Very few people know this, but the two greatest golfers of all time, Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus have played together in majors. The two GOATs of golf have been a part of the same major event on 22 occasions. Jack, who has won 18 major championships, was at the end of his career, while the 15-time major championship winner Tiger was still getting a name for himself.
Meanwhile, the last time these two were paired together was at the PGA Championship in 2000. They paired Nicklaus and Woods with Vijay Singh – a group that now has a combined 11 Wanamaker trophies. Moreover, Tiger went onto win this event which was his second straight PGA Championship win. However, the other GOAT, Jack Nicklaus, missed the cut. Tiger and Jack have played in the same events when Tiger was in the early stage of his career, while Nicklaus was well past his prime.
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Bursting the myth about Tiger and Jack
Meanwhile, Michael Jordan, the greatest basketball player in history, was asked about Tiger and Jack. “They’re both great, and I would never say one is greater than the other,” Jordan said.
“Jack and Tiger never played against each other,” continued Jordan. They never played in the same tournament. They never played with the same equipment. And they never played with the same length of a golf course. I never played against Wilt Chamberlain. I never played against Jerry West. To now say that one is greater than the other is being a little bit unfair.”
This is not entirely true as Tiger Woods and Jack have played 22 majors together. But it is clear what Jordan wanted to say. Tiger and Nicklaus played together at different stages of their careers. Tiger had just begun, while Jack was well past his prime.
Moreover, since the talk is always about majors when it comes to Tiger and Jack, here is the breakdown of all the 22 occasions in which the two played in the same major championship. However, it is interesting to note that Nicklaus finished above Tiger on five occasions out of 22. But four of those five majors were still when Tiger was an amateur.
List of all the 22 occasions where Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus played in the same major
Here is the list of all the 22 majors that Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus have played together.
1995 Masters, Augusta National Golf Club (Woods played as an amateur)Woods – T41 (low amateur)
Nicklaus – T35
1995 U.S. Open, Shinnecock Hills (Woods played as an amateur)Woods – WD
Nicklaus – MC
1995 Open Championship, St. Andrews (Woods played as an amateur)Woods -T68
Nicklaus – T45
1996 Masters, Augusta National Golf Club (Woods played as an amateur)Woods – MC
Nicklaus – T41
1996 U.S. Open, Oakland Hills Country Club (Woods played as an amateur)Woods –T82
Nicklaus – T27
1996 Open Championship, Royal Lytham & St. Annes (Woods played as an amateur)Woods – T22 (low amateur)
Nicklaus – T45
1997 Masters, Augusta National Golf Club (Woods’s first major as a pro)Woods – Won
Nicklaus – T39
1997 U.S. Open, CongressionalWoods – T19
Nicklaus – T52
1997 Open Championship, Royal TroonWoods – T24
Nicklaus – T60
1997 PGA Championship, Winged FootWoods – T29
Nicklaus – MC
1998 Masters, Augusta National Golf ClubWoods – T8
Nicklaus – T6
1998 U.S. Open, Olympic ClubWoods – T18
Nicklaus – T43
1999 U.S. Open, Pinehurst No. 2Woods – T3
Nicklaus – MC
2000 Masters, Augusta National Golf ClubWoods – 5th
Nicklaus – T54
2000 U.S. Open, Pebble BeachWoods – Won
Nicklaus – MC
2000 Open Championship, St. AndrewsWoods – Won
Nicklaus – MC
2000 PGA Championship, Valhalla Golf ClubWoods – Won
Nicklaus – MC
2001 Masters, Augusta National Golf ClubWoods – Won
Nicklaus – MC
2003 Masters, Augusta National Golf ClubWoods – T15
Nicklaus – MC
2004 Masters, Augusta National Golf ClubWoods – T22
Nicklaus – MC
2005 Masters, Augusta National Golf ClubWoods – Won
Nicklaus – MC
2005 Open Championship, St. AndrewsWoods – Won
Nicklaus – MC
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