The GOAT debate in golf is one of the most polarising discourses in all of sport. Who wins, Jack Nicklaus or Tiger Woods?
Of course, objectively, Nicklaus is the greatest golfer of all time. Given the sport’s best are measured in majors, the Golden Bear’s tally of 18 speaks for itself. What’s more, Nicklaus provided some of golf’s all-time moments: his 1-iron at the 1967 US Open or approach to Pebble Beach’s 17th at the 72′ edition.
However, few have transcended a sport in the way Woods has. Many of the world’s best players took up the game after watching Tiger in their youth. What’s more, Woods’ dominance was unlike anything seen on a golf course before. In the 2000 US Open, Woods finished 15 shots clear of second and was the only man under par; that’s how good he was.
There are arguments for both Nicklaus and Woods. Yet, if Tiger had matched the Golden Bear’s major championship tally, the debate would have been settled long ago. Unfortunately, injuries have hampered Woods’ chances of landing an elusive three further majors.
Brandel Chamblee weighs in on GOAT debate
Brandel Chamblee planted himself in the middle of the debate on Wednesday evening, and the Golf Channel pundit claimed deciding golf’s ‘all-time’ best based on majors was perhaps ill-thought-out.
Chamblee wrote: “In major wins, yes, he [Nicklaus] is. But what if Hogan’s career hadn’t been interrupted by WWII and his accident in 1949? What if Hagen had four majors to play in instead of three in his prime, and for that matter, if the powers that be hadn’t demoted the Western Open from its “major championship” status? What if Bobby Jones hadn’t retired at 28? Majors are certainly a way to judge the best player of all time but it is problematic to be sure.
“I think the best way to judge the best player of all time is a combination of major wins and the level of dominance a player had in his or her era, measured by win % and margin of victories, compared to other eras over time. In that regard, Tiger is not just the greatest golfer of all time; he may well be the greatest athlete in the history of sports.”
Who is golf’s all-time best?
There will never be a definitive answer to the ongoing GOAT debate within golf. Those who are potentially older will likely back Nicklaus, whilst those who were captivated by the sport in the mid-2000s will pick Woods.
However, in relation to Tiger, it’s important to recognise that he’s arguably the most well-known sporting figure in the world. Woods sits alongside the likes of Michael Jordan, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and LeBron James. There are very few who dominated and moved the needle in such a way.
Unsurprisingly, LIV Golf Bryson DeChambeau claimed the Big Cat was the greatest golfer of all time in a social media clip back in September. The majority of the world’s best players would deliver a similar answer.
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