but like Jordan, his accomplishments were years ago and didnt receive the same amount of media coverage as Tiger Woods. He was compared to Mozart. In Nicklaus best four-year stretch he won 22 from 1970-73 and added another 17 titles from 1964-67. Furthermore, Woods has 82 PGA Tour wins, while Nicklaus has 73. Thats a 23-shot cushion in two majors. For Nicklaus, he battled against stiffer competition and four of the greatest golfers in the history of the game, including Arnold Palmer, Gary Player, Tom Watson, and Lee Trevino, each of whom won six or more majors. Each total, except for his Claret Jugs, is an all-time records (or tied for one). Republic World for around two years now. Tiger had a still-impressive run of 17 straight seasons with a top 10. Because Im comparing majors by the specific number they were in each mans career, I have compared the 1971 PGA, Nicklaus 37th major, with the 2006 Masters, Woods 37th major. Woods has won 79 PGA Tour events which is second only to Sam Snead's 82 and is already six ahead of Nicklaus. Because of injury Tiger has missed six majors spanning from the 1997 Mastersto the 2014 U.S. Open, which means Tiger and Jack would've gone head tohead 64 times in the game's four biggest championships. Tiger, in defense of his 2019 Masters title, sat 33rd in the worldwhich just happened to be the same position Nicklaus was ranked before he won his sixth green jacket. Aside from him, there are just two other players with three major wins during the Tiger era: Ernie Els and Vijay Singh. Jack had a top 10 at a major in 24 straight years. 1 in the world, he was followed by David Duval, Colin Montgomery, Davis Love III, and Ernie Els. The evidence suggests Tiger was beating up on inferior competition. In 1972, the best year of Nicklaus career; a year that saw him win three out of the four majors, Nicklaus was ranked No. Heres why. Nicklaus had the famous "yes sir!" Across a wide range of sports, we will debate and remember the Greatest Of All Time, and look ahead to whos next. Sit around any 19th hole for way too long and you might hear this question pop up: who is the greatest golfer of all-time, Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus? As for me, I don't dislike Tiger Woods because of his sordid affairs, but I like Jack Nicklaus for his lack of them. Second, could it be that Tigers competition is inferior because of Tiger? MORE MASTERS 2020 CONTENT FROM GOLF DIGEST: Masters 101Everything you need to know about the major How to watch the Masters on TV and streaming online Ranking every golfer in the Masters field Our 13 best bets to win the 2020 Masters 50 defining moments in Masters history, ranked Never say neverAn oral history of Tiger's dramatic 2019 Masters victory How Tiger Woods plays every hole at Augusta National Can Bryson break Augusta? 9 things Augusta National doesnt want to talk about The most memorable rules issues in Masters history A completely unscientific ranking of 10 Masters traditions The 13 best B characters in Masters history. 4, and Trevino was ranked fifth. An unprecedented run of seven majors in 11 starts. Director of Professional Golf isnt a normal position at golf club, but Quail Hollow isn't a normal club. Woods hasnt officially retired yet, but the chances of him winning another major are very slim. Its tricky comparing athletes from different generations. Come on; theres no debate: Its Tiger Woods in the aforementioned summer of 2000, when he was in a two-month stretch of playing golf as well as anyone has ever played any sport. Listen, I know Nicklaus has three more major titles than Tiger. At this stage, not even Woods knows whether Humpty Dumpty can be put back together again. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for Paynes Valley Cup). This list of players is simply comprised to show that Tiger Woods is faced a far wider pool of legitimate competitors than Jack Nicklaus faced during his career. Starting four. Jack Nicklaus vs Tiger Woods | The Open's Greatest The Open 120K subscribers Subscribe 8.3K views 11 months ago Tiger and Jack need no introduction. To keep up with stronger junior golfers, Woods learned how the short game . Golf The Masters Augusta National Golf Club Augusta, Georgia, U.S. April 8, 2021 Honorary starter Jack Nicklaus of the U.S. with Bubba Watson and Phil Mickelson before the ceremonial start on the first day of play REUTERS/Brian Snyder. You have one golf tournament to win. John Daly Announces He Will Be Following His Bizarre Masters Tradition This Year. Tiger, in defense of his 2019 Masters title, sat 33rd . There has been a critical error on this website. conversations in every sport, but