Complete GOAT Rankings
| Rank | Player | Score | Starts | Wins | Win % | Top 5s | Career Span | Era |
|---|
Tiger Woods vs Jack Nicklaus: The Ultimate Comparison
| Metric | Tiger Woods | Jack Nicklaus | Edge |
|---|---|---|---|
| Major Wins | 15 | 18 | Jack +3 |
| Major Starts | 95 | 164 | Tiger -69 |
| Win Percentage | 15.8% | 11.0% | Tiger +4.8% |
| Runner-Up Finishes | 7 | 19 | Jack +12 |
| Top 5 Finishes | 33 | 56 | Jack +23 |
| Top 5 Rate | 34.7% | 34.1% | Tiger +0.6% |
| Career Grand Slam | Yes (2000) | Yes (1966) | Tie |
| First Major Age | 21 | 22 | Tiger -1 year |
| Last Major Age | 43 | 46 | Jack +3 years |
| Career Span | 22 years | 24 years | Jack +2 years |
| GOAT Score | 95.8 | 91.5 | Tiger +4.3 |
The Verdict: While Jack Nicklaus holds the all-time record for major wins, Tiger Woods' superior win rate and peak dominance in the more competitive modern era give him the edge in our GOAT Score. The debate continues, but the numbers favor Tiger.
Greatest by Era
Pre-1930
- Harry Vardon 76.2
- James Braid 69.4
- J.H. Taylor 62.8
1930-1960
- Walter Hagen 85.2
- Bobby Jones 82.4
- Ben Hogan 78.4
1960-1990
- Jack Nicklaus 91.5
- Gary Player 58.6
- Arnold Palmer 58.2
1990-Present
- Tiger Woods 95.8
- Rory McIlroy 60.5
- Scottie Scheffler 58.4
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