How Good Was PRIME Jack Nicklaus Actually?

[@FinalPutt7]

Our apologies for any unnatural seeming cuts. We ran into some copyright issues after upload that needed to be cut out. We hope you enjoy the video regardless!

[@brucewayne3602]

His 19 second place finish's in majors = GOAT ... vs Palmer, Player, Trevino, Watson, Weiskopf, etc. amplifies GOAT ... Thankyou Final Putt !!!

[@Benderthegr865]

That's an insane stat 😂 dude was at the top ALL the time

[@sidecar7714]

Billy Casper 51 PGA victories including between 1964 and 1970, won 27 tournaments on the PGA Tour, two more than Nicklaus and six more than Palmer and Player combined. He has the most Ryder Cup points of any American all time. This guy gets no respect.

[@kyle381000]

This is exactly what I was about to write. 37 first or second place finishes in the major championships against some very strong competition.

[@brucewayne3602]

@@kyle381000 perhaps the strongest competition ever with no juiced balls and clubs !!!

[@NC-1861]

​@@sidecar7714 Jack Nicklaus has 73 PGA Tour wins you goof. That's 22 more than Casper.

[@isko00011]

In 1964 they asked Jack "who is better you or Bobby Jones?" and Jack got a lot of grief for answering "We'll never know, we don't get to play against each other." In 1999, they asked jack "Who is better you or Tiger?' and Jack got a lot of grief for answering "We'll never know, we don't get to play against each other."

[@trackdusty]

And the Winner is...Jack Nicklaus any way you look at it.

[@MrLowRight]

Jack was 100% right on both answers.

[@anthonyperrin3411]

Jack Nicklaus. Never mind the 18 Majors. He came 2nd 19 times and 3rd 13 times. Conceding the putt to Jacklin in the Ryder Cup was magnanimous in the extreme. To win the Masters at age 46 with his son on the bag. He said when he was hitting into any green he was always aiming for the biggest part of the green. To ensure putting. If his shot ended up by he pin....bonus! I agree with all the greats he played against, would add Champagne Tony Lema, killed in plain crash in 1964. Tiger Woods was dominant for 14 years with average competition whom Tiger physched out. Jack was too of his game 1962-winning Masters in 1986. In fact, Tom Watson won the Open six times.....Woodsy never got close to that.

[@rustyturner431]

Addendum: Old as I am, I never say Bobby Jones play...but Bobby won 13 out of 31 majors he entered, a 41.9% winning average. THAT is the GOAT! I know, it was almost a century ago, but it should not be forgotten.

[@saiph8421]

Jack is the best player to ever touch the game, lord knows what he would do in his prime with today’s technology

[@Papaspronator]

Tiger may have been better in his prime but his prime was shorter. I wish we could have seen them play.

[@dcbp00]

…and then Tiger was born

[@seanmawson6286]

Jack's got something tiger will never have and that's 18 Majors end of story ​@@dcbp00

[@George-ld9xu]

Or the physical training players do. Imagine Jack with his talent and a Tiger or Bryson workout regimen. 😮

[@Papaspronator]

@@George-ld9xu tiger was at his best when he was skinny before he started lifting weights. So I don’t think it would matter.

[@dinomarchioli3650]

As Lee Trevino said , Jack is the best player in his spare time. He never travelled away from his family more than 2 weeks at a time, and played a very limited schedule. Between 1962 and 1980 he was in the top 5 in the British Open all bit 1 time!

[@dinomarchioli3650]

The records are debatable, but Jack the sportsman, losing with class and dignity, providing advice and assistance to other players, and wonderful family man...make him head and shoulders - the goat!

[@tnsquire3195]

The records aren’t debatable. Jack’s is far and away a better record. It is t even close.

[@kimnewling5728]

Agree

[@Jsizzle6809]

Jack is a far better man

[@SoloZ123]

I actually didn't know how good Jack Nicklaus actually was until this video. Great Video btw 👍

[@FinalPutt7]

Then you’re exactly who I made this video for 🤝🏽

[@wowzers1069]

It is worth looking up Nicklaus on wikipedia and scrolling down to the majors section. I promise you that you will be amazed.

[@MajorWolfgangHochstetter]

Jack is the Greatest of All Time! The equipment was nothing compared to what is available today. I had the great pleasure of briefly speaking with Jack at the 1974 US Open at Winged Foot!

[@RogerPeet]

When I was growing up, Jack was the all-time best. A 'few' years later, he's still the best.

[@jimiverson3085]

13 wins in 21 major championships, including 6 at match play. In 11 US Opens, won 4, second 4 times, top ten 10 times. Played in the Open Championship 4 times; won 3. Retired from competitive golf at age 28 after winning every major championship he entered that year. Robert Tyre (Bobby) Jones, Jr. - the GOAT

[@vivektulja4516]

Very good post. Bobby Jones should be part of the GOAT conversations. I read somewhere that he retired from golf because he learned people were betting their lifetime savings on him.

[@PoppaFlagrant]

@@jimiverson3085 And yet, Bobby Jones, after watching Jack play, proclaimed that “Jack plays a game with which I am not familiar.” Jones clearly believed Nicklaus was the best golfer he had ever seen.

[@jimiverson3085]

@@vivektulja4516 Maybe. More likely Jones retired because he had more going on in his life (law practice, family) and didn't have the time and money to continue competing as an amateur. In those days, "amateur" means he didn't get anything from anyone and paid all expenses associated with the tournaments he entered. After he retired, Jones was paid to make a series of short films for Spalding in which he effectively gave lessons showing how he played the game - sort of the 1930s version of KZbin golf instruction videos. The money Spalding paid him was the first payment he had received for anything to do with golf.

[@jimiverson3085]

@@PoppaFlagrant Jones competed with clubs with hickory shafts and balls with early rubber cores and dimple patterns that were primitive at best. He could never have swung the club the way Nicklaus did - he would have hit wild hooks with every shot. But if you had given the young Jones the same equipment as Nicklaus used, he would have been an even match.

[@PoppaFlagrant]

@@jimiverson3085 I agree with you that Bobby Jones was one of the greatest golfers of all time. I am just stating what Bobby Jones said about Nicklaus, knowing his own game versus what he was seeing in Nicklaus. You put Jack, Tiger and Bobby Jones in a threesome on numerous occasions, all in their prime with comparable equipment and course conditions, each one of them will walk away with wins against the other two. The fact remains however, that Jack has the record. Tiger cannot say it and neither can Jones. Both Jones and Tiger had the opportunity to set/beat the record, but neither did. Not even close.

[@kevinp3550]

Let's not forget about something that is oh so very important. Courses used to have much deeper roughs (especially in the majors) which required a more conservative approach with the driver. More importantly, the ability to recover from the rough, with the old equipment and balls took skills that modern players didn't have to devote practice time on. The point is that if you put today's players in a time machine and went back to the sixties or seventies their games would suffer. Flip that script and the old timers would thrive.

[@illinialumni]

GOAT - Nicklaus. Period. You play to win. You're judged on results, not speculation. Tiger played with far better equipment which I use as another strike against. To me they're not really that close. Whoever is third is still way further away, but there's for sure a demostrable gato gap between even these two.

[@johnpaton8047]

Nicklaus.

[@Psychic.Octopus]

The amount of change in the quality of clubs and gear over his career is what sets him apart and will never be rivaled

[@douglassauvageau7262]

Today's groundskeepers also contribute to contemporary competition. There is a BIG difference today between a good strike and a poor one.

[@conormoncrieff5942]

He was playing against people using the same equipment, it’s not like he was using old school equipment and everyone else was using modern equipment, they were all using the same equipment.

[@YOUneedJESUS1]

Jack is the goat. And tiger is the tiger. Anybody that can hit a 341 yard drive with a wood club with a steel shaft and a rubber band ball. When adjusted for current club/ball tech that's 450 yards.

[@Channel-mt5vp]

Bottom line, when it comes to golf there is Tiger and Jack and then there is everyone else

[@tnsquire3195]

No. There is Jack and then Tiger.

[@trackdusty]

And the Winner is...Jack Nicklaus any way you look at it.

[@quicksilver2510]

Jones, Locke, Hogan, Vardon, Snead, Palmer. I could go on.

[@mattcorcoran7082]

Hogan and Jones are comparable. That’s the Mt Rushmore of golf.

[@tnsquire3195]

@@quicksilver2510 jack had 38 wins and runner ups in majors over about a 25 year prime of his career. Basically, he won or took second almost every other time he teed up in those majors. There is no one else remotely close. That entire list you mention didn’t achieve that - combined.

[@rdelius8512]

Have had the pleasure of seeing both play. Jack had a better long game-compared to his peers, Jack was comparatively longer than Tiger, and a straighter hitter with the driver. Jack was top ten both in distance and % of fairways hit in the one year during his career that they kept statistics,and that was towards the end of his prime period. On the other hand, Tiger’s short game was infinitely better than Jack’s. If Jack missed a green, he was trying to save par. Tiger’s mindset was that he was going to sink the chip. Tiger’s wedge game was better too. Both were fabulous putters. I lean towards Nicklaus as the GOAT based on the length and consistency of his domination, but those who pick Tiger definitely have a point. Fun discussion. Don’t forget about Bobby Jones either…. Those are my top 3.

[@Papaspronator]

Yeah. I think Tigers prime may have been slightly better but it was also shorter. It’s hard to say who was truly better.

[@daviddavis5866]

With todays equipment, Jack could drive it 400 yards. Jack will always be the GOAT.

[@Maruman_man]

He couldn't .

[@GreenDistantStar]

Prime Tiger had virtually zero weaknesses, and in a fantasy event against prime Nicklaus, Tiger's short game makes the difference. OTOH, we have no recordings of the many, many rounds that Nicklaus played that simply decimated the course and every rival. His consistency and course management were superb. And of course, had Hogan been able to play a full and uninterrupted career, he may have won 20+ majors. It's fun to speculate, and that's all it is, they are each and all the pride of golf.

[@GaryChavez-nu7uy]

Beast in his day I loved jack

[@RhichardHostettler]

Jack is the GOAT... 18-19 and another 9 or 10 top 5's

[@rustyturner431]

Tiger in 2000 was the finest golfer I've ever seen, and I'm 86...so I saw (in their prime) Snead, Hogan, Littler ( WAY underrated), Palmer, Boros (also underrated), Casper, Lema, Watson, Trevino, Weiskopf, Norman and a HOST of others. But one year, no matter how great, does not make you the GOAT. I side with brucewayne3602: the 19 second places and 9 third places put Jack head and shoulders above ALL the rest. Jack had 56 top-5s in majors; Tiger has 33. With just a bit of luck, Jack could have won 25 majors... Game over!

[@jakemitchell1671]

Very good analysis, sir. Well done. You may have mentioned this, but perhaps the most impressive stat about Jack is that while he did indeed win 18 majors, he finished SECOND in 18 more!! Consider that for a moment. A few strokes here and there and Jack may have won 25 or more! Also, Jack did all this while having an amazing family life, raising successful kids and enjoying a rock solid marriage. Golf was never #1 in Jack's life. Another factor worth considering is golf course conditioning. Tiger's prime was played on manicured courses with the best that science and agronomy and course maintenance had to offer. Jack played at a time when your putt may bounce 3 times and fairways had dead spots. And the difference in club and ball technology was night and day. At his absolute best, Tiger probably played the best golf that's ever been played. Winning majors by 12 and 15 strokes is mind boggling. But Jack was better longer, thus making him the GOAT.

[@johnjanota7724]

No questions its Jack. Statistics are statistics. If you take in account each contender for the GOAT and the personal life to complete the man, Jack wins hands down

[@hillbilly4christ638]

The match against Sam Snead at Pebble Beach in 1964 has been remastered. Jack played one of the most challenging courses masterfully against one of the games greats. I used to play with the clubs he designed. They are very unforgiving clubs with a narrow sweet spot, not like these clubs they design today. I remember when he designed Muirfield. The pros struggled to play that course.

[@jeffmansell898]

Time out. No question Jack is on Mount Rushmore, but stats do open up more questions. 69-76 general average # of players exempt was 75. 2000-2010 tour card holders 125+. # of players within 2 strokes of Jack’s average was 25-28. # within 2 of tiger was 40-45. Different tourney winners per year for Jack it’s around 25, for Tiger it’s near 35. My point is that the competition in Tigers decade was much much deeper, than it was for Jack. In Tigers decade any 1 of 100 golfers could win week to week. In Jack’s maybe 1 of 50-60. This is a broad look that does not take away from Jack’s greatness. In my eyes it dilutes the 19 second place finishes based on the overall competition they both played against.

[@stevenculver6416]

The 86 masters proved he was the greatest of all time and scared the crap out of everyone when he was climbing the board. Those guys all knew they were in trouble as when he got going by the roar of the crowd they were doomed....he shook Ballesteros to his core

[@Jsizzle6809]

Jack is a far better man but the depth of competition between the two isn’t even comparable. So many more great players Tiger had to deal with.

[@joeyclark3995]

IMO, Jack Nicklaus in his prime would flogg these guys if he was playing in the current era. He would likely drive the ball close to 400 yards with today's equipment, and his iron game was pretty special. His mind & course management were sublime. He was also a clutch putter. IMO, you are judged on how many majors you won, when it comes to the discussion of who is the goat. Tiger is my favourite player of all time. If not for his injuries & all his off course issues in his personal life, I believe he would of surpassed Jack for major wins. Jack Nicklaus is the GOAT.

[@thelammas8283]

Jack won more, might have had a little less competition, but a freakish golfer. So over a career yes maybe. Prime Tiger (for a while) played better golf than anybody ever. On average between 2000-03 the difference between his scoring average and that of the 2nd golfer, was the same as the gap between No 2 and No 65. Let that sink in.

[@johnnyblaze9206]

I think you have the weaker competition on the wrong guy. Who did Tiger beat equal to Tom Watson?? Bob May?? Chris DiMarco??

[@thelammas8283]

@@johnnyblaze9206 Good point, Jack at different times had Palmer, Player and Watson. But beyond that the bench was weak.

