I agree with this
Tyson
Jordan
Tiger
Were not losing. My guess is Jack was the same way.
How Much Success Would Jack Nicklaus Have Today?
Tyson
Jordan
Tiger
Were not losing. My guess is Jack was the same way.
He would do quite well although I don't think he would dominate as he did. His long game would travel well but let us not forget that his short game was not up to his long game standards. He would have to adapt to the thick rough and today's green speeds-which are significantly faster then those of yesteryear.
Same for Hogan as well.
Same for Hogan as well.
Jack would be Jack, with new tech and his mental and game management skills are still noteworthy. That's why so many golfers TW, Rory for example and others seek out his advice. We can speculate but we will never know.
He would definitely dominate. Not sure about the 18 majors. Majors are much harder to win today as there are more people in every major capable of winning. I think he would still be the number one or two player in the game. He had the physical skills, drive and mental game. That combination is hard to beat.
If the story is true about Jack measuring his swing speed at 118 mph at age 58, then he must have had Rory like power in his prime.
I think with newer technology, he would have been successful for sure. Maybe not at the rate or quantity he was based on the quality of the fields being higher, but I could see him being very successful.
He would be in contention every week for sure. He’d win a lot. I hesitate to say he’d dominate. One of his biggest assets was distance and there’s just more guys playing that style than when he was at his most dominant.
Anytime I see questions like this I go back to an assistant pro I worked with...dude qualified for like 10 majors between US Opens and PGA Championships, and all he ever talked about how much easier it is now with todays equipment...I feel like Jack would thrive with todays stuff
Today’s fitness / nutrition would make him a monster.
He would still be better than most players. I was pretty clear how I felt about him lol
Do well yes. Dominate no.
Modern equipment has negated Jack’s biggest advantage which was hitting long irons high and soft. You don’t need long irons in today’s game. I saw Tommy Fleetwood is gaming a 9 wood instead of a 4 iron. Between high lofted wood and hybrids there is no reason to hit the part of the bag where Jack was unmatched in his era.
Modern equipment has negated Jack’s biggest advantage which was hitting long irons high and soft. You don’t need long irons in today’s game. I saw Tommy Fleetwood is gaming a 9 wood instead of a 4 iron. Between high lofted wood and hybrids there is no reason to hit the part of the bag where Jack was unmatched in his era.
This is a fun debate. On one side, he was an incredible competitor and big hitter. However, as others have pointed out, (basically) everyone is long today, so it may negate his biggest strength. Plus, I have to imagine the pipeline to get to professional golf was very different then as it is today, which could have changed the trajectory of his career pretty drastically.
The thing I can't answer is how Jack would of done with the money and social media stuff that gets in the way. Back in the 50's-70s these guys weren't getting rich as quick as today's players. Yeah they did some advertising but now you have to have a whole team to keep your image. I do think his golf game would translate
The top golfer in any era would compete well today. Would they dominate the same way? Probably not, given deeper fields and that everyone has or chases power these days. Jack would still be a top 3-5 player at worst, I think. Probably still in the vicinity of a peak Tiger at his best.
this is a good point. If we're just talking golf...he would be a top player. maybe even the top in a post Tiger world. However, there is so much more to pro golfer life than in his day. How he would deal with that aspect could limit his potential.
I think only in golf where a legendary player like him would still be very competitive and win some tournaments/majors. With his skillset, competitiveness and modern tech, he would be top 10 imo.
Now if we're talking about other sports like hockey... I think players like Wayne Gretzky would be an average player.
Now if we're talking about other sports like hockey... I think players like Wayne Gretzky would be an average player.
This is what I think also. He'd be dominant in any era with his mind being better than almost everyone and his game being superior also
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He would be a force. All of the guys on Tour hit the ball great. What separates the elite players from the rest is what's going on between their ears. So for me it's not about equipment or deep fields, it's about one's mental toughness.