The legendary Jack Nicklaus gave his verdict on the credentials of one golfing icon in the all-time stakes (Image: Andrew Wevers/Getty Images)
Golfing icon Jack Nicklaus boasts a record that solidifies his contention for being the greatest golfer in the annals of history. The US legend has secured an extraordinary 117 professional wins during his eminent career, out of which 18 are major championships – nudging three ahead of Tiger Woods.
In 2005, he waved goodbye to tournament golf, etching one of the most distinguished legacies in the sporting domain. Yet, despite his spectacular triumphs, at 84, Nicklaus accords higher praise to Bobby Jones, who bagged 13 majors, than to himself.
Jones, a Masters Tournament co-founder and Augusta National designer, quit the sport at just 28 in 1930 after accomplishing a grand collection of major titles, including both open and amateur competitions across the US and UK.
The iconic Bobby Jones enjoyed a glittering career between the years of 1923 and 1930 (Image: Kirby/Topical Press Agency/Getty Images)
Nicklaus has expressed immense admiration for Jones, remarking: “Jones is the greatest golfer who ever lived and probably ever will live. That’s my goal. Bobby Jones. It’s the only goal.”
Nicklaus has also opined with a hint of regret that if modern phenom Woods had evaded injuries, he might very well have eclipsed Nicklaus’s own tally of major wins, saying: “If he remained healthy, I think he would’ve gotten it, but he didn’t remain healthy.
“We all have injuries, we all have different things in our life which change things and Tiger had his problems,” he noted compassionately about the golfing titan.
He added, expressing his sympathy for his fellow golfing legend. “I feel bad for him about it, but it is what it is. He’s still a great influence on the game of golf.”
As per Nicklaus’s remarks, Woods has faced numerous setbacks due to injury in recent times, with his latest major victory being at the Masters in 2019.
Tragically, a car crash in 2021 appeared to quash any immediate aspirations for a 16th major title as he remains in a constant battle to maintain playable levels of fitness.
Elsewhere, Gary Player, a winner of nine majors, made comparisons to Jones who “played with a walking stick as a shaft,” and pointed out that the “ball went 80 yards less”.
Player confessed his skepticism over the argument placing Jones as the foremost golfer ever.
When pressed to select between Nicklaus and Woods, he asserted: “So I’d have to say Jack Nicklaus. After that I think Tiger Woods.
“He was unfortunate. His knees and his back and his car accident. What would happen if that never happened? There’s the ‘if’ I guess.”