[@thelammas8283]

@@johnnyblaze9206 Tiger also had Els, Goosen, Michelson. Speaking under correction, but think Ernie would have won 9 majors if Tiger hadn’t existed

[@johnnyblaze9206]

@@thelammas8283 Goosen won 2 and faded. Michelson underachieved. Not sure els gets to 9.

[@thelammas8283]

@@johnnyblaze9206 Just checked it out. Ernie won 4, 2nd 6 times for a total of 10. Only 2 of those were against Tiger. So without Tiger he would have 6.

[@johnnymossville]

I think the greats would be great in any era. Equipment and training changes, but winners know how to win, and they would rise to the top using whatever methods are available at the time.

[@wacco54]

40 majors from 1970 through 1979 Jack finished in the top 10 thirty-five out of forty events. Won eight. Second eight times. Top five twenty-six times. Seems dominant to me.

[@wipeyfader]

This is like MJ and Kobe. Two different eras. They simply cannot be compared. I do think they would both be exceptional if they swapped the timeframes they played.

[@rrb79]

Jack is the GOAT of success on the golf course. He knew how to win or come so close to it. Tiger is the GOAT of golf revolution and excitement. I’d pick to watch Tiger given a choice.

[@ag358]

Glad you brought up his 341 blast with short steel shaft and wood clubhead. Jack's major competitors were many and they were not intimidated, watson, weiskopt, player, palmer, Casper, Trevino, sam snead was still playing great golf plus many more who had multiple major wins .

[@scottwalker145]

Love Jack. Clearly the most dominant player ever across an entire career. But... there is NO sport with firm measures where athletes from forty years ago are as good as now. People are provably stronger and faster now. In golf, they don't just hit it farther now, they hit more fairways. They hit more greens. They hit it closer to the pin. They hit fewer putts. They play much longer courses and still score lower.

[@rgfisher21]

Very good video, however, I spotted one important mistake. Tigers Master's win was before his big car accident which primarily shattered his right let. The 2019 Master's was from his comeback from extensive back surgery. The leadup to the surgery and for a short while afterword it was considered that he was done. However, in 2018 he came in second in the Fedex Cup and in the spring of 2019 he won the Masters. He had that major car accident in 2021, two years after in 2019 Masters win. And has not been able to win since then.

[@PoppaFlagrant]

Tiger entered professional golf with the stated goal of beating Jack Nicklaus’ major championship record. That was the standard of measure HE set for himself. He failed. People will say that Tiger battled injuries. Whose fault is that? Tiger’s on course and off course actions caused his body to break down. Nobody’s fault but Tiger. Jack’s major championship records will NEVER be broken, at least in this 69 year old’s lifetime. Let’s just look at one major, the one that was supposedly the most difficult for Jack to win because he hit the ball so high, the Open Championship. During the 20 year period from 1963 thru 1982, Jack played in all 20 tournaments. He had 3 wins, 7 seconds, 17 top 5’s and was outside the top 10 once. How can anyone look at that record in his “toughest tournament” and say Tiger was better in the Open? And it’s basically the same story in the other three majors as well, although not quite as stark a difference. Nope, when it comes to the majors, the measure Tiger chose to be compared to Nicklaus, there is quite a difference, and it falls in favor of Jack . . . the true GOAT!!!

[@mikecostello8769]

Not to mention, he played with ancient technology equipment, such as smaller, drivers, less forgiving, irons, electronics, etc.

[@billyburroo]

jack's records in major's will never be broken the strength and depth of players now will see to that, jack would win whatever era he was in, tiger wouldn't even been allowed on half the courses the majors were played on in jacks time, so how many tigers did jack have to beat

[@virtualbown]

With the dominance displayed in the 2000 US Open, Tiger was the better all around golfer, but Jack was a better player in the majors. 18 wins and 19 2nd places.

[@darrylb5247]

I started Golf at 15 and it took all year for me to shoot 102 on 18 holes. Jack shot 51 for 9 the 1st time out! Jack won 2 US Amateurs and Tiger won 3 in a row. Tiger was a bit better as an Amateur. After Tiger went pro he set some astounding records, winning by 12 and 15 strokes and the "Tiger Slam". So his PEAK Ability over say 5-10 years was #1, but injuries and his home life fiasco put an end to his dream of winning more Majors than Jack. As Jack played 2/3 of the tournaments so he could focus on Majors, it is clear he'd have had the most PGA Tour WINS ...like around 100+ ...had THAT been his Goal. So his 73 wins are impressive when you factor in his lighter schedule for the last 20 years he played. As most Golf Fans will point out...18x 1st and 19x 2nd is truly astounding. Tiger did get 15 Majors and 82 PGA Tour wins so he makes it very close! Tiger usually won from a big lead and Nicklaus was called The Bear for clawing down rivals from behind on the last day. I have to pick Jack overall as #1 for his Total Career and Tiger the BEST at his PEAK.

