Jack Nicklaus has made some hugely bold predictions over the past three decades, but did he nail any of them?
Nicklaus is the greatest golfer ever to have graced the game, by most people’s standards at least, due to his 18 major championship wins and 73 PGA Tour titles.
It was only a couple of months ago when Nicklaus said he would have been dominant on the PGA Tour today against the likes of Scottie Scheffler and Rory McIlroy, if he were in his prime.
Since retiring, Nicklaus has often come out and criticized the modern-day game but he is always very supportive of the young players coming through the ranks.
Sure, the professional game has changed beyond all recognition over the past 30 years, with power and a ‘one size fits all’ technique replacing skill, feel and creativity to an extent.
In spite of that, Nicklaus is still very clued up on what it takes to succeed in the modern era.
Nicklaus is a well-known fan of Scheffler, for example, and appreciates how the world number one goes about his business.
He has also been known to speak very highly of Tiger Woods, Jordan Spieth, Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau.
In fact, the great man has made a series of predictions about all four of those players since 1996. So let’s take a look back and see whether he has been proven right with any of the bold calls he made.
Four of Jack Nicklaus’ boldest predictions over the last 30 years
Nicklaus’ biggest and boldest prediction arguably came way back in 1996, after he had played a practice round with Woods.
As Nicklaus left the 18th hole, he was accosted by reporters and the 18-time major champion exclaimed that Woods would go on to win more than 10 Masters titles.
“Both Arnold and I agree that you could take my Masters and his Masters and add them together and this kid should win more than that.”
Of course, Nicklaus and Palmer won 10 green jackets between them. Woods has five Masters trophies to his name up until now, and it’s highly likely he will not add to that tally, due to his problems with various different injuries.
Had he remained healthy throughout his entire career, it would have been very interesting to see if he could have won 10 or more times at Augusta National.
Fast forward the clock by 23 years when Nicklaus made a huge call regarding the future of Jordan Spieth.
In 2019, Nicklaus was asked about Spieth’s inability to win a major since his Open triumph in 2017.
And the 85-year-old made a big prediction about the man from Dallas, Texas.
He said: “He’ll get it. He works at it. He loves the game. He’s patient. He’s got a lot more majors in him. He’s going to win a lot more golf tournaments and I love his demeanor. I love the way he handles himself and love the way he goes about it. He’s going to be just fine. Don’t worry about him.”
Of course, Spieth is still yet to win another major six years down the line from Nicklaus’ prediction.
However, he is only 32, so the jury is still very much out on that one.
The Dallas native has talent and ability of the very highest order, but is the competition simply too strong for him nowadays?
Jack Nicklaus made Rory McIlroy and Bryson DeChambeau predictions
Before the Northern Irishman triumphed at Augusta National in April, Nicklaus had always championed him as a Masters winner.
He said: “The Masters, I still firmly believe Rory will win the Masters. He’s just too good not to.“
However, Nicklaus did have a warning for McIlroy.
The 73-time PGA Tour winner said: “Well, that is what he has to deal with (the pressure).
“Psychologically, he hasn’t won for a while and when he gets himself in a position, i.e last year at Pinehurst. He had a little short putt 16 that he wouldn’t miss one in 1000 times, but he did, and then missed another one at 18.
“But, you get yourself where you haven’t won for a while, and it’s difficult to get out of that.”
When all was said and done, though, McIlroy got the job done under the most severe pressure.
He ended up proving the ‘Golden Bear’ right at Augusta National six months ago after getting the better of Justin Rose in a sudden-death play-off.
In doing so, the 36-year-old joined Nicklaus, and only four other golfers, in the exclusive Grand Slam club.
Another prediction Nicklaus made, this time in 2021, was concerning Bryson DeChambeau, but more so his ability to overpower golf courses than anything else.
“Let’s start off with what he could do. He could drive the first green. If it’s firm, he could drive the first green. Under the right conditions. On two they will all hit middle to short irons. On the eighth, hit it over the bunker and down the right side and he would play a four or five iron on there. I think 13 he could take it over the top there. And he could hit a nine iron or a wedge,” Nicklaus admitted.
“I haven’t seen him hit a golf ball in person except at the Open. He impressed at the Memorial tournament. He hit it to some places I couldn’t believe. He hit it 27 yards from the first green. Come on, that is 470, something like that.
“If he can do that he can drive the first green at Augusta. Then 15 all of a sudden he has a wide fairway as he can hit it past the trees on the left. He will hit a pitching wedge into 15. What he has done is amazing.
Now, DeChambeau is long – the most powerful hitter in the game, in fact. However, the first hole at Augusta National stretches out to 455 yards, so Nicklaus may be waiting a while before his prediction about the 32-year-old American comes true.
Nicklaus has so far been proven right with only one of the four big predictions he made over the past 30 years.
That said, things could obviously change regarding Spieth and who knows, perhaps there will come a time when DeChambeau has a 40 mph tailwind helping him out on the first hole at Augusta National.
Even if that was the case, he might just need to land his ball on a sprinkler head to drive the 455-yard first hole!
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