obviously theres a lot more to golf than just four weekends per year. Open Championship Victory. While Jack Nicklaus has the most major titles, Tiger Woods has the most overall PGA Tour tournament wins in his career with 82, tied with Sam Snead. USE OF AND/OR REGISTRATION ON ANY PORTION OF THIS SITE CONSTITUTES ACCEPTANCE OF OURVISITOR AGREEMENT(UPDATED 1/6/23),PRIVACY AND COOKIES NOTICE(UPDATED 1/4/23) ANDCALIFORNIA PRIVACY NOTICE. Phil never beat Tiger on a major Sunday. Tiger Woods is out indefinitely after announcing Wednesday that he underwent another surgery on his injured right leg. WINS ROUNDS MONEY; Tiger Woods: 1025: 198: 82: 1,375: $120,954,766: Explore. What would it take for a changing of the guard? Please check your email for a confirmation. This was in SI this week. Woods has, to this point, only finished second on six occasions. This is one argument that will wage for years to come, and I personally dont have the answer to it. 64. In comparison, Jack Nicklaus' 36-hole outright conversion rate was 63. 1965 Greater Greensboro Open (52) Jack Nicklaus. Insanity. That Nicklaus was able to keep his average under par for his career after playing so many non-competitive rounds is an underrated and remarkable achievement. If only considering normal events, Woods can be the GOAT for many. Tiger: Won his Masters at 43, still time to be a super old winner. Nicklaus is in third at 73. If you accept that golfers are only measured by their performance in the biggest events, its a slam-dunk argument. No predictions for the future or presumed milestones. How much does Jacks longevity help his cause? He said, Im really playing well. However, maybe just statistically, certain people might be inclined towards Nicklaus. Hes never been challenged in the fourth round and hes never come from behind to challenge for a major title. and Woods has always been a front-runner finisher, winning 14 of his 15 majors while leading or co-leading entering the fourth round. after undergoing surgery on his right ankle, withdrew during the rain-delayed third round, List of Tigers injuries through the years. Golf Channel, All Rights Reserved. We talk quite a bit, Nicklaus said. Ernie Els and Vijay Singh are the only two other golfers to capture at least three majors. I also have to go with pizza. Tiger was untouchable in the 2000s but its easy to forget that in 2013 he won five times and was the PGA Tours Player of the Year. However, the 82-time PGA Tour winner is not ready to give up just yet. From 1962-1978, Jacks prime, just two foreign players (Gary Player and Tony Jacklin) won at the Masters, U.S. Open or PGA Championship. While both have had to face quality competition to get their wins, Id have to side with Tigers era being deeper than Nicklaus era. But theres been nobody as good as Tiger. He still can't touch Nicklaus. 2020 on the Paynes Valley course at Big Cedar Lodge in Ridgedale, Missouri. Woods' highs have been greater. And even though it's 2013 and the Nicklaus brand is mostly forgotten, I've seen a Golden Bear logo more recently than a TW logo. Im hitting the ball great. Tiger Woods is sidelined for an indefinite amount of time after undergoing surgery on his right ankle to address post-traumatic arthritis caused by injuries suffered in his single-car crash in Los Angeles in February 2021. a dedicated Golden State Warriors fan. There can never be a conclusive statement. DUBLIN, OH JUNE 03: Tiger Woods share a laugh with Jack Nicklaus following the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide Insurance at Muirfield Village Golf Club on June 3, 2012 in Dublin, Ohio. What if Tiger Woods suddenly announced his retirement from golf after the Masters and never played again. Terms of Service When you look back over the duration of their careers, and the totality of their victories, the edge goes to Woods. Nicklaus was better at Augusta during his prime. But then again, I have no way of knowing whether Nicklaus toughest competitors were indeed better than Woods toughest competitors, or whether Woods is that much better than Nicklaus that he has been able to distance himself from players that are equally as good as Nicklaus competitors were. While the 46-year-old is confident about a win this year, Woods clinching the Masters title is not easy. Yes, Nicklaus has more major championships in golf, but Woods has won more tournaments. The count is still 18 to 14 in favor of Nicklaus. Who won the U.S. Open? He also had to deal with bigotry, segregation and poverty. Annika Sorenstam, winner of 72 LPGA titles, walked away from the game on her own terms and has returned to play a handful of celebrity events, last