Jack vs. Tiger: Who's the Greatest Golfer?

[Fishinjdb]

I am an old soul. I love to watch highlights of Jack's game. But it is hard to beat TW when his is on.

[welshy]

Stats wise it's Jack atm - if Tiger's knee lasts then he will be :)

[tnbama]

Indeed. Another piece of reading:

Reading this only makes me think, once more, of the competition Jack had to face. Maybe it's the passing of the years has me putting Jack's competition on a pedestal, but Trevino, Player, Palmer, Watson.. those guys were fierce competitors. They were mature, they were mentally tough in ways Tiger's competitors don't seem to be.

Correct me if I am wrong- would Palmer or Player have taken a nine in such an infantile, idiotic fashon at the US Open? It almost seems Phil may as well have had a pacifier hanging out of his mouth while he hit those wedges- all because he thought the course setup was unfair. boo hoo. And he's the main challenger? And don't even start me on Sergio...or Adam Scott. Trevino would slice your heart out over a two dollar bet- and he was the most consistant ball striker since Hogan. He went toe to toe with Nicklaus Sunday after Sunday, and he was never intimdated. What about Gary Player, who in this country was regarded as the little brother among the "Big Three?" Guess who is one of only five guys ever to win the modern career Grand Slam? Palmer was never bashful about wanting to beat Nicklaus either- that's a given. Maybe it's just me getting old, but I have a tendency to regard these modern computer perfected wonderkids as soft in the middle. The older guys grew up more in the school of hard knocks. If they didn't win tournaments, they were going to back to the farm to dig ditches. Many of these kids on the tour now are from the school of computer generated David Ledbetter perfect positions at the top. The swings may be better, but the GOLF, the human drama, is sorely lacking. They just seem to be a bunch of cookie cutter copies of each other today. They don't have any fire. Tiger seems to be the only one who could travel back to that era and be right at home. But that's just me. I am sure lot's of people see it differently.

[iacas]

Correct me if I am wrong- would Palmer or Player have taken a nine in such an infantile, idiotic fashon at the US Open?

It's undoubtedly happened - particularly when they're not in contention (as Phil wasn't).

Palmer took double bogey from the middle of the 18th fairway at Augusta in 1961 when par would have won the tournament for him. So yeah. Tiger's so dominant he simply MAKES his competition look that much worse than Jack's. And a lot of those guys won many of their majors when Jack was out of his prime. Arnie won most of his before Jack came along, and Tom Watson started winning his towards the end. Tiger's winning percentage is far and away better than Jack's. That alone tells you he's winning more - thus giving less chances to the second tier players (Phil, Ernie, Vijay, etc.).

[kc8kir]

Maybe it's just me getting old, but I have a tendency to regard these modern computer perfected wonderkids as soft in the middle. The older guys grew up more in the school of hard knocks. If they didn't win tournaments, they were going to back to the farm to dig ditches. Many of these kids on the tour now are from the school of computer generated David Ledbetter perfect positions at the top. The swings may be better, but the GOLF, the human drama, is sorely lacking. They just seem to be a bunch of cookie cutter copies of each other today. They don't have any fire. Tiger seems to be the only one who could travel back to that era and be right at home.

Wow, that was well put. Bravo.

Totally agree, although I think Phil Mickelson still embodies the game quite nicely (takes chances, plays the game for what it is, etc). You hardly see some of these new kids even getting excited when they make a great shot anymore. It's like the game doesn't bring them anything but a high class paycheck. Smug golf prepschool kids... at least that's how they come across in my view.

[SpacklersEdge]

I am brand spanking new and crushed that now that I found golf ,Tiger will be out for some time .Watching him makes me realize that golf is a special sport. He just make it all look so easy that it is encouraging to a newbie!

Wait until you play for a couple years, feel like you're getting better, then worse again, then worse more, then better, then worse....and see if you think Tiger's poetry in motion swing of perfection looks so good then

He's so good it makes me frustrated sometimes to try and compare your own swing to his. Something to strive for though.

[sp00ky]

Right now there's only one way to answer the question. You have to say Jack is the greatest golfer of all time simply because his accomplishments dwarf those of everybody else (yes, even Tiger for the time being).

Tiger, on the other hand, is the best in terms of ability. Hands down. Even Jack would agree with that. Once his accomplishments equal those of Nicklaus, (and they will) we'll look back and wonder why we even bothered to ask the question.

-k

[piyow69]

Tiger's my favorite

[Crafty]

The thing is, you can argue many of these points in both directions. i.e:

On the topic of Tiger's competition compared to Jack, you culd say that Jack had better competition, but you could also say that the lack of cumulative majors in Tiger's competition can be attributed to the fact that Tiger is that much better.

[clemsontiger]

I have to say Tiger also because I was not around to see Jack. I see the field of competition that Tiger just dominates and I know that I could not even attempt to compete with that group.

Like his father said that he would be more mentally prepared than anyone else that he would ever meet.

[antney79]

After last weekend at the US Open, Woods has to be the best. Just would like to watch tournaments on the other players as well, I guess we can now.

[cporter777]

I wasn't alive to see Jack do his thing, but in my lifetime Tiger Woods has been one of the most incredible and awe-inspiring athletes that I've had the privilege to witness.

[BASHERBAKER69]

Ive always thought that Jack in his prime was more graceful than Tiger is now. This may sound like a strange question, but does anyone know who he (Tiger) 'hangs out' with when he's not on the golf course ? (he is a very private person).

[cwcaesar]

Tiger is the best clutch putter ever! That is why he is the best ever. Jack was awesome, but Tiger is still better.

[pat8]

The majority of people who have voted on this have either only lived through Tiger's era, or, because they have been immersed in everything Tiger for the last 10+ years, their view of what jack did is diminished, so most people lean toward Tiger whether they mean to or not.

[manninm]

I would say that it's way too early to be making this comparison. Certainly if Tiger's career ended now he'd be behind Jack and probably a couple others as well. That's the golf comparison. If you wanted to compare some other things, maybe overall game or overall impact, then Tiger would be ahead. But I think it's silly to say Tiger's the greatest ever at this stage.

[B-Rizzle]

tiger woods is the man.... hes a millie

[BeaSt]

Tiger all the way