Arnold Palmer dubbed Tiger Woods as the greatest golfer he’d ever seen (Image: Andy Lyons, Getty Images)
Arnold Palmer once hailed as the greatest player to grace the fairways and greens. Speaking to The Golf Channel, the seven-time major winner, who is honoured with the Arnold Palmer Invitational, said: “Tiger Woods is the most dominant, most skilled player we have ever seen.”
Palmer, who first encountered Woods when the latter was an amateur back in 1991, formed a mentor-student relationship with the now 49-year-old golf icon. Reflecting on Palmer’s influence in the wake of his passing in 2016, Woods said: “I knew that I could always call him for advice, and I looked forward to seeing him at Bay Hill and .” However, the late Palmer’s view is hotly debated among golf enthusiasts, with many considering Jack Nicklaus to be the true GOAT of golf.
Nicklaus boasts an impressive record of 18 major championships, 73 victories, and five PGA Player of the Year awards. While Woods has surpassed Nicklaus in PGA Tour wins, amassing 82, and has claimed 11 PGA Player of the Year titles, he still trails by three majors to match Nicklaus’ tally. Woods’ meteoric rise began with his professional debut in 1996, quickly followed by his first major win at the 1997 Masters, marking the start of an extraordinary career, reports .
Once a colossal name in golf with a record-breaking 683 weeks as World No. 1, Woods has seen his career slow down as of late, now ranked at a distant 1229th. The last of his major triumphs dates back to the 2019 Masters, with the same year also seeing his most recent PGA Tour victory at the Zozo Championship.
In 2024, Woods entered only five tournaments, with a modest 60th place at the Masters spotlighting his limited appearances. He was poised for a return at the Genesis Invitational last month, , prompted his withdrawal. In a statement, Woods said: “It is with heartfelt sadness that I want to share that my dear mother, Kultida Woods, passed away early this morning.
Arnold Palmer has said Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer of all time (Image: Getty Images)
“My Mom was a force of nature all her own, her spirit was simply undeniable. She was quick with the needle and a laugh. She was my biggest fan, greatest supporter, without her none of my personal achievements would have been possible. She was loved by so many, but especially by her two grandchildren, Sam and Charlie. Thank you all for your support, prayers and privacy at this difficult time for me and my family. Love you, Mom.”
As the final round of the 2025 Arnold Palmer Invitational is set to take place at Bay Hill Golf Course this Sunday, Colin Morikawa is leading the pack with a score of 10-under-par. It comes after an impressive third round that saw him increase his score by five strokes.
Hot on his heels is Russell Henley, trailing by just one stroke. Corey Conners is in third place with eight-under-par, while Australian star Jason Day is in fourth place with seven-under-par. Michael Kim and Tony Finau are tied for fifth place, both sitting on five-under.