re: Top 10 golfers of all-time

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For the record. Nicklaus was matched up against several legendary players over most of his career. Tiger was not. Not only did Nicklaus win 18 majors but he finished second 17 times and had 51 career top five finishes in majors. All of these were over a 25 year span. In 18 years Woods has won 14 majors but has finished second only 6 times and has a total of 29 top 5 finishes. He'd better do some serious work over the next 7 years to even approach Nicklaus body of work in majors.

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This is such a ridiculous view. Golf today is so much more competitive than it was back then. Tiger plays against such a stronger field than Jack ever did.

1. Tiger Woods

2-10. Who is that?

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If one takes a weighted score of Major wins (50%), total PGA wins (30%), and other Professional wins such as EU Tour, Asia Tour, etc (20%), here's what you come up with:

1. Woods - weighted score of 35.8
2. Nicklaus 34.9
3. Snead 32.7
4. Hagen 25
5. Hogan 24.5
6. Palmer 22.9
7. Nelson 20.5
8. Player 19.3
9. Mickelson 17.9
10. Watson 16.5

Next notables: Thomson, Sarazen, Vardon, Trevino, Faldo, Seve, Jones

Of note is the fact that earlier professional such as Jones, Vardon, and Hagen may have higher scores if they would have had more tournament opportunities as well as air travel at their disposal.

Also, Gary Player is much higher on the list if you count his 73 Sunshine (South African Tour) wins.

If 70% emphasis were used for Major wins, the list would look like this:

1. Nicklaus 29.2
2. Woods 28.1
3. Snead
4. Hagen
5. Hogan
6. Palmer
7. Nelson
8. