While Jack does have more major victories, Tiger still has more PGA Tour wins. Of those two players, neither won a major when he was older than 33. Devika Pawar is a Golf and NBA writer at Essentially Sports. Terms of Service In 1972, the best year of Nicklaus career; a year that saw him win three out of the four majors, Nicklaus was ranked No. https://ftw.usatoday.com/2018/04/tiger-woods-jack-nickalus, Golf fans worried about Tiger Woods after he withdrew from Masters Sunday, Tiger Woods clobbered an overwhelming amount of bettors who didn't think he'd make the cut at the Masters, Justin Thomas saved his pal Tiger Woods by dropping a shot at the Masters and moving the cut line back, Why Fred Couples is using a yellow ball at the Masters. Jason Day said Tiger Woods told him the painful reason that Woods withdrew from last year's PGA Champ. They account for a large amount of success in this aspect, as theyve won a combined 33 major titles together. He made the weekend in a record 142-straight tournaments. What if Tiger Woods suddenly announced his retirement from golf after the Masters and never played again. Nicklaus has won more majors than Woods. This is one argument that will wage for years to come, and I personally dont have the answer to it. Now, in 2018, a 42-year-old Tiger is making his return to golf after years of scandal and an injury so severe that it threatened to end his career. An unprecedented run of seven majors in 11 starts. Of course, it will take an extraordinary effort with such a talented leader board. The Tiger vs. Jack debate will likely rage on should Woods fall short of Nicklaus' major mark, but it appears that even based on his current list of accomplishments, he might have Nicklaus' vote . Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus are arguably the two greatest golfers to ever play the game. Back in the late 2000s, the question around Tiger Woods didn't feel like "if" he would break Jack Nicklaus's 18 majors. The late Frank Chirkinian hated it when anyone would try to compare Jack Nicklaus to Ben Hogan. 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. But he is so tough. What a final-round duel between Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus at the The casual golf fan will associate Nicklaus competition withthe likes ofArnold Palmer, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, Billy Casper, and Tom Watson. How many titles does Tiger Woods have? Woods won 77 tournaments in 300 starts. Jack Nicklaus, whose record of 18 majors is looking more safe with every passing day and every injury Woods sustains, prefaced his comments . Nicklaus was on top of the golf world (or close to it) for 18 years. In this case I have limited the discussion to majors and will focus on the question, If Jack and Tiger were both in their primes, who wins?. Michael Jordan and LeBron James are the subjects of debate when it comes to the GOAT in basketball. Tiger Woods had the greatest run of any golfer whos ever picked up a club, but Jack Nicklaus put together a career that, from start to finish, was unparalleled. At 42, Tiger would need to replicate Mickelsons entire major career to become the all-time leader. Not all professional golf wins are equal. And once again, major tournament winners are the barometer for characterizing that success. While the 46-year-old is confident about a win this year, Woods clinching the Masters title is not easy. Were the Nike guys who came up with the swoosh and jumpman logo on vacation when it came time to design Woods' emblem? Woods stands at 15, and his last major title being the 2019 Masters. Sign up for the For The Win newsletter to get our top stories in your inbox every morning. 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? 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. But man, tacos are freakin good, too. Hear what our crew of Anna Whiteley, Dam. In this ever-competitive world, a debate often pops up asking who is the best among the two. Tiger Woods' epic 2019 Masters win sent the golf world and internet into a frenzy. 2, Casper No. In the end, major titles arent given more weight because of their timing. (Forget all the talk of four wins you hear on television no one ever sets out to tie a record.) No predictions for the future or presumed milestones. (He was 11th and 13th in the two he didnt.) If Augusta National is the best test in golf, Nicklaus earned slightly better marks. For me, that question is like if someone asked me what I like more, tacos or pizza. Well, because it is! He also had to deal with bigotry, segregation and poverty. Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus are the two greatest golfers to have competed in major championships. Neither needed a breaking-in period when it came to majors. Embracing such comparisons without bashing a particular golfer is the right spirit! 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. after undergoing surgery on his right ankle, withdrew during the rain-delayed third round, List of Tigers injuries through the years. That feeling didnt last long. I dont buy that one. We've been debating the Jack Nicklaus vs. Tiger Woods question ever since that historic 1997 Masters and we'll be debating it for decades to come. In comparison, Phil won his five majors by a combined 10 shots. He had the claret jug in his sights at Muirfield, but he finished second by one shot to Trevino, who chipped in on the 71st hole. If hedoes, it would be to the sports utter delight. Then last April, Tiger turned back the clock and won the Masters, leaving fans in tears as he pumped his fist on the 18th green Sunday afternoon at Augusta National. Arjun manages the Golf division and its content, and primarily covers news But you dont want to see anybody in pain. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File) ORG XMIT: NYDD203. The cut streak. Jack: Won the Masters at age 46, making him the third-oldest major winner ever. Both golfers have been instrumental in the tours success, making golf a household name. When Tiger was 24 he completed the career Grand Slam at the 2000 Open Championship, two years ahead of the age that Jackwas when he completed the feat in 1966, also at the Open Championship. You can pick any player from any point in their career. Period. I personally believe that 150 legitimate competitors is a tougher challenge to face than a group of five or so great competitors. While Nicklaus has the slight advantage on the course, Woods has the upper hand off of it (scandal and injuries aside). But Nicklaus' reach extends further than that the Golden Bear designs courses and promotes golf all around the world. (Photo by Tom Pennington/Getty Images for Paynes Valley Cup). The 2022 Masters can be an opportunity for Woods to tie it up, and maybe even surpass the 82-year-old later on. Is that because Nicklaus game was at a lower level that allowed the other top-ranked players to catch him? up for grabs. He went on to win 28 of them (84.8 percent). Hes actually swinging pretty well; he just cant walk., These two @jacknicklaus @InsperityInvtnl pic.twitter.com/lN0ftjGEOJ, PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) April 29, 2023. since early 2020. I dare say that his winning percentage is the most untouchable of all of hisaccomplishments. (Tiger became the third.). The only men to truly go toe-to-toe with him in the final round of a major were Y.E. 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. Woods competitors have won 22 percent of all majors during Woods career, again showing that the number of players with the ability to win a major has been far greater during Woods career than it was during Nicklaus career. 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. Some might argue that no one else took home the trophies during Tigers reign because he was winning all of them. People only cared about the actual Grand Slam, which Jack was halfway toward with his wins at the Masters and U.S. Open. His consistency in PGA Tour events is something to be admired. His rivals were killers too Palmer got him at Cherry Hills, Trevino took him down four different times including on an 18-hole playoff at Merion and Tom Watson won three majors over Nicklaus, all in heartbreaking fashion. Winning a major is no cakewalk in golf. That always will be Nicklaus. So, whose career would you rather have, Woods or Nicklaus? I think hes in more pain than he lets everybody know. Tiger Woods vs. Jack Nicklaus: Tale of the Tape (Updated) This is where the debate gets interesting and harder to quantify. The merits of both are often debated on 19th holes around the country, with the younger players usually siding with Tiger, and vice-versa for Jack. 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. Stats: Tiger Woods' 82 wins vs. Sam Snead's 82 wins The fact that over his career he didn't win as many medals as Carl Lewis does nothing to convince me that Carl was better. In 1991, a 15-year-old Tiger Woods was the subject of his first Sports Illustrated profile. To keep up with stronger junior golfers, Woods learned how the short game . Tiger, in defense of his 2019 Masters title, sat 33rd . 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. 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. Furthermore, hes made it to the Top-10 on the leaderboard 41 times in 87 appearances. At the time, we knew it was spectacular even as it felt routine. Their win totals are basically a wash given how the modern era of golf has a number of smaller events (WGC and FedEx Cup) and, thus, a better win probability. In the two in which he didn't, he tied for 11th and 13th. conversations in every sport, but obviously theres a lot more to golf than just four weekends per year. How much does Jacks longevity help his cause? Jack Nicklaus has insisted that Tiger Woods will break his record of 18 victories in Major tournaments. What would it take for a changing of the guard? Heres why. Nicklaus finished in the Top-5 56 times and achieved a Top-10 finish 73 times in 164 starts! There has been a critical error on this website. Please check your email for a confirmation. 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. Mixed in there was the Tiger Slam his streak of four-straight majors which will likely serve as the lead on his sports obituary. The two active players with more than three major titles Phil Mickelson and Ernie Els are rarely direct rivals for Woods. 1965 Greater Greensboro Open (52) Jack Nicklaus. Before Tiger, winners would often get $180,000 for a win. Amateurs, putting on his first green jacket or making history with performances so dominant that breaking Jack Nicklaus record of 18 majors seemed like a mere formality. Has Tiger Woods ever missed the cut at The Masters? 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. Tiger has played 74 rounds at Augusta National and has a scoring average of 70.86, the best in history. Thatd be the first time a Masters champion has gone back-to-back at Augusta since Tiger in 2001 and 2002. Fans will argue Woods played against better competition, which gives him an edge seeing as he won nine more PGA Tour and 32 more European Tour events. During his career, Tiger has seen winners come from Fiji, Spain, Canada, Argentina, Australia, Ireland, Northern Ireland, South Korea, England, Germany, New Zealand and South Africa a United Nations of major champions. But what about golf? That was never the case for Tiger. If the debate of GOAT is based solely on major titles, Nicklaus is the winner hands down. Its Jack and its not that close. Tiger was the ultimate front-runner, winning all 14 of his majors while leading or co-leading entering the fourth round. Now, you can make two counterpoints to that statement the same ones people use to defend Serena Williams against similar criticism. 11 reasons Jack Nicklaus is better than Tiger Woods - USA Today Jack Nicklaus vs. Tiger Woods | Golf Digest Nicklauss best streak was 105. Tiger Woods vs. Jack Nicklaus: The Tale of the Tape When he won four gold medals at the 1936 Olympics in Berlin he single-handedly crushed Hitlers myth of Aryan supremacy. 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. But his comeback bid ended when Lee Trevino chipped in on No. Result: Tiger by 37. In a particular major where they are both playing theirbest, Tiger wins in a playoff. Stats incredible: Tiger Woods' 40 greatest numerical records (Photo by Andy Lyons/Getty Images). That being said, irrespective of ones preference, Woods and Nicklaus contributions cannot be overlooked. In any given tournament, Jack Nicklaus was essentially playing against a field of four or five players,outstanding players be that as it may. Tiger has played 74 rounds at Augusta National and has a scoring average of 70.86, the best in history. Jack vs. Tiger is always a great debate. Tiger's 15-shot win inthe 2000 U.S. Open set a record for widest margin of victory, but his scoreof 272 only tied the record (since bettered by Rory Mcilroy) that Jackset in the 1980 U.S. Open. At this stage, not even Woods knows whether Humpty Dumpty can be put back together again. Woods had the famous hanging-on-the-edge chip-in 19 years later on the 16th hole. Since both stars dominated different eras, there is not much to compare over, at least game-wise. Thru their 55th Major Tournament (Masters, U S Open, British, PGA), here's how they compare: Age - Tiger 33 Jack 33 Wins - Tiger 14 Jack 11 2nd Place - Tiger 5 Jack 11 3rd Place - Tiger 3 Jack 5 Top 10's - Tiger 31 Jack 36 Top 25's - Tiger 44 Jack - 45 Missed Cuts - Tiger 4 Jack 6 Scoring Average - Tiger 70.63 Jack 71.64 A psychology There can never be a conclusive statement. Clearly, Woods has a larger number of legitimate competitors to worry about each week than Nicklaus did. 1959 Colonial National Invitational (46) arnold palmer. Apart from that, both legends have also inspired generations to take up the game. Golf Channel, All Rights Reserved. When Tiger won the 1997 Masters his score of 270 broke by one shot therecord that Jack had set in his 1965 rout. And then theres the money element. As for me, I don't dislike Tiger Woods because of his sordid affairs, but I like Jack Nicklaus for his lack of them. 