Ending the Long Standing Debate, Tiger Woods Stepped Back to Declare Jack Nicklaus as the GOAT in a Heartfelt Conversation Once

Tiger Woods is deemed to be the greatest-ever golfer of his time. But the question of the undisputed GOAT in the sport across history will always be disputed. While Woods remains one of the standouts for that title, many believe that former great Jack Nicklaus has a fair say too. While fans can have endless debates on the same, Woods once admitted to Nicklaus’ grandeur through a letter in 2010.

Tiger Woods’ legacy compared to Jack Nicklaus

At the onset of the last decade, Woods was looking set to break all major golf records. By 2010, he was only four major championships behind the yesteryear hero, Jack Nicklaus. Many had predicted the 47-year-old to get past the mark without any hiccups, with as many as 20 majors seeming scalable.

Read more: ‘I Wish I Had Another Chance to Talk to Him’: A Heartbroken Jack Nicklaus Put a Tear on Everyone’s Face With His Farewell Note to Arnold Palmer After His Demise in 2016

But even with such promise, Woods never took Nicklaus’ legacy for granted. The incident at the 2008 PLAYERS Championship showed why.

The event at the TPC Sawgrass played host to a rewarding moment. Ahead of the start of the tournament, Nicklaus was awarded the Lifetime Achievement award from the PGA TOUR. Woods wasn’t able to present himself for the ceremony owing to his third left knee arthroscopic surgery. But he made sure to write an honorable letter for the 83-year-old.

Woods has kind words for Jack Nicklaus

At the event, then-PGA Tour commissioner, Tim Fichem, read Woods’ letter to Nicklaus. “No one I can think of is more deserving. Your impact on golf has been incredible to say the least and I count myself among the millions of fans who consider you to be the greatest of all time,” the letter read, before talking about Nicklaus’ influence on the sport.

Woods also hailed Nicklaus’ record of 118 tournament victories across the world, alongside 73 PGA Tour victories. He also credited the golf great’s most-renowned record of 18 major championship victories, the highest-ever in men’s golf.

But while his achievements in the sport have stood out, so has Nicklaus’ life outside the ropes. “However, equally important are your commitment to philanthropy, your skill as a course designer, and your steadfast dedication to family,” Woods wrote in his letter.

Woods also focused on Nicklaus’ contribution to golf and the values he brought with him. “Thank you for being such a tremendous mentor to me and so many others,” he wrote, before signing off.