3 min read

One of the great debates in pro golf is an historical difference of opinion.

That would be a question of who is the greatest golfer of all time?

Bill Kennedy, Golf Columnist

The difference of opinion is whether the GOAT is Tiger Woods or Jack Nicklaus. No other pro golfer is in the conversation, although several great Hall of Fame players deserve mention. There are too many of them to form a complete list, but some of them are Bobby Jones, Sam Snead, Ben Hogan, Nick Faldo, Tom Watson and Phil Mickelson.

Woods is clearly the best golfer of his era — 1996 to present. Right from the start, Tiger was a sensation, winning three consecutive U.S. Junior titles (1991, ’92 and ‘93) and three straight U.S. Amateur championships (1994, ’95 and ‘96) while a student at Stanford.

As a pro, he has won 82 PGA Tour events, the most ever. Along with that, he won 15 major crowns. While facing many opponents who played at a high level, the only threat to Tiger’s No. 1 status was Mickelson, a great golfer who was a distant, but respectable second to Woods.

Many contemporary golf fans are not old enough to have seen Nicklaus, who turned 84 this year, during his magnificent career. They’ve only heard about him, which is why they would be more inclined to pick Tiger in this argument.

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Nicklaus won 117 professional tournaments after turning pro in 1961. That is a record, as is his 18 major tournament titles. As an amateur he won the U.S. Amateur twice (1959, 1961) and in 1960 was the runner-up in the U.S. Open while still an amateur. During his illustrious career, he competed in 164 major tourneys, and in 1986 at age 46, he won The Masters.

Younger golfers might think that because Nicklaus was not from the modern era of so many high-level golfers, he could not have been as good as Tiger. Certainly, Jack did not train like Tiger, but then before Tiger arrived on the golf scene, who did train like him? He got that part of golf started for lots of golfers — pros and amateurs.

Looking back at the Nicklaus era, there was the “big three.” Jack always was challenged by Arnold Palmer and Gary Player. And, by the way, Player did a lot of physical training, which was pretty much unheard of in those days.

If it sounds like yours truly would vote for Nicklaus as the GOAT, then you have correctly read into this. He is a month older than me, so I avidly followed his career, admiring his accomplishments.

In 2005, he made an appearance at the PGA played at Baltusrol in New Jersey, and a photo of him and me hangs proudly on the wall of my mancave. It brings back memories of having seen his play in the Doral Open in Miami Beach in 1964 while on a Kathy and Bill Kennedy honeymoon. And, once more at the U.S. Open at Baltusrol in 1980, an event this writer covered for the Elizabeth (New Jersey) Daily Journal.

Some memories return quickly and accurately, and those about Nicklaus rank right up there with classic recollections.

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Maine Golf has a full week of tournaments. On Aug. 24 the Mixed Championship is at The Meadows. Men’s playdays are Aug. 23 at Springbrook, and Aug. 27 at Sunday River. Women’s playdays are Aug. 20 at Bridgton Highlands and Northport.

 

Bill Kennedy, a retired New Jersey golf writer and editor now residing on Thompson Lake in Otisfield, is in his 12th season as Sun Journal golf columnist. 

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