[@gilramsey3518]

I was always on the Nicklaus side of this debate until I found out Tiger Woods is also number 3 on the European Tour all time wins list - behind only Seve Ballesteros and Bernhard Langer. That is freaking amazing. So now I don't know..

[@jamiesloan7259]

His competitors were playing with the same crappy equipment as he was back then, so that’s not a valid argument to me. Plus, Jack really only had to beat a handful of excellent players to win. The field was MUCH deeper, during Tiger’s era, as far as top tier players go. No disrespect to Jack, but I think Tiger edges him out for the GOAT.

[@poocrayon4588]

Field was deeper in Jacks era. TIgers era actually lacked a little depth as he got into his career, it's stronger now.

[@dinomarchioli3650]

Don't agree, not a single competitor of Tiger's won more tha 4 majors between 1997 and 2010, and don't say Phil because he won 2 after 2010, depth of field means nothing if they can't win!

[@jamiesloan7259]

@@dinomarchioli3650 You made my point, exactly! There were 25-30 players with the potential to win, when Tiger played. Not the same, in Jack’s era.

[@fredlawrence8331]

Don’t forget the progress made in golf course maintenance. Granted the video is black and white, but Augusta in the early ‘60s doesn’t look nearly as manicured as it is today. Also, Jack inspired Tiger. I was never one to root for the front runner, but I have always appreciated the achievements.

[@tomnelson8515]

Just and FYI, Jack had a bad hip through most of his career. He would get injections so he could play. Later he had it replaced. He never complained about it because he didn't want to give his competition an advantage. Tiger of course was raised during the age of 'victims,' 'betas,' and 'don't keep score in soccer.' So as tough as he was mentally the culture was different and probably explains why Nicklaus hid his injuries and Tiger had no problem wearing them as a badge of courage.

[@andrewfyfe8986]

This video actually confirms Jack is the GOAT. Aside from the most important measurement. 18 Majors (vs Tiger’s 15), its this 19 second places in Majors that confirms his status.

[@AEJones-dl9nn]

He’s the greatest of all time. Tiger is an absolute legend but Nicklaus set that standard to chase.

[@douglasmcclure9492]

Jack is the goat its all on record plus a gentleman off the course unlike someone else

[@quicksilver2510]

People often talk about Tiger being better because he could have won more majors than Nicklaus. While that's true, he didn't. Also, if you're going to use that logic, you'd have to say that Bobby Jones is probably the GOAT. Jones gave up competitive golf at age 28, only played for 8 years on the tour, and even in his prime, he only played about 3 months of the year, plus worked full time off the course while he competed, and still only one 2 less majors than Tiger.

[@rodmakermagazine7117]

If a bullfrog had wings he wouldn't bump his butt when he hopped. But he doesn't so he didn't. It's about what you did, not what you might have done.

[@douglassauvageau7262]

Today's groundskeepers also contribute to contemporary competition. There is a BIG difference today between a good strike and a poor one. Yes, I said STRIKE not stroke.

[@bernardmccole3215]

I always thought it was Jack myself until I heard a stat that only around 30 players had a scoring average below 71 when Jack played and now there are over a hundred players each with a scoring average below 71 each year. Maybe he still would beat all of them but it's less certain.

[@pgaprofessionaluncertified3637]

Here's another stat for you, Jacks 1965 Masters score of 271 would have won every Masters event for the next 59 years , except 1997 (Tiger 270) , 2015 ( Spieth 270) and 2020 (Dustin Johnson 268).

[@ag358]

Those thirty players were champion players in their own right, jack played against guys that won many majors and wasn't intimidated by him. Watson, weiskopt,palmer, player, Trevino, he played against an aging Hogan and Snead was still formable plus many others.

[@poocrayon4588]

Yeah - look at the difference in equipment.

[@rgfisher21]

@@poocrayon4588 I was just about to say... in two words ...Different Equipment.

[@michaelbrownlee9497]

American course conditions and improved technology helped lower the scoring average of the cookie cutter generation of golfers. When Tiger appeared on the scene the cookies crumpled. The golfers of the 60s all things considered l, he would not of fared as well. Those guys loved being challenged, running there mouths, and winning. Totally different caliber of men.

[@paulmcg8237]

For me, the biggest reason why Jack is the GOAT is because of who he had to beat, the names just trip off the tongue; Palmer, Player, Trevino, Watson, Ballesteros, Miller, Kite, Norman, Langer, plus many others. Legends of the game weren't beat by Jack before they even hit a ball in the final round. So, by comparison, who were Tigers great and legendary competitors that he had to fend off? Michelson maybe, but as far I can remember, they never squared up on the course. So for that reason, IMO, it's Jack by a long way.

