I've seen people comparing Nicklaus whole career, to what Tiger has done, and says Nicklaus is better. I dont think you can compare a whole career to a career thats far from over. So the only Logical thing to do is compare their career from year to year. Lets do their first ten years, and see how they compare to one another.
Year 1
Nicklaus - Three victories, including the upset playoff win over Palmer at Oakmont for the US Open. Nicklaus didn’t just beat a dead-in-his-prime Palmer at Oakmont. He beat the fans in the King’s backyard. I can’t think of a better way to announce one’s presence. This would be the beginning of the end for Palmer who, only 32 at the time, would only win two more majors.
Tiger - Four victories, including the landmark 12 stroke triumph at Augusta. Couple that with the margin of victory and the win at Augusta trumps Nicklaus at Oakmont in ‘62 (it could be argued that it trumps every other majory victory in history). Plus, he had one more regular tour victory. Oh yeah, and this is a better way to announce one’s presence.
Edge: Tiger
Year 2
Nicklaus - Five victories, including The Masters and the PGA. Also finished third at the British. Wow. In two full years as a pro, Nicklaus was only a British Open away from winning the career slam. Bye bye, Palmer.
Tiger - Only one victory. Swing changes to blame (and maybe some of the backbreaking pressure/expectations of Tigermania?), Tiger was only close in one major (the British). But close doesn’t count when you’re chasing Jack Nicklaus. By the end of this season, his Masters victory seemed light years away. Tough all around.
Big Edge: Nicklaus
Year 3
Nicklaus - Four wins, no majors, but THREE seconds in majors. So, for the record, in his first 12 majors as a pro, Nicklaus had EIGHT top threes. Incredible.
Tiger - Eight victories, including one major, the PGA. Swing changes took hold and hello, world. Again. He also won his last four events and would go on to win his first two in 2000 to tie Hogan for second most successive victories. The win at the PGA was giant, as it validated he could do it on the big stage with his new swing. It also re-sparked the Nicklaus comparisons.
Edge: Tiger
Year 4
Nicklaus - Five wins, including his second Green Jacket. Also finished runner up at the PGA. This is a career for most people (like Tom Lehman, for instance). But just another ho hum year for Nicklaus.
Tiger - Enter the dramatic music. Nine wins, including the last three majors of the year. Won by 15 at Pebble and eight at St. Andrews. Famously beat Bob May in a playoff at the PGA. What can you say? Golf has never been played any better. Maybe that’s what you can say. And he was only 24. You can’t make this stuff up. Also notched the career grand slam - youngest to do so.
Big Edge: Tiger
Year 5
Nicklaus - Three wins, including two majors - his second straight at Augusta and his first Open Championship - at Muirfield - to complete his career grand slam. Also finished third at the US Open.
Woods - Five wins, including his second Green Jacket. Only player to ever hold all four professional major trophies at the same time. There’s really no parallel you can draw. Oddly, though, no other top tens in majors.
Edge: Push First really tough call. Tiger’s win at Augusta was giant, but Nicklaus did win twice as many majors and completed his own career slam. Tiger had more overall victories and held all four majors at once.
Year 6
Nicklaus - Five wins, including the US Open. He also finished second at the British and third at the PGA. In Nicklaus’s first six seasons as a pro, he went exactly one season without a major (his third), when he notched three seconds.
Tiger - Five wins, including the Masters and US Open. Also finished second at the PGA. The craziest thing is, by virtue of the two majors, that this is better than Nicklaus’s sixth year.
Edge: Tiger
Year 7
Nicklaus - Two victories, no majors. Did finish second at the US and British Opens. Still, a subpar year for Jack at this stage in his career.
Tiger - Five victories, no majors. Only one top ten in a major. Five regular wins trumps two regular tour wins in my book. Tough luck for Jack.
Edge: Tiger
Year 8
Nicklaus - Three wins, no majors. Only one top ten in a major. Slump? Not really, but this does mark the first time in his career Jack went two straight years without a big one.
Tiger - One win, no majors. Swing changes, for the second time, are to blame. Only one top ten in a major. Dark days for Mr. Woods.
Edge: Nicklaus
Year 9
Nicklaus - Two wins, one major - British at the home of golf. Two other top tens in majors. Not bad.
Tiger - He’s back. Again. Six wins, two majors, including another Green Jacket and the Claret Jug at St. Andrews. Finished second at the US Open and fourth at the PGA. Wow. Again. With the new swing, no less. Starting to see a different Tiger. Not as many fist pumps and a little more conservative. It’s working.
Edge: Tiger
Year 10
Nicklaus - Four wins, one major. Also two seconds and a fifth in the other majors. Incredible season. That’s multiple victories in each of his first ten seasons. The man is a major championship machine.
Tiger - Look out. Eight wins, including two majors and a third at Augusta. He’s not human. Rather, he’s less human than Nicklaus. Literally doubles Nicklaus’s 10th season totals. It’s almost like comparing a typewriter to a computer. Just not fair.
Edge: Tiger
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Vardon trophies through ten years (lowest scoring average):
Nicklaus - 0
Tiger - 6
In 2006 Tiger didn’t play enough tournaments to qualify, even though he had the lowest stroke average. Oddly, Nicklaus never, ever won a Vardon Trophy.
Total victories through ten years:
Nicklaus - 36 (not counting two team events he won)
Tiger - 52 (not counting two in ‘96 - not a full season)
Major victories through ten years:
Nicklaus - 9
Tiger - 12
Top 3s in majors through ten years:
Nicklaus - 20
Tiger - 17
It should be noted that Nicklaus had arguably his best season in his 11th year, winning seven times, including the US Open at Pebble and The Masters. He also finished second at the British. If for some crazy reason Tiger doesn’t win for the rest of this season, it’ll look like this through 11 years:
Nicklaus total victories/major victories: 45/11
Tiger total victories/major victories: 55/12
Not so far off, is it? Granted, Tiger could win every tournament he enters for the rest of the season, including two majors. He’s prone to doing that kind of thing.
Right now, though, it’s not close. It’s absolutely mind boggling what Tiger has done in his first ten years
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