I am a big time Orr guy. That said Gretzky hockey sense and brain might be the best there ever was. While true about protection that was a more violent era than today's speed and skill.
How Much Success Would Jack Nicklaus Have Today?
Another thing as I keep seeing Jack's mental game being brought up. When are you transferring Jack over to this generation? Is it as an amateur? I am sure his 2 US Ams help give him confidence but those are much tougher to win today versus when Jack played. Jack was 2nd as an amateur in the US Open do we think that could be repeated by an amateur today? That early success help to make Jack a winner and a closer. If he doesn't have that does that change his trajectory?
That’s a great point. Also, the mental game is much different these days with the constant access not to mention social media. It’s much harder to block out the noise these days.
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I am not old enough or know enough about Jacks era to comment with any sway. However I think it would be fun to see!
He would do very well but not dominate. I recall reading that his biggest weakness was his short game and with the faster green speeds of today, it would make it even harder.
Agree. Jack played a crappy Macgregor ball and finished 2nd 19 times in Majors. If he would have played the Titleist ball of his day, those 19 seconds turn into another 6+ majors. My guess is he still wins 16+ majors even playing in the Tiger era and Tiger wins fewer than 15 playing against Nicklaus in his peak. Jack and Tiger were the best putters ever under pressure. Jack drove it straighter than Tiger and was just as long and just as tough mentally. He was also healthy for decades and with todays conditioning he could have extending his career.
Jack just had that killer instinct that would have come with him. Tiger and Phil, I think, would have won a couple less majors
I agree with this. He has the mental game to go head to head with anyone. Give him modern equipment? Watch out…
I think any great athlete of any sport and from any era would probably be in the upper echelon of their modern day sport. Given all the opportunity growing up with advanced tech, training, and competition in their youth along with whatever ability and drive they had to excel back then would help take advantage of it.
Not the same as dominating though because of depth of field. But they’d still be at the top.
Not the same as dominating though because of depth of field. But they’d still be at the top.
Pat_McAdams
Active member
Imagine Jack vs Tiger in their primes, I have to believe they would split each matchup. I think that Jack was the most mentally tough golfer out there and even today other than Tiger had no equal. Read the book “The Secret of Golf” about Jack and Tom Watson.
what would be real fun is to see them play with each era’s equipment. Could Tiger beat Jack with equipment from the 60’s and 70’s?
what would be real fun is to see them play with each era’s equipment. Could Tiger beat Jack with equipment from the 60’s and 70’s?
So hard to compare generations.i think other than horse racing cannot compare. And no one ever could beat Secretariat. He was the best.
Buckeyegolfnut
Well-known member
I once read that the reason that Jack's short game wasn't quite up to snuff, was because he rarely needed it his long game was so good. He could hit his long irons a mile high and stop them on hard, fast greens.
And what do we see today's players hitting on that hole? A lot less than a 1 iron!
I remember watching a tournament on TV with my Uncle who was a really good golfer. Jack and Arnie were both in contention and Jack made a fantastic birdie to take the lead. On the next tee, the broadcast got a close up of Nicklaus. My Uncle said, something like, "Uh, oh! Jack's got the eagle eye. Arnie could be in trouble!"
Buckeyegolfnut
Well-known member
Great comment! I don't remember exactly where I read it, it might have been Penick's Little Red Book, but there was a story about Ben Hogan losing to Billy Casper, who was a great putter. Hogan said, something like, "You know, if you couldn't putt you'd be selling hot dogs behind the 10th green!" To the writer, all that meant was that Hogan admitted he just couldn't putt any more!
After all, it was Hogan who kinda, sorta, advocated for getting putting out of the game. He wanted to play fairways, greens and closest to the pin!
After all, it was Hogan who kinda, sorta, advocated for getting putting out of the game. He wanted to play fairways, greens and closest to the pin!
They are one irons, they just have the wrong number stamped on them. Just like the ones they now have stamped P, Jacks were stamped 8.
But the old blades certainly did launch lower than modern stuff.......
Birdieputt
Well-known member
you might include a comment about the weather on that shot, hi winds making the difficulty even more severe.
Buckeyegolfnut
Well-known member
This is a point!