[@rodmakermagazine7117]

The guys Nicklaus beat are on the top winners lists, majors and otherwise. Most of the guys Tiger beat can't be found on those lists.

[@lukerocheleau9173]

And they didn’t even touch upon his acting career, beast mode .

[@kenshinwarriorX]

In my opinion Jack is the goat, tiger took to much out of his body in his search for greatness.

[@mikegrebe536]

Little known fact, Jack beat polio as a teen.

[@isko00011]

I think Jack had the best mind in golf, best on course management, best off course management, Tiger obviously doesn't come close to Jack in off course management, he has only himself to blame for his injuries. Tiger's run from the 1999 PGA to the 2002 US was probably the most dominant run golf has ever seen. Jack's run from 1962-78 is the most dominant career long run & he picked up 3 more majors after that plus 3 or 4 2nds. That's pretty damn good. As for GOAT, different eras, different styles different strengths

[@Dr.TJ1]

Besides Jack’s incredible number of second place finishes in majors which when combined with his major wins should be enough to seal the deal, Jack also had 117 professional golf tournament wins to Tiger’s 82, which means Tiger has a long way to go to catch Jack. In my mind, it’s an easy choice and the GOAT is Jack.

[@robbrown4057]

The debate is not even close. Jack is the clearly the best of all time. The fact that he won more outright and then finished second so many more times that Tiger proves it beyond a doubt.

[@patrickdumass7611]

Win percentage in majors for the big 4 up to age of 50. Bobby Jones 43% including US & British Amateur. 47% without Ben Hogan 19% Jack Nicklaus 18% Tiger Woods 17%

[@stacyott1918]

I'm sorry you just haven't mentioned his wife Barbara enough. She is a huge part of his success

[@PhilipVaughn-ri8vb]

2nd best golfer ever. Tiger reigns Supreme

[@dinomarchioli3650]

Make a list of the top major winners, most of the players over 5 played in Jack's era, and in Tiger's era there is only 1 who won 5+ majors and that was Phil Mickelson and he won some of them after 2010 when Tiger stopped winning.

[@sethtate2079]

Jack was the best in the world for longer. Tiger had the best 11 year stretch ever though. I would say its jack just because of his length of dominance.

[@doug5934]

The only way to make a comparison is to have woods use older clubs from the 1970s and 80s, which can be done. Jack can't get younger to use these new modern clubs to see if it would make a difference.

[@georgesouthwick7000]

Jack is the best of all time. Just look at his record.

[@davidschneider3118]

YES better than Tiger and I'd wager Tiger woild say so too

[@bobsanders8030]

Too many variables to say. You'd have to have them go head to head thru simultaneous careers using the same gear. What you have are two super competitors who will try to out work the other. No fair answer to only judge from two eras.

[@billmalec]

Title should read "Better than Jack?" Jack was the best.

[@ispep8882]

No question Jack was the GOAT.

[@christopherdelgaudio9484]

Great job TOM WATSON GOAT!!!

[@kourt2469]

Tiger had to be better to win 82 times against his competition. Fact is each generation is better than the previous. What Scottie scheffler did this year is arguably one of the greatest seasons of all time considering just how elite every PGA player is today and to win 7 times.

[@longgolf5530]

Equipment and course quality is not part of the argument. All the players had the latest equipment and played on the same course, at a given time.

[@worldcitizennews]

No competition in the tiger era!!!

[@WHITESOXWIN31]

Obviously Jack is the goat. He wasn't a drug addict or sex pervert. He also knew when to retire, unlike the spoiled rotten Woods!!

[@gripitandripit]

In Jack Nicklaus’s autobiography, "My Way," he says, "In 1930, there were perhaps ten golfers, pro or amateur, who might defeat Bob Jones when everything was right for them and after my first few years as a pro, there were maybe 30 guys who could beat me if I wasn't playing my best. If I were out there today (1996), that number would be tripled."

Jack claims that what we'll call the "depth of field" tripled between 1930 and 1970 and tripled again between 1970 and 1996. This is not a controversial opinion. Most golf writers agree. It became harder to win as the game grew in the 20th Century and fields grew larger and more talented,” said Jaime Diaz of Golf Digest in 2002. “Because Woods will be forced to beat more players capable of winning majors than Nicklaus did, longevity will be more difficult to achieve for him, said Jaime Diaz. “Especially in the '60s, you'd see a lot of majors where at the end there would be only five or six guys within 10 strokes," says Phil Rodgers, Jack Nicklaus short game coach and friend. "Maybe three or four guys would have a chance to win on the weekend. Today at a major, you see 20 guys finish within 10 strokes. One of the reasons Jack was able to finish second and third so often is he didn't have to contend with that kind of depth." Much has been made over the assertion that Nicklaus faced a more accomplished and tougher group of players at the very top of the game than Tiger does. The trio that put together the most major victories against Nicklaus in his first six years-Arnold Palmer, Gary Player and Billy Casper-won six in that period. But Ernie Els, Mark O'Meara and Vijay Singh got the same number in the same time against Woods,” said Jaime Diaz. In Jack’s first 10 years as a professional from 1961 to 1970 at the British Open, there was an average of 12.3 players within 10 strokes of the eventual winner with a high of 23 in 1969. In Tiger Woods first 10 years as a professional from 1996 to 2005 at the British Open, there was an average of 27.9 players within 10 strokes of the eventual winner with a high of 57 in 2002. As you can see from a decade worth of data for both players, there was much more competition in Tiger’s era then there was in Jack’s era at the British Open. If you are wondering about Bobby Jones, from 1923-1932 there was an average of 10.2 players within 10 shots of the eventual winner in the British Open with a high of 21 in 1931. In my own opinion, you can’t just compare numbers as it is not apples to apples. Jack Nicklaus in his day played against the best players of his time, but the game had not grown nearly as much globally as when Tiger Woods was playing. It was much harder to win golf tournaments with more capable players of winning when Tiger Woods was playing than when Jack Nicklaus was playing. As the game of golf continues to grow more globally around the world it will be increasingly harder for anyone to dominate the game like Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods did.

[@mikejones-go8vz]

The great American golfers during and just after the 2 world wars were amazing as well, Jones, Hogan, etc….but these two , from another planet

[@George-ld9xu]

I don’t think this is a debate that can ever be settled- the eras are too different. Jack is the all-timer over Tiger in my mind, but I think that opinion is possibly influenced by the mystique that comes with it all happening before I knew, well, anything. Some things to consider: 1. The Eras: in Jack’s time, no one focused on developing and training their bodies to perform at their peak. Tiger changed this, and much of Tiger’s success is owed to his fitness relative to the field. 2. Jack shot 6-handle scores with persimmon woods. No tech. Just a block of wood on a stick. No graphite shafts. Pure blades. No scotties. Putters were crap back then. No ProV1s. Shot in the sixties, and had distance similar to tour players off the tee even today. Tiger was long too, but trained and had the best equipment. 3. Jack focused on majors in his later years, not because of physical limitations, but because it was more important to him to be home with his family. Imagine the total win count if he played every tournament. Tiger has to curtail his schedule because he just physically can’t play every weekend without falling apart. But, here is my segue to the last point: 4. Character: Jack played less because he wanted to be there for his wife and be a part of his kids’ lives as they grew up. Tiger was injured the first time because he was a womanizer and his supermodel wife beat the shit out of him and his car with a 9iron. Quite the difference. Then, Tiger wrecked his car, which put him where he is now; there was suspicion of intoxication, which was never confirmed. That second episode was what really ended his career, or at least it seems. Had Tiger stayed healthy, rather than suffering major physical trauma (arguably of his own making) he might still be out there kissing hardware on Sunday afternoons, very frequently. But what you do off the course matters too. I love Tiger. I WANT to see him win another major, or more. Its a great comeback story, echoing that of Hogan winning after his own near-fatal car accident. But until that happens, it’s still Jack at #1.

[@pullmarkbirds]

We know jack has more majors. But if we’re asking who was the better golfer at their peak? I think it’s Tiger.

[@BadgerFan1989]

In my opinion, watching both, Jack was much better. With the equipment improvements he was having to hit 2 irons and 3 irons where Tiger is hitting 7's and 8's or wedges, Much easier to hit those low clubs into the greens. And the clubs were much more unforgiving. Also look at the competition. Jack routinely went up against Arnold, Lee Trevino, Seve, Tom Watson, Johnny Miller and Gary Player, all of which are HOF players and legends in the game. Tiger's main competition in his years was David Duvall??? And later the master choke artist of all time Phil Mickelson who would literally crap his pants if Tiger showed up on Sunday. Even Tiger just dismisses Phil whenever anyone talks about the two of them. But when you're born has nothing really to do with it. It's not Tiger's fault that he had no major competition. But had there been better, more dedicated players challenging him week to week, major after major, his win percentage would be more impressive comparing the two. Faldo, Payne Stewart and Els were very good but also on the decline. Who else was in Tiger's years? Davis Love III? Good, but Legend??? Colin Montgomery? Sergio Garcia who never won a major until after dozens of attempts, just like Phil.

[@SpeechCheck]

Great content and presentation.

[@Werdnasemajjamesandrew]

Tiger got ahead of himself.

[@Kevin01SH]

I still think Tiger is the goat, mostly bc i saw him play haha

[@Maruman_man]

GOAT = Tiger. Nobody..I mean Nobody has played the kind of golf Tiger did between 2000 and 2010. Winning percentage which will remain unfathomable...more wins than anybody in the history of the game...Nicklaus was a majors specialist

[@Devlins10]

Jack was a natural. In anytime, anywhere.

