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

[cmc#5]

Jack...I think it was harder to do then.

[jwolf02]

I give the nod to Jack because of the caliber of competitors he had around him. I think there are more good players today then there was then, but I don't think there are as many players who mentally can compete at the highest level against Tiger.

[Brugz7]

Jack Nicklaus

You can't even ask this question until Tiger ties or breaks the Major record. Jack's competition was so much better than Tiger's its not even funny. Jack Nicklaus had 19 runner-up Major finishes! And just think about all the club technology that players have nowadays. IMO, it's the Golden Bear hands down.

[Krikan]

Well.. i think it is settled now. Tiger won.. Jack can never do what Tiger has achieved ...........off the course :)

[1bigdawg]

Although these questions are always fun to see the different view points for me it is hard to pick who might be better. If Tiger grew up at the same time as Jack or vice-a-versa then it would be easier to compare. The golf courses, setup of golf courses, equipment, balls, rules etc were different during Jack's era/prime than they are today. The number of events played were fewer, the development of the golf swing, swing coaches were different than in Tiger's era.

Then how do you measure greatness? Jack professional career is over, Tiger's is not. What about Byron Nelson he had 11 consecutive victories Tiger is 7, most wins in a PGA season Byron Nelson 18 Tiger 9, Ben Hogan had 10 wins in 1948 and 13 in 1946. That was back when there were not many events each year and most of the pros played all the events. Who has had the lowest 72 hole score? Tommy Armour III 254, Tiger is tied for 3rd at 257. Most strokes under par Ernie Els 231 under 261 on a par 73, Tiger is not listed in the top 3. It goes on and on in some of these minor categories of PGA records. Yes Tiger leads many other.

All I can say is they are 2 of the best golfers in history.

[RC51ManSam]

Tiger, so far.

[ypshan]

I will have to wait until Tiger's career is over to make the final call. Right now it feels like they are neck and neck.

[mrsteacher]

I'm still a Tiger fan. I hope he gets it all together soon and comes back to the sport.

[Mathew]

As much as I admire Jack, my vote is for Tiger.

[sonicblue]

I think the poll results say it all. Look, argue 'class' all you want. Personally, I think Jack comes off as an arrogant, smug old man, who knows his records are going to be obliterated, so he's milking his media exposure until they do. That's just me. It's also me that says, I'd put a crispy $100 that Jack boinked a stewardess somewhere along his way, too. I can't prove it, and I dont' condemn him for it, but please don't act like, because you think he didn't, that he's now some 'higher class' person. No one is perfect, Jack's got something in his closet. I don't care to know it, I don't judge him for it, but everyone's got something. To stand here and pretend that Jack is morally flawless and that gives him the edge over Tiger is unreasonable, as far as I'm concerned. I never cared if Tiger was a 'great husband,' and if you asked me, I'd probably have guessed he did his share of side-action (yes, reality has proven he went WAY overboard). I'm pretty sure he's helped, oh, ten million or so people through his charities. Wash. But this is irrelevant, and even if it wasn't, there's no way you can purport to have an accurate 'moral image' of these guys based on the media. It's simply impossible. It's about golf, and how one plays the game of golf. Outside that, I simply assume everyone is flawed, and just let it be.

Wins are a huge statistic, yes, and Tiger will eventually have Jack's major title, and is already past him in total wins. Tiger will eventually end up with over 100 wins, obliterating Snead's record easily. So he has that. And that's big. I mean, c'mon, WINS and MAJOR WINS. And by a lot! To those who point to Jack's second-places - really? Those are called 'not wins.' What if he had one major and 20 second-places, would he be great? Tiger will have finished the deal more often, that's why he has fewer seconds. But let's examine Tiger's non-wins anyway: he is ALWAYS in contention. He missed a cut and the Earth nearly stopped spinning. When does he EVER finish off the first page? Rarely, rarely. Jack won a bunch but frequently was way out of contention, with occasional missed cuts. I would love to find the stats (I'll try to) and compare the percentiles that each man finished above Xth place, but my money is that Tiger % of finishing in the top XX that blow away Jack step for step.

When this shakes out, assuming Tiger gets help for what definitely appears to be a psychological issue, and assuming he comes back, does his apologies and admissions (he doesn't owe it to us, IMO, but the media will damn near force his hand completely), and resumes his reign, focused and dedicated and now "moral," there will simply be nothing left to make the argument for Jack anymore. Not even a little bit.

[Bogeyman68]

I am a big Tiger fan but until he passes Jack on the major titles list Jack is still on top. Both have made golf the popular sport that is is.

[MGinn77]

Tiger will most likely pass Jack's major total, and may end up being regarded as the greatest ever. But due to Tigers recent transgressions, it would appear that he will fall short of equaling Jack's class.

[SCCHACK]

I was 7 years old when Jack won the Masters in 86' and I remember my father saying to me something about there never being a greater golfer or champion then Jack. I still believe the Champion part for now but the golfer part is wrong now with Tiger and what he is capable of on a golf course. Tiger > Jack on the course, Jack > Tiger as a Champion.

[Fatphil]

I think the poll results say it all. Look, argue 'class' all you want. Personally, I think Jack comes off as an arrogant, smug old man, who knows his records are going to be obliterated, so he's milking his media exposure until they do. That's just me.

black people voted for obama 'cause he's 1/2 black...is it so wrong to vote for Jack 'cause he's white? Actually I agree w/ sonicblue...Jack is a bit weird...but nevertheless ya can't compare generations...the '72 undefeated Dolphins would get destroyed by the '09 Detroit Lions...and Jack would crush Bobby Jones & Hogan...times change...

[cignatz21]

I have to go with Jack on this one. Although I really admire Tiger's golf game, and he is by far the greatest player of his generation. You have to realize that Jack set all of his records and won at all those long courses with equipment that does not even compare to the stuff being used by tour professionals today. With a much lower driving distance average, but almost identical scoring average, that would lead one to believe that Jack was a much better player overall than Tiger. Jack wins by a hair.

[vinceh]

No comparrison. As a complete player, that means on and off the course. Since all of the new information regarding Tiger's private life, this surely puts a damper on his person. As a player he is second to none, as a human being, he is just average!!!!

[Rangerpat]

I've always been a fan of Jack, but Tiger is just a natural and consistently knows how to win.

[coachjimsc]

Tiger only by a whisker.