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. MS: All eyes on Finau, Rahm; all ears on McIlroy, Green wins three-way playoff at JM Eagle LA, Mexico payout: Rahm sets record before May, Timeline: A look at Tiger's injuries in his career, Tiger announces he's undergone ankle surgery, Day: Screw broke through Tiger's skin at PGA. The evidence suggests Tiger was beating up on inferior competition. pic.twitter.com/VzzEM5f42p, Collin Morikawa Joins Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus in Elite List Following The Nicklaus did still own the advantage in major titles, 18-16, after all. That's more than one stroke better than Nicklaus' per-round average of 71.98. For some, choosing one is almost an impossible task whereas others believe the answer is clear. Both legends have worked hard for decades, revolutionizing golf in their own way. On the surface, it seems like an easy question. Woods hasnt officially retired yet, but the chances of him winning another major are very slim. First, Tiger has played against a deeper, more international field. On the other hand, Nicklaus won 54 tournaments in his first 300 starts. 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. Tiger Woods matched that streak with his run from the 1996 U.S. Open to the 2006 Masters. However, Woods has the Tiger Slam, which was holding all four titles at once although not in a calendar year. 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. Jack has 18 majors and Tiger has 14 majors, therefore Jack is the greatest of all time. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. And will be good for him. After all, there werent many majors to be had when Woods was taking seven in three years. 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. 2, Trevino three, Bruce Crampton four, and Palmer five. When Nicklaus was in his prime, golf was dominated by Americans. He dominated in an era of chokers. But it will. Furthermore, he's made it to the Top-10 on the leaderboard 41 times in 87 appearances. 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. Across a wide range of sports, we will debate and remember the Greatest Of All Time, and look ahead to whos next. (Not that anyone was really paying attention to a potential NicklaSlam. And I know I could be seen as biased because Ive been fortunate to live through Tigers prime. Life is good if youre a great golfer, thanks to Tiger Woods. Ofthe 64 majors Tiger has played as a professional, hes finished outside ofthe top 10 some 26 times while winning 14. Tiger had 15 such tournaments in the 2000s (counting the two events he missed with injury). Forbes estimates Woods net worth to be at least $1 billion, which puts him alongside NBA stars LeBron James and Michael Jordan as the worlds only billionaire athletes. and Nicklaus is 1-1 as a U.S. captain in the Ryder Cup and 2-1-1 leading the Americans in the Presidents Cup. With 18 wins to his name, Nicklaus is currently leading. So while both golfers have had incredible careers, it does appear that Tiger Woods has had a slightly more successful run. He adds so much to the game every time he tees up. Tiger has three more majors than any other man and five more than anyone whos played in the last 60 years, but he still cant compete with Jack in the number that matters most. One of the most distorted views in golf is that Jack Nicklaus had far more competition during his playing years than Tiger Woods has today. See trending; Company. Tigers best 33-major streak featured 21 top 10s. 1 ranked golfer in the world; Player was No. An incredible achievement for both are their major wins, Nicklaus currently is in the lead with 18 major titles. Tiger's best 33-major streak featured 21 top 10s. Nicklaus played against four of the greatest golfers ever and not only won 18 majors but had 19 second-place finishes, proving there was plenty for everyone. You dont want to see anybody, theyre hurting. It must be noted that this comparison involves only majors; if you expand it to include regular Tour events Tiger wins easily. 