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Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus: who's da man?
Saturday July 16, 2005 | 17:47:01 291 words, 1352 views
Tim McDonald’s latest blog hammering Jack Nicklaus got me to thinking: who really IS the greatest golfer of all time? MSNBC is running a poll right now asking readers to speculate, will Tiger with his 9 majors ever surpass Jack’s 18? Well of course he will, because Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer of all time. I suspect if you’re under the age of, say 40, you agree with me. Boomers tend to claim The Golden Bear, and the real oldsters are still droning on about some guy named Bobby Jones. Coincidence? I think not. Don’t get me wrong, I have plenty of respect for Jack. For years, he was da man. I was there at the 2000 U.S. Open at Pebble Beach—another of his supposed “final appearances.” I was in the grandstands on the par-5 18 when he got on in two. The crowd went bananas, it was really quite a moment. But Tiger gets on in two routinely. Tiger’s game is the one that’s making golf courses obsolete, and it’s because of him that Augusta is having to go through another round of “Tiger-proofing.” Have you ever heard of a course “Jack-proofing"? Nicklaus himself has said Tiger’s got it: “Realistically,” Nicklaus said, “he might very well be a better player than I was… Records are made to be broken, and it would be great if he breaks mine.” For all his legendary stats, Jack’s just not my guy. Maybe because I’m only 34. Maybe because I only started playing golf after Jack was past his prime. Maybe because I’ve played enough of his golf courses to know it’s not just his caddies he punishes. So Tim, tell us, who is your guy, Bobby Jones?
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Comment from: St. Nick [Visitor]
Tiger is da man now but Jack will always be Da Man and the Greatest. ha ha. In the Majors Jack finished in the top five 56 times and had 19 second-place finishes. I think that's even more impressive than his 18 wins.
He also had to take on Player, Palmer, Watson, Trevino, Miller, Weiskopf. He is still Da Man. 
07/18/05 @ 12:31
Comment from: Tom [Visitor]
Tiger certainly has the talent to surpass Nicklaus's 18 majors. The question is, does he have the motivation. That, or injury, will be the deciding factor. I don't think you can compare competition between the eras. But the players in the 60's and 70's were much more hungry....literally. Jack and his contemporaries were playing to put food on the table. A whole different level of pressure. Tiger, after winning the Masters in '97 signed 3 endorsement deals worth 100 million dollars, which I believe paid out over 3 years. He doesn't have to play ever again. Will he lose interest or will he remain focused.
07/20/05 @ 09:21
Comment from: Steve Eisenberg [Visitor] · http://www.fgcu.edu
"Tiger proofing" courses is way overated. Back in Jacks day, Jack was the ONLY ONE hitting past everyone. Now, Tiger and a host of others hit the ball a ton. That is the difference, in his day, Nicklaus outdrove everyone. Now, Tiger is one of many...
07/23/05 @ 13:29
Comment from: Greg Pinelli [Visitor]
Determining the "greatest player of all time" is far more complicated than adding up majors. Simple math doesn't even lead us to who had the greatest career...let alone who might have beaten everyone else bringing his best year to the table against the field. There have always been quality players.. . some eras, though, have simply been overloaded with great talent. This may stun some people...but today is not one of those times.
Could Tiger have faced up at Carnoustie or Winged Foot to Hogan, Nicklaus, Nelson and Palmer (to name a few) at the top of their games and survived? Could he have won against personalities as strong or stronger than his own?
07/28/05 @ 02:10
Comment from: Greg Pinelli [Visitor]
Simply couldn't let that comment by Jennifer about "Tiger proofing" courses pass. Augusta is not being Tiger proofed...it is being hyper tech golf ball and titanium/ceramic proofed. Have Jack break out one of his sets from 1975 with a few of the more common balls of that era and see how many 470 yard par 4s Tiger brings to their knees.
In fact....I've got a great idea for Tiger's favorite check writer--Nike. How about a 1975 theme tournament at Oakmont! I know exactly how many of todays great hitters would be strutting after their 300 yd drives. None.
07/28/05 @ 02:29 Leave a comment: |
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