Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods are widely considered to be the two greatest golfers of all time.
Nicklaus won 73 PGA Tour titles including 18 major championships throughout his career.
Meanwhile, Woods won 15 major titles, although he did record 82 PGA Tour victories.
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From the moment that Tiger Woods picked up a golf club, he had his sights set on the major record that Jack Nicklaus had set.
Of course, the 50-year-old never managed to surpass Jack’s major tally.
Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images
Nicklaus is good friends with Woods, and has always supported his career.
The Golden Bear knew almost immediately that Tiger was built differently to most.
What Jack Nicklaus thought about Tiger Woods after playing with him in 2000
Golf fans were handed the dream pairing on Thursday and Friday at Valhalla in 2000 for the PGA Championship.
Nicklaus was in the same group as Woods, and it was a joy to watch two generational golfers playing alongside one another.
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The Golden Bear sat down to speak with Rich Beem during a special programme made for The PGA Championship’s YouTube account.
When reminiscing about his final appearance at the PGA Championship at Valhalla in 2000, Nicklaus revealed what he realized about Woods.
“I played with Tiger and I realised that it was time to pass the baton,“ Nicklaus said.
Photo credit should read JEFF HAYNES/AFP via Getty Images
“This kid was so good.
He played so well, I’m sitting there, I said, ‘Okay, now I understand who Tiger Woods is, and I can’t compete against him anymore’.
“Time to…Tiger, it’s your game.
“And so that’s, that’s sort of the way I ended it.
“Gosh, I was 60 years old.”
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How Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods got on at the 2000 PGA Championship
Nicklaus missed the cut by a single stroke after making birdie on his final hole of the second round, when he required an eagle.
It was a great effort from Nicklaus, who was 60 at the time.
Meanwhile, Woods was on his way to winning his third consecutive major championship.
He finished the week at 18-under-par alongside Bob May and went on to defeat the American journeyman in a playoff.
Of course, Woods won The Masters eight months later and held all four majors at once.
As Nicklaus said, the 2000 PGA Championship very much symbolized a changing of the guard.
However, Tiger Woods never managed to surpass, or even match, Jack Nicklaus’ major record in the end.
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