years U.S. Womens Open and the U.S. Senior Womens Open, which she won in 2021. Nicklaus had 48 top-three finishes at Slams, twice as many as Woods. Finishing as a runner-up or in the Top-5 of a major is also considered a good result. And will be good for him. Has Tiger Woods ever missed the cut at The Masters? In the end, both men will go down as the two greatest golfers in the games history, but Nicklaus has to be given the title of GOAT because when it mattered most, he was the more successful of the two. In the 70 majors that Jack played from the '62 Masters to the '79 U.S. Open, he was out of the top 10 just 16 times while winning 15. ClearlyJohnson Wagner and J.B. Holmes are no Gary Player and Arnold Palmer. For some, choosing one is almost an impossible task whereas others believe the answer is clear. Only 14 golfers have won five or more majors. However, Woods has the Tiger Slam, which was holding all four titles at once although not in a calendar year. Jack won his second major as a pro, the 1962 U.S. Open, at age 22, beating Arnold Palmer in a playoff. From 1997 through this year, Woods played in 17 Masters, won four and had 13 top-10 finishes. If you buy into this Tiger/Jack narrative, and theres some strong evidence in this favor, that would mean theres at least a chance of some more history accomplished by Tiger at Augusta National. Tigers run through the 2000s was must-see TV and man did he know how to put on a show and rise to the occasion often in dramatic fashion when the whole world was watching. pic.twitter.com/VzzEM5f42p, Collin Morikawa Joins Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus in Elite List Following The How many titles does Tiger Woods have? Both players have outstanding Open. Heres how Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus stood after 300 tournament starts in their respective careers. Nicklaus is in third at 73. He won back-to-back-to-back majors from the 1971 PGA to the 1972 U.S. Open, joining Ben Hogan as the only golfers to ever accomplish the feat. In 1970, Jack Nicklaus was the No. Obviously Woods should not be punished in this comparison for missing tournaments, so they are not counted in this quest to determine whowas more dominant in his era. On the surface, it seems like an easy question. Woods won 77 tournaments in 300 starts. Who is your ultimate GOAT? At 42, Tiger would need to replicate Mickelsons entire major career to become the all-time leader. Nicklaus had won the 1971 PGA, played in February as a concession to the South Florida heat, then added the 1972 Masters and U.S. Open titles. (Photo by Mike Ehrmann/Getty Images). Those were stunning achievements that set the standard until Tiger arrived and did it even better. Tiger Woods Explains the Raw Feeling of Winning a Major Championship: Catapults Who is the GOAT in golf? When Nicklaus was in his prime, golf was dominated by Americans. Tiger Woods also has more major championship wins than Jack Nicklaus, with 15 to his name. These two generational talents can never be compared with each other. After all, there werent many majors to be had when Woods was taking seven in three years. While five players have won the Players twice (Woods included), Nicklaus is the only player to win the Tours flagship event three times, doing so in the events first 5 years. Tiger Woods has 198 top ten finishes with 82 wins and has won $120,954,766 in his career. A year later, Tiger made the pages of the venerable sports magazine again and a more apt analogy was made: Hes the next Nicklaus, maybe better.. So that will only add more hope for those rooting for Tiger to earn a 16th major title with a win this week. But what changes that narrative is thisNicklaus finished second in majors 19 times. More: List of Tiger's injuries through the years. Nicklaus was on top of the golf world (or close to it) for 18 years. He won seven of 11 major championships from the 1999 PGA to the 2002 U.S. Open and then, almost as an afterthought, had a run of four of eight (matching Jacks best) in the majors held in 2005 and 2006. Those dominating wins at Augusta National, Pebble Beach and St. Andrews. He has a career winning percentage of25 percent; Jack's winning percentage through the end of 1979 was 18 percent. The argument for Nicklaus is pretty simple: he won the most majors and had even more runner-up finishes in the biggest events. Overall, the current depth of fields and reach of international talent exceeds that in the days of Nicklaus. Hes showed a lot of guts and courage to play and try to be part of whats going on with the way hes been, he continued.
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