Why Jack Nicklaus Wins the GOAT Debate and It’s Not Even a Close Fight

“It’s kind of amazing how two different people from two different eras who don’t have much contact can feel close, but we do,” Tiger Woods said in 2002. Woods, 26 at the time, was playing alongside Jack Nicklaus, 62, for the made-for-TV show ‘Battle at Bighorn.’ Six years into the Tour, Woods already proved that he could match Nicklaus’s tally of 18 majors, if not surpass it. 

Both were also big-match players who mastered every aspect of the game. Both could fire on all cylinders when time called for it. While they could equally take their foot off the gas if the need arises, Curiously enough, both made Augusta National their stronghold in their heyday. 

But Woods has seemingly stopped at 15. Even Nicklaus, too, quipped that his record seems to be secure. As the 2024 Masters draws near, the world eagerly awaits to watch Tiger Woods don the Green Jacket once more. But will that settle the goat debate in his favor? Perhaps not so easily. 

Nicklaus has a better Masters record than Tiger Woods.

For the record, Woods and Nicklaus have played in 22 majors together. Only once were they paired. In the 2000 PGA Championship, the Golden Bear was grouped with the reigning Masters Champion, Vijay Singh, and Tiger Woods. But of course, that was ceremonial, and the 18-time Major winner knew it. It only seemed a matter of time before Woods would catch up with his childhood hero and then topple the GOAT debate overwhelmingly in his favor.

The 15-time Major champion has surpassed Nicklaus in PGA Tour victories and aspires to make the record exclusively his own with an 83rd sometime soon. But in all four majors, which largely dictate the pace and passion of the GOAT debate, the 48-year-old still falls a little short. 

Going by Masters alone, Nicklaus has one more green jacket than Woods’s five. But, aside from his six triumphs, he was also runner-up four times, with a total of 22 top-10s from his 45 outings. Comparably, Woods has played 25 times at Augusta, with five victories and two runner-ups to his name. 

Considering only the combined first-place and runner-ups, Woods has a 28% success rate compared to Nicklaus’s 22%. Golden Bear featured inside the top 10s 48% of the time, compared to Woods’s 56% (14 top-10s). However, one thing to remember here as well is that Woods played with different and improved gear than what Nicklaus had in his hand some 50 years ago. Not to mention improved course design, better athleticism, and an influx of technology into golf. With that in mind, let’s also take a look at the other three majors.

Where do the two greats stand in the other three majors?

By numbers alone, Nicklaus surges ahead of the 48-year-old. Consider the former golfer’s spectacular record at the US Open. Nicklaus won the silver trophy four times and came close to winning four more times. Woods, on the other hand, was in contention five times (three victories and two runner-ups). Compared to Woods’s eight top-10s, Nicklaus has 18. 

The story is similar for the two other majors as well. Tiger Woods has won the Claret Jug three times in his career. It’s also the only major where the veteran never finished second. Nicklaus, though, was as dominant on the other side of the pond as he was on this side. The 84-year-old had seven runner-up finishes apart from his three titles. 

The 82-time PGA Tour winner has lifted the Wanamaker Trophy four times in his career, two of which came consecutively in 2006 and 2007. Besides, Woods also has three runner-ups in the PGA Championship. Golden Bear, on the other hand, has five victories and four runner-ups. 

A comprehensive comparison between Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus

So, in total, Jack Nicklaus has 73 top-tens across all four majors, including his 18 titles. Woods, so far, has 26 top-ten titles aside from his 15 titles. That’s 29 less than Nicklaus. Woods has a total of 16 top-five finishes apart from his 15 major triumphs. Among them, seven times he came up as a runner-up: twice in the Masters and the US Open, and three times in the PGA Championship. Nicklaus has more than double, 19 across all four majors.

If we also look at longevity, Golden Bear’s first and last top-10 in majors came 38 years apart: the 1960 US Open and the 1998 Masters. Woods, as of now, has a gap of 22 years (1997 Masters and 2019 Masters). So, he needs to play for at least 16 years until the age of 64 to match Nicklaus’s record. That looks slimmer year by year as the veteran continues to struggle with his body. 

Read More: Despite Failing to Surpass Jack Nicklaus’s Major Wins, Tiger Woods Once Made a Smug ‘I Beat Them All’ Remark Against the Legend

On the PGA Tour, Woods has had 163 top-fives in his career, as opposed to Nicklaus’s 209. However, that’s 43.5% for the Woods, whereas that’s 35.78% for Golden Bear. Interestingly, both Woods and Nicklaus won their last titles (so far for Mr.T) 24 years apart. For the 84-year-old, his first and last victory was the Majors (1968 US Open and 1986 Masters).

Obviously, as long as Tiger Woods swings a club, the GOAT debate will rage on. Perhaps even after his move to the Champions Tour. But judging by the numbers alone, Nicklaus pips his successor by a moderate margin.

Read More: Tiger Woods Once Snubbed Jack Nicklaus’s 18 Majors Feat Amid Choosing Family Over Career: ‘Much More Important’