Posted April 10th, 2008 at 2:04 pm in Golf News

Fellow golfers it's Masters week again, spring is in the air and all those Tiger Woods versus Jack Nicklaus - who's the best player ever - comparisons are making the rounds of our sports news both in newpapers and on the internet. I saw one by Ian O'connor on MSN.com on April 8th, Sorry Jack, but Tiger's already the greatest that inspired me to write my own views of the subject. I respect Mr. O'connor's abilities as a sportswriter but thought I might be able to offer a different perspective since everyone seems to be focused more on the records than the men themselves. Mr. O'connor says Tiger is already the greatest, but the greatest what? Golfer of all time?, person?, family man?, philanthropist?, man of color? I know by reading the article that he means greatest golfer but there is more to it than that.

Jack Nicklaus is the standard all golfers are measured by

I am not a sportswriter by profession but it seems as though they all seem to be focused on how Tiger is on track to not only break Jack's records in golf but to smash them. The disclaimer; IF he stays healthy. I don't know much about Tiger's health, he sure looks buff on TV but Jack is the leader in the clubhouse and that's fact. So when sportswriters like Mr. O'Connor say that Tiger Woods is the greatest player of all time it kind of strikes me as being premature. Certainly if Tiger continues like he has for the next ten years we will see some great things and he may end up totally eclipsing Mr. Nicklaus - on paper. But in my opinion, as a man/athlete in the spotlight, I think Jack Nicklaus leaves him in the dust. And here's why.

Jack Nicklaus, the approachable Golf God

It's a different world we live in now thanks to 911 and I don't think any of us really realize how deeply that tragic event has impacted our lives, including something we have taken for granted for a lot of years, professional golf. Security on the PGA Tour is a huge issue now, nobody gets near Mr. Woods unless he wants them to and that usually means just Steve Williams, his caddy. I can't really blame him as I was present at the Phoenix Open when they arrested a guy in the gallery with a gun in his knapsack and people were throwing fruit at him. But I do know this; had Angelo ever smashed a fan's camera or cell phone Jack would have fired him on the spot.

Mr. O'Connor points out in his article that Jack and his family gave him five hours on his private jet for his article while Tiger gave him 11 minutes in the locker room at Doral and, "he spent seven of them searching for a way to end the conversation." This is a telling statement in itself about approachability but Mr. O'Connor won't let sentiment stand in the way of cold, hard facts. But why?, isn't personality part of the great golfer's equation? Who would a reporter rather interview, Ben Hogan or Lee Trevino? If you are judging a man by his accomplishments alone you are missing journey and focusing on the destination. There should be more to it than that, some kind of formula that measures a man not only by his record in the majors but by his humanity. I know Tiger despises the media and is bored by being asked the same questions over and over. Any talk or questions about his family are totally off limits and he certainly has a right to his privacy. Tiger's future is secure, he doesn't have to be nice to anyone and I'm sure he is a sweetheart to all his rich friends, Stevie, Markie, Greggie and Mikey. However, when it comes to being just down-right gracious to Joe public whether on or off the course Jack Nicklaus stands alone. (sorry Arnie!) I can't remember a time when Jack was nothing short of gracious to the press, even when he was asked the same stupid questions by the media - over and over. And I have seen him sign autographs until his hand cramped up so badly that holding a golf club was an issue.

Mr. Nicklaus invented focus

I kinda get tired of the perpetual scowl on Tiger's face and you can have all that fist pumping. Jack knew how to concentrate without looking like a storm cloud about to burst and being a jerk about it. You could tell by the expression on his face that he was concentrating on each shot as much as possible but I never, ever, heard any "F" bombs pass his lips. The worst expletive I can remember him saying in disgust of a less than perfect shot was, "Jack, you dummy." And a great shot that got the crowds roaring was met with a smile and self-deprecation. I can remember practice rounds at Augusta when Jack would joke around with the crowd and even single out an individual at times. I know he made me feel very special when he turned to me in the fairway on the 11th hole one day during a practice round and asked me what club he should hit. Are you kidding me! Jack Nicklaus asked ME about club selection. I just about soiled myself. I know he was just being nice, but man, I will carry that memory to the grave.

You talk about Tiger's focus, and yes, he has it - no doubt about it. I just remember a whole bunch of PGA Pro's saying over a span of many years, "If you had to pick someone to make a ten-footer in the clutch, no question, it was Jack Nicklaus." You want to talk about how Tiger intimidates his competitors, I would agree with that statement but no more so than Jack in his prime, a shot or two behind the leaders and making a charge. Those gallery roars struck fear into the hearts of many and more often than not Jack came out on top. People talk about Tiger's imagination, hitting incredible recovery shots. Jack may suffer in that category because it's tougher to be imaginative from the middle of the fairway.

