The Tiger vs. The Bear

Despite his often commanding play over the first three years of his pro career, Tiger Woods’ stated long-term targeting of Jack Nicklaus’ all-time-greatest record produced serious skepticism, even incredulity, among golf’s cognoscenti.

With his incredible 15-stroke U.S. Open victory at Pebble Beach - his fifth year-2000 win and 13th in as many months - that had changed radically as Tiger approached the defense of his PGA Championship. With virtually no exceptions or provisos, the analysts agreed: Woods’ crowning as history’s number one is now solely a matter of time.

Tiger’s still-solidifying assets at the age of 24, compared to Jack’s at his peak, show why.

The qualities that made the Golden Bear the best were ultra-powerful controlled driving of the ball, towering long-iron play, phenomenal pressure putting, superb self- and course-management, an immense work ethic, an insatiable desire to excel, and the game’s at that time supreme intimidation factor. But, as the great man has admitted, there were weaknesses: most notably - largely because at his best he needed so few around-the-green recovery shots - pitching, chipping and sand play.

Here’s how a dozen or so “experts” I polled right after Pebble Beach relate the present Tiger to the Bear of the early-to-mid ‘70s:

• If for no other reason than improved equipment, Woods commands even more tee-shot power than Nicklaus, and increasingly is controlling it as well if not better.
• Jack’s distance and - equally important - height with the long-irons is at least matched and perhaps even slightly exceeded by Tiger.
• As did Nicklaus, Woods seems to putt better the greater the pressure, and particularly from inside 10 feet, the make-or-break distance at golf’s zenith.
• Although still not of Jack’s caliber, Tiger’s management of himself and the course has improved immensely as he’s gained experience and maturity, and will continue to.
• At his peak, Nicklaus worked as intensively at his game as necessary to achieve his goals, but never to the degree Woods does on overall conditioning - his insurance against the wear and tear of an immensely athletic (and thus stressful) full swing.
• Thanks initially to his father, no one ever began wanting to be the best at golf earlier than Tiger - at age three. And the closer he comes to that goal, the more passionately he appears to want it - his insurance against dilution of desire by billionairedom.
• As Nicklaus freely admits, Woods’ short game, both overall and in terms of “manufactured” recovery shots, is way superior to his.