Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus remain hugely significant in the golfing world despite their lack of appearances on the course in recent times.

Nicklaus has long since retired from golf, while his fellow legend Woods has been seriously impacted by injury in recent years.

Woods was once told by Nicklaus to use a golf cart to help with his struggles, but the former has continued to ignore that advice.

He was able to compete in the inaugural TGL tournament this season, but a 2025 PGA Tour start has yet to be recorded.

Both are legends of the game in their own right, but it hasn’t stopped the debate over which of the pair is the greatest of all time.

Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images

What Tiger Woods once said about Jack Nicklaus being the greatest golfer ever ahead of him

It is indeed Nicklaus who leads the way for major championship wins, boasting 18 compared to the 15 of Woods, with that tally placing him top of the all-time list.

And Nicklaus’s record was referenced by journalist Charlie Rose during an interview with Woods in 2016, in which he asked the question: “How do we measure the best to ever play golf?

“Is it Jack, simply because he has 18 majors or is it general appraisal, simply that that person had more talent and applied it better than anybody?”

Woods responded: “That’s a great question. It is so hard because we never got a chance to play against each other, except for that one time, where we played with each other in 2000.

“But when you cross generations it’s very difficult to see who is better than the other, in all sports. But I just think that, for me, I would take my skills up against Jack any day and I am sure he would feel the same way.”

How Tiger Woods responded when asked if he thinks he will win 18 majors

Woods was then immediately tasked with sharing his honest thoughts on whether he’d ever emulate Nicklaus in the major championship sphere.

Asked if he believes he will get to 18 majors in his career, Woods responded candidly: “To be honest with you, no.”

Player
The Masters
US Open
The Open
PGA
Total

Jack Nicklaus
6
4
3
5
18

Tiger Woods
5
3
3
4
15

Jack Nicklaus vs Tiger Woods major championship wins
Rose then queried: “You have accepted that?” to which Woods replied: “I have accepted that I am going to get more.”

The golfing legend has managed to win a major championship since that confident claim, having triumphed at The Masters in 2019.

In an unforgettable comeback at Augusta National, the American beat compatriots Dustin Johnson, Brooks Koepka and Xander Schauffele by a single shot.

Koepka loved seeing Woods win The Masters that year despite his runner-up finish, with the latter’s success representing his fifth at Augusta National, one behind all-time leader Nicklaus.