The 13-time major championship winner who Jack Nicklaus said is the ‘greatest golfer’ to ever live

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For many, Jack Nicklaus is regarded as the greatest golfer of all time. And with 18 majors to his name, the Golden Bear’s record is hard to argue with.

After finishing runner-up at the 1960 US Open, Nicklaus’ career sparked into life at the 1962 edition, where he would win his first major. From that moment, objectively, the greatest golfing record of all time was forged.

Considering his achievements within the game, Nicklaus‘ views and opinions are valued more than most. Many rank the now 84-year-old as the gold standard within the golfing annals, ahead of Tiger Woods, Ben Hogan, Arnold Palmer and Gary Player.

Nicklaus, however, believes 13-time major winner Bobby Jones is “probably” the greatest golfer to ever live.

What Jack Nicklaus has said about Bobby Jones

Speaking during the early part of his career, Nicklaus claimed matching Jones’ achievements was his goal.

“Jones is the greatest golfer who ever lived and probably ever will live. That’s my goal. Bobby Jones. It’s the only goal,” Nicklaus said [via ESPN].

The Golden Bear has never been afraid to speak about some of the all-time greats. Nicklaus claimed Ben Hogan was the best ball striker he’d ever seen and also said Arnold Palmer and Greg Norman were the game’s greatest-ever drivers.

Interestingly, there was no mention of Woods.

• READ MORE: The Masters prediction Jack Nicklaus and Arnold Palmer made about Tiger Woods which they got very wrong

What has Jack Nicklaus said about Tiger Woods?

All the aforementioned players played against Nicklaus at some during his career, which is probably why Woods isn’t named.

Many consider Tiger the greatest golfer of all time and believe he would’ve surpassed Nicklaus’ major record had he not been hampered by several injury issues.

And even Nicklaus accepts that Woods would’ve matched his tally had he remained fit and healthy. “If he remained healthy, I think he would’ve gotten it, but he didn’t remain healthy,” Nicklaus said earlier this year.

“We all have injuries, we all have different things in our life which change things and Tiger had his problems. I feel bad for him about it, but it is what it is. He’s still a great influence on the game of golf.”

Woods was last in action at the PNC Championship in Orlando alongside his son, Charlie. The Masters in April feels like the most likely time for the 49-year-old to finally return to competitive golf.