Best player of all time

My vote goes with Jack. Tiger is a great player but Jack had it all, focus, modesty, character and a super-devotion to his family. Tiger may end up skipping some events to focus on his wife and daughter and his record may suffer, just like Jack's. Let's just hope for Tiger's sake it becomes as gratifying as it was for Jack, instead of regret at not posting another victory. Forget about the equipment issues for a moment, I don't care how good your clubs are technically, you still have to have talent. I have seen country club guys with thousands in state-of-the-art equipment that couldn't hit it out of their shadow. How would Jack fare against Tiger if he was in his prime? I don't know, I kind of agree with Jack's modest assessment, "I'd get my share of wins and Tiger would get his." However, I would have to agree with Gary Player, "if you gave Jack modern equipment, I think Jack would have been better."

A game of which we are not familiar

One of the greatest golfers of all time and a gentleman of the finest order, Mr. Robert Tyre (Bobby) Jones Jr., once said of Jack's game, "he plays a game of which I am not familiar." He was referring of course to Jack's prodigious drives and his mastery of the flat stick. Well, I think Jack has said the same about Tiger once or twice. He has an enormous amount of respect and appreciation for Woods. He loves Tiger's game, his focus and his desire to win. He has said that he wants to be there when Tiger notches major # 19 so that he can shake his hand. He should be the first to do so.

Fuzzy golf math

Mr. O'Connor is big on math. He talks about how if Tiger were to quit now he already has done enough to claim the title of golf's greatest. I don't agree, even if you count the "Tiger Slam" as the modern day Grand Slam. (which I do) He might possess the records but who would remember him? He has pulled into a tie with Hogan at 64 victories but that still leaves Jack ahead with 73. Mr. O'Connor points out that Nicklaus never won more than seven events in a single season, Woods best is nine in 2000, eight in 1999 and 2006 and seven last year, which is remarkable but Jack came in 2nd hundreds of times. He never gave up while I have seen Tiger play like a muny golfer when he knew he couldn't win. He says Tiger's field is deeper than Jack's was and I agree that Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Greg Norman, Lee Trevino, Curtis Strange and Fuzzy Zoeller were tougher competitors than what Tiger faces today. I know the players he is referring to and I agree that Phil Mickleson, Vijay Singh and Earnie Els are not in the same category.

Other reasons to consider why Jack Nicklaus will forever remain the greatest player of all time

Despite Tiger's record now and what it might be in ten years, heck, give him 25 majors before he hangs up his spikes, I have to give Jack the edge. He was a more complete player and the greatest putter I have ever seen, especially the long ones under pressure. Tiger is a great putter in his own right but he is unpredictable with the short ones. I rarely saw Jack miss inside of ten feet. And when it was all on the line, he always made the putts he had to. Here are some other things I remember that make Jack's name immortal to me:

Persimmon vs steel, if you compare his distance with Tiger's considering the advances in equipment, Jack would still be longer off the tee.

Imagine tossing a rubber snake at Tiger during a play-off in a major. The course would be locked down and somebody would turn it into a race issue.

I have an autographed picture of Jack that was given to me when he was recovering from hip surgery. Can you imagine Tiger doing that?

Jack made his gallery love him by making eye contact, winking, chatting occasionally, even during the heat of competition. Tiger resembles an automation, eyes straight ahead, mind on the next shot. If Steve Williams was allowed to he would shoot anyone that even spoke to Tiger.

Jack was gracious when the whole world hated him for beating Arnie. Fat Jack, Nicklouse, etc. Those things had to hurt. I know that there are still those out there that hate black people, especially when they marry white women and beat out white men in sports but come on guys, this is 2008, racism is no longer a fad. But I just hate what Tiger did to Fuzzy even if it was a stupid thing to say. Look what they did to Ben Wright when all he did was tell the truth about lesbians on the LPGA Tour and the hypocrites that persecuted him.

Jack's appeal was universal just like Tiger's is today. It's just that Jack seemed so much more in control of his emotions. I hate to say this Jack and you may not agree but you and Trevino were a lot alike. Lee's chatty personality while playing was a tension reliever for him but once he took his stance he was all business. You were like that too but the difference was; a person could talk back to you.

And Jack Nicklaus knew that his father would roll over in his grave had Jack uttered any of the profanities we have heard from Tiger Woods.

Jack would stick around to congratulate the winner of a tournament even if he didn't play particularly well. I never saw him storm off the course, get in his car and drive away without answering all the media questions even when I knew he was burning up inside.

Jack wins the Masters at age 46! Tiger won't have a spine left by the time he is 40 the way he swings!

Jack Nicklaus has my vote for greatest player of all time - right now.