Tiger Woods
- 15 career Major Championships (2nd all-time)
- 82 official Tour wins (tied for the most all-time)
- 3 consecutive U.S. Amateur Championships (1994,1995,1996)
- 683 weeks ranked #1 in Official World Golf Rankings
- Career earnings over $120,000,000 (most all-time)
- Only player in history to hold all four Major Championships at once deeming it, The Tiger Slam
- Professional years (1996-present)
If this is truly the end of Tiger’s competitive golf career, he has already done enough to be labeled as the greatest golfer of all-time. The next argument should be: is he the most decorated athlete of all-time? Tiger’s career accolades and on-course accomplishments could run down an entire page, but I had to stop somewhere.
With 82 career Tour wins to-date (tied for most all-time) and 15 Major Championships (2nd most all-time), Tiger has accomplished golf immortality in a record time frame. What separates Tiger from Nicklaus in the G.O.A.T. debate, is just how dominant Tiger was at his height, versus Nicklaus at the height of his career. Without taking away from Nicklaus’ career, his margin for error was razor thin in regards to his playing competitors. Whereas, Tiger was so far and away the best player on the planet and it wasn’t close. Evident, by his record 683 weeks ranked #1 in the Official World Golf Rankings.
Without a doubt, the best display of professional Golf was put forth by Tiger in 2000 and 2001, where he would complete The Tiger Slam. Not only was Tiger the youngest player to complete the career Grand Slam but he is the only player in history to hold all four Major Championships at the same time, the feat would be known as The Tiger Slam. From 1997 to 2008, Tiger had won 14 Major Championships. At that point, the question wasn’t if Tiger would surpass Nicklaus in Major Championships but when.
Then came the injuries, the cheating scandal and substance abuse issues. This just proved that Tiger was in fact human, which made his comeback that much more special. Fans alike got to witness his 82nd Tour win and his 15th career Major Championship with his Masters victory in 2019 at the age of forty-three. It was something fans like myself will never forget, to see that famous red shirt make his Sunday charge at Augusta and slip on that green jacket. Fans all over the world had the privilege to watch his return to glory and we can only hope that there’s one more comeback for the ages.
When you are in the same conversation as Jack Nicklaus as the greatest golfer of all-time, of course you are firmly located on golf’s Mount Rushmore. Whether any generation wants to admit it or not, Tiger Woods is the greatest golfer of all-time, edging Nicklaus. Imagine what Tiger’s career would’ve looked like if it wasn’t for the back and knee injuries alone.
What makes Tiger’s story so profound is his famed rise, fall, return to glory and where he goes from here. No matter what, golf fans around the world will be there to support Tiger every step of the way.