How Jordan Spieth responded when he was compared to Jack Nicklaus in 2017

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In 2025, comparing Jordan Spieth to Jack Nicklaus would be ridiculous.

His last PGA Tour win was at the RBC Heritage over three years ago. Yes, he’s a three-time major winner, but to put him in the same category as the man who holds the record for the most major wins, Jack Nicklaus, would be laughable. 

Eight years ago, however, that really wasn’t the case. By winning The Open Championship in 2017, Spieth joined Nicklaus as the only player to win three different major championships before the age of 24.

At 22 years old, Spieth won The Masters and The US Open, seeing him mentioned alongside the game’s greats like Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. His meteoric rise to the top of the sport led to speculation about just how many majors Spieth could win. 

A decade on, and the answer was just one more, but that’s not because of a lack of humility. When the comparisons were put to him after his Open Championship win at Royal Birkdale, Spieth was clear on how he felt about them. 

Jordan Spieth’s response to Jack Nicklaus comparisons

Spieth has to be considered one of the greatest young players in the sport’s history, regardless of his drop-off in form in recent years.

Yet he was still quick to dismiss comparisons to Nicklaus in 2017, saying, “I’ve answered this question a few times a couple years ago, so I’ll be careful with my answer. 

“It’s amazing. I feel blessed to be able to play the game I love, but I don’t think that comparisons are – I don’t compare myself.

“And I certainly appreciate it. And we work really hard to have that, with that being the goal. Therefore, I enjoy moments like you saying that. But I’m very careful as to what that means going forward because what those guys have done has transcended the sport.

“And in no way, shape or form do I think I’m anywhere near that, whatsoever. So it’s a good start, but there is a long way to go.”

He was right to be careful because those comparisons have not held up in the years since. But Spieth’s recent form makes it easy to forget just how good he was when he burst onto the scene. 

How Jordan Spieth’s career compared to Jack Nicklaus at 24 years old

While Nicklaus is one of the most decorated players of all time, at 24, Spieth was actually on track for a better career than the “Golden Bear”.

They had won the same number of major championships and the same number of runner-up finishes, although Nicklaus would go on to become the all-time leader in both of those categories.

Both players had won two US Amateur titles and were one major away from completing the career Grand Slam.

And in fact, Spieth won his first professional event at 19 years old, compared to Nicklaus’ 22, and Spieth had four more professional wins.

It’s a shame to see what has happened to Spieth since, but it doesn’t take away from what he accomplished at such a young age.