While it’s generally accepted that Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus stand out as the two most exceptional golfers in history, there’s still considerable discussion about who was truly better. Should we give more weight to Tiger’s impressive performance and his PGA Tour victories, or does Jack’s success in major championships hold greater significance?
One individual who prefers not to participate in this debate is Gary Player, a celebrated golfer in his own right. Player, a nine-time major champion whose career overlapped with Nicklaus’, recently shared his all-time top-three golfers prior to his 90th birthday.
His choice was clear.
“Jack takes the top spot, Tiger is second, and I’m third,” Player stated to the Palm Beach Post. “There’s really no question about it.”
Player’s reasoning?
“The way I determine the best players ever is simple: I look at the record book. That’s the only reliable way. The record book speaks for itself. And Nicklaus’ record is unmatched. It’s undeniable.
“If Tiger Woods had made different decisions, he might have become the greatest player of all time. However, the most meaningless word in sports is ‘if.’ Because ‘if’ is irrelevant. What matters is the final outcome.”
At the height of his abilities, it seemed almost certain that Woods would eventually surpass Nicklaus’ record of 18 major championship wins. However, injuries significantly impacted those aspirations. Woods has only secured one major title since 2008 (the 2019 Masters) and remains three short of Nicklaus’ record as Tiger nears his 50th birthday.
In addition to having more major victories, Nicklaus also boasts 19 runner-up finishes in majors, compared to Woods’ seven. Nicklaus also maintained a high level of performance for a longer period, culminating in his becoming the oldest player to ever win the Masters at 46 years old in 1986.
While Nicklaus might reign supreme in major championships, it’s hard to find golf authorities who would argue that anyone outperformed Woods during his peak years.
Specifically, Tiger’s 2000 season could be considered the greatest display of golf ever witnessed. In that single year, Woods triumphed in nine PGA Tour events (winning six consecutively!) and captured three of the four major championships, including a 15-stroke victory at the U.S. Open, which remains the largest victory margin in a major championship.
In 2001, Woods won his second of five Masters titles, completing the “Tiger Slam” and becoming the first golfer to win all four of golf’s major championships in a row. And even though his prime was shorter and he faced stronger competition overall, Woods’ 82 PGA Tour victories (nine more than Nicklaus) stand as an all-time record.
The Nicklaus-Woods conversation shouldn’t overshadow Player’s self-assessment as the third-greatest golfer in history. He’s placing himself above other legendary figures, like Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer, and Bobby Jones. When considering each of their careers, Player definitely holds his own.
As one of only six golfers to ever achieve the career grand slam, Player stands alone in accomplishing this feat on both the PGA Tour and PGA Champions. He was the first non-American player to secure the grand slam, and his reported 160 professional victories surpass any other golfer in history.
“The way they assess players is quite fascinating,” Player observed. “They often rank Bobby Jones and Arnold ahead of me. But you can’t convince me that an amateur golfer [Jones] has a record that rivals mine. His record simply doesn’t compare. And when you examine Arnold’s record, it also falls short. I’ve won more majors than Arnold, more tournaments than Arnold, and more senior majors. My scoring averages were superior. He lacked the record, yet he was like a brother to me.
“However, I actually appreciate that they do that, because of what [Palmer] accomplished for golf, and I grew up alongside him, he was truly exceptional.”
While Player’s reputation as one of the greatest golfers of all time is secure, he’s now focused on a new ambition: reaching the age of 100. He attributes his remarkable health and longevity — Player still participates annually in the PNC Championship — to a lifelong dedication to fitness, which was ahead of its time.
“Back in 1953, when I began, I was criticized,” he recalled. “Arnold Palmer, my friend, said, ‘Gary, you shouldn’t be doing all this weight training.’ And Bobby Jones warned, ‘Gary, you’re going to become muscle-bound. You won’t win tournaments after 35.’
“Well, they’ve all passed away,” Player noted with a smile, “and I’m still going strong.”