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. Tiger Woods has 198 top ten finishes with 82 wins and has won $120,954,766 in his career. While the 46-year-old is confident about a win this year, Woods clinching the Masters title is not easy. If you accept that golfers are only measured by their performance in the biggest events, its a slam-dunk argument. Finishing as a runner-up or in the Top-5 of a major is also considered a good result. Jack, of course, never won four straight, though he did come close. Tiger is still a man at work. They shrunk in the spotlight. Tiger Woods Vs Jack Nicklaus | StatMuse Those were stunning achievements that set the standard until Tiger arrived and did it even better. My puttings good. He said, I just cant walk. And he says, If it helps where I can walk, Im willing to do it. . My short games great. National team appearances are a challenging comparison due to playing partners being a tricky variable. he pursued a Journalism degree and graduated from Madras Christian College. THE MATERIAL ON THIS SITE MAY NOT BE REPRODUCED, DISTRIBUTED, TRANSMITTED, CACHED OR OTHERWISE USED, EXCEPT WITH THE PRIOR WRITTEN PERMISSION OF DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. 2023 DISCOVERY GOLF, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED, Masters 2020: The parallel stats between Jack Nicklaus in 1986 and Tiger Woods in 2020 are nothing short of eerie, How to watch the Masters on TV and streaming online, Ranking every golfer in the Masters field, 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, 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. Does Tiger Woods Need to Break Jack Nicklaus' Record of 18 Major Titles Its tricky comparing athletes from different generations. Now, at this very moment you are probably thinking that I have completely lost my mind by naming players such as Hunter Mahan, Stephen Ames, and Chez Reavia as competition comparable to the likes of Palmer, Player, Trevino, Casper, and Watson. In a span of 10 months, Tiger won the career Slam, became the first man to ever hold all four major titles at once and jumped ahead of the pace his hero set en route to his hallowed 18 majors. But, what the casual golf fan does not know is that during Nicklauss playing career, after Palmer, Player, Casper, Trevino, Watson, and a few others, the competition drops off like the continental shelf. AUGUSTA, GEORGIA APRIL 14: Tiger Woods of the United States celebrates after How Jack Nicklaus' sixth Masters win aged 46 tops Tiger Woods - CNN Now, a quarter-century later, the two are still inextricably linked, just as they were win Tiger was winning U.S. 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. In 2007, aside from Tiger Woods, the remaining members of the worlds top five won just 10 percent of PGA Tour events. He still can't touch Nicklaus. And Tiger is making his 23rd appearance in the Mastersjust like Jack was back in 1986. 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. In the 1970s, Nicklaus only finished outside the top 10 in five majors. 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. She has a keen eye for Woods plight. Nicklaus finished second in 19 majors, and Woods has six runner-up results. Tiger had 14. Starting at the 2000 U.S. Open, Tiger locked in like nobody before or since, winning four-straight majors by 25 strokes, with a combined score of 65-under. Who is the greatest golfer ever: Tiger or Jack? | For The Win He was compared to Mozart. Who knows.. At the British Open in the summer of 72, Jack struggled in the first three rounds but shot a 66 on the final day (a course record) to get to the top of the leaderboard. 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. "I feel very bad for Tiger. The count is still 18 to 14 in favor of Nicklaus. In Nicklaus best four-year stretch he won 22 from 1970-73 and added another 17 titles from 1964-67. Tiger Jack. Jack had a top 10 at a major in 24 straight years. Even if you think Tiger will win more majors (and I do), getting five and topping Nicklaus is nearly unfathomable. Woods made more on Tour in one year than Nicklaus did in his entire career 11 times: 1999 ($6,616,585), 2000 ($9,188,321), 2002 ($6,912,625), 2003 ($6,673,413), 2005 ($10,628,024), 2006 ($9,941,563), 2007 ($10,867,052), 2008 ($5,775,000), 2009 ($10,508,163), 2012 ($6,133,158), 2013 ($8,553,439). Jesse Owens was 5-10, Carl Lewis is 6-2 and Usain Bolt is 6-5. Tiger won eight of hisfirst 22 majors; Jack won seven of his first 22. Yep the same exact position with Tiger looking to match Jacks record of six Masters titles. Aside from Jack Nicklaus, Player, Casper, Palmer, and Trevino won nearly 18 percent of PGA Tour events. Tiger has held the outright 36-hole lead 33 times in his Tour career. Furthermore, Woods has 82 PGA Tour wins, while Nicklaus has 73. 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!) How long Woods will be sidelined this time is anyones guess, but his participation in this years remaining three majors the PGA Championship in May, U.S. Open in June and British Open in July seems unlikely.