It remains unlikely that Jack Nicklaus’ major championship record will be broken, particularly given that Tiger Woods is his closest rival.
Nicklaus tops the all-time major wins list with 18, closely followed by the 15 clinched by fellow legend Woods.
The former has long since retired, while the latter has unfortunately barely featured on a golf course lately due to injury.
Woods can take advice from Nicklaus about retiring, but perhaps he isn’t thinking about such a scenario just yet.
Sir Nick Faldo believed Tiger Woods would surpass Jack Nicklaus’ major record
He certainly wasn’t thinking about that back at The Open Championship in 2005, when his pursuit of Nicklaus was a hot topic.
Before the tournament at St. Andrews, it was put to home favorite Sir Nick Faldo: “Tiger is ahead of Jack in reaching nine majors. Do you think that will continue, and he could well exceed that?”
Faldo replied: “You have to believe it, yes. Tiger has the desire. We know that’s one of his goals. He wants to be the greatest.
“So if he maintains that desire and the intention and the work ethic to do that, you have to believe that he could get there. Big if he wanes. Right now, if that’s his goal, it wouldn’t surprise me if he got there.”
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How Sir Nick Faldo felt about ‘pretty special’ Jack Nicklaus
Perhaps unsurprising to many, Woods quickly added to his major tally that week by winning The Open at St. Andrews.
He successfully defended his title the following year, but the major championship wins quickly dried up thereafter.
Woods won The Masters in 2019 for his 15th and latest title, having been hugely impacted by injuries in recent times.
Adding further intrigue, his fellow professional Faldo was also asked that year if anyone would ever accomplish as much overall as Nicklaus did, regardless of whether or not Woods matched or surpassed his tally.
Faldo said: “That would be difficult. He’s the best ambassador on and off the golf course, through golf, through well, golf on the course, golf off the course, business on the course, family life off the golf course.
“He’s a pretty special guy, pretty special family. Barbara takes an awful lot of credit in that, as well. But they’re pretty good role models for any young kid.”
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Fittingly, Nicklaus retired at The Open in 2005, with the legendary figure given a huge farewell as Woods went on to lift the Claret Jug.
Still going strong at 85, the golfing icon must be quietly confident that his major record will forever remain intact.
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