MashieNiblick
Tour Winner
Great debate.
I think I'd have to go for Nicklaus over Tiger. Jack's record speaks for itself and anyone who followed golf from the sixties through the seventies knows just what a colossus Nicklaus was. He wasn't a "flair" player like Arnie, Trevino or Seve but he could pull off the most amazing shots, had tremendous mental strength and really did intimidate people especially when on a charge. Was favourite every time he tee'd it up and never gave less than his all.
Tiger is a wonderful player no doubt. By holding all 4 modern majors simultaneously he achieved something I thought was impossible. He too dominated the game in his prime and could play shots that others couldn't.
Yes it is close, but being close Tiger won't justify the "greatest" epithet until he has bagged that 19th Major. That's the target he set for himslef. Even then I think I'd still be in Jack's camp. Sentimentality maybe but Jack has something special about him. Still got it, as his appearance in the studio during the Masters showed. I could listen to him talk golf all day. Totally unaffected and not a hint of arrogance or patronising others.
Sadly Tiger's conduct off and on the course has let him down. True, Jack went through an unpopular phase early on but as Ethan says that was only because Arnie was such a favourite. That was 50 years ago. In all that time Jack has never done anything to discredit himself or the game.
Good to see some shouts for Bobby Jones, Hogan and Hagen, all greats in their way, but Jack it is for me.
I think I'd have to go for Nicklaus over Tiger. Jack's record speaks for itself and anyone who followed golf from the sixties through the seventies knows just what a colossus Nicklaus was. He wasn't a "flair" player like Arnie, Trevino or Seve but he could pull off the most amazing shots, had tremendous mental strength and really did intimidate people especially when on a charge. Was favourite every time he tee'd it up and never gave less than his all.
Tiger is a wonderful player no doubt. By holding all 4 modern majors simultaneously he achieved something I thought was impossible. He too dominated the game in his prime and could play shots that others couldn't.
Yes it is close, but being close Tiger won't justify the "greatest" epithet until he has bagged that 19th Major. That's the target he set for himslef. Even then I think I'd still be in Jack's camp. Sentimentality maybe but Jack has something special about him. Still got it, as his appearance in the studio during the Masters showed. I could listen to him talk golf all day. Totally unaffected and not a hint of arrogance or patronising others.
Sadly Tiger's conduct off and on the course has let him down. True, Jack went through an unpopular phase early on but as Ethan says that was only because Arnie was such a favourite. That was 50 years ago. In all that time Jack has never done anything to discredit himself or the game.
Good to see some shouts for Bobby Jones, Hogan and Hagen, all greats in their way, but Jack it is for me.