[@craig8542]

jack. the greatest sportsman ever

[@joeldriver-sp2rg]

To me the deciding factor is winning percentage. Tiger beats Jack in both regular tour events and also majors by a wide margin in this regard. The only reason Jack leads Tiger in majors is because of Tiger's foolish swing changes, injuries and that Jack played in 57 more majors than Tiger has and the difference is only 3. Had Tiger left his swing alone from the 2000 era with Harmon as his coach he would have over 100 tour wins and over 25 majors.

[@rgfisher21]

That might be true, but we will never know. What we can reasonably assume due to many reports is that if he hadn't changed his swing, his back would have failed a lot sooner than it did. So we have to go with the actual stats. It really doesn't matter what someone could have done or even looked like they could do, it didn't happen. Jack spent all those years playing and did not have the physical propensity to injure himself because he wasn't as violent in his swing as Tiger. So being in good shape, but not to the degree of Tiger, he still managed to stay in the game long enough to accumulate all those wins and seconds through top 10's. Both had incredible talent, but Jack had the longevity. They also failed to mention how great he putted. That's pretty important to a golfers success. And the massive difference in equipment (both ball and clubs)

[@seanmawson6286]

Wake up mate you're dreaming stop speaking rubbish Jack 18 tiger what is it 15😊😊😊

[@joeldriver-sp2rg]

@@seanmawson6286 Tiger has a higher winning percentage than Jack in regular season events and majors. Feel free to look it up for yourself. The only reason Jack leads Tiger in majors is because he played in 57 more of them than Tiger has.

[@seanmawson6286]

Well maybe tiger should have stayed out of the waffle House car park Jack lived the clean life has Tiger lived a clean life I don't think so his ex-wife favourite club is a 7 iron and she swings it well🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😛

[@joeldriver-sp2rg]

@@seanmawson6286 Tiger cheated on his wife....so fucking what. You know how many great athletes and celebrities have done the same thing? What about her role in that? There's always a reason people cheat. We know at the very least that she was capable of swinging a golf club at him violently and injuring him in an assault that could have killed him. We don't know what was going on behind closed doors. It doesn't have anything to do with comparing their golf games anyway.

[@DonOlszewski-th1ir]

JACK, is all I have to say

[@bobfeller604]

Jack is the man, he has the record to prove it.

[@Maruman_man]

Majors can't be the only way to judge...Tiger has most wins and has played the greatest golf ever seen by mankind

[@douglassauvageau7262]

Today's greats must honor those who 'built the game'. That said, Jack is the GOAT. Equipment, course-conditions, rules, competition, , , Scottie Scheffler (LUV that guy) will never be the GOAT until he can consistently score eight-under-par from the 'tips' of a municipal golf course humping his own equipment bought at Walmart. Jack could and did.

[@kimnewling5728]

Which one of the two had a personal life that you would tell your kids to copy? Jack.

[@David_7171]

And he was runner up in The Open 7 times !!! Ouch

[@phillipstewart2031]

Still think prime tiger is the most dominant force in golf

[@seanmawson6286]

18 Majors 14 Majors end of story

[@karinamarshall513]

Check out a amateur called Bobby Jones…the goat of his time

[@ag358]

Yes, Bobby won thirteen majors and retired at age 28( twenty eight). From 1923-1930 he won forty one percent of any tournament he entered. Plus the only calendar grand slam to date.

[@goldtigre4979]

The GOAT? John Daly. I’d like to see Nicklaus play a drunk barefoot round and still shoot under par

[@mccalljeff]

May want to fact-check that oldest player to win a major at 4:29. Lefty may have something to say about that. 😀. Great video though!

[@gsf23]

He said he was the oldest to win the Masters

[@mccalljeff]

@@gsf23 Ahhh, fair enough. My bad my bad.

[@user-vw8py1hk8j]

Jack has 18 nmajors and 19 seconds. Nuff said!

[@AndrewLane-pm2ro]

Jack handled windy conditions much better than Tiger, imo.

[@Patrick-zi2yt]

Both for their time were GOATS, IMHO!

[@slimjong-un5743]

You know what the T in GOAT means right?

[@Patrick-zi2yt]

@slimjong-un5743 Duh! Time. JWN is the greatest of all time. No one will catch his record. If Tiger had stayed healthy and not had the accident, he might have caught Jack. Not now. Father time has claimed another victim.

[@garyroberts3859]

If he had a full career and played the number of majors Jack did BEN HOGAN would be the goat without doubt. He only played I one OPEN and he won it. Then there was the car accident and the war.

[@poocrayon4588]

And if Bryon Nelson hadn't of retired when he did Hogan wouldn't have won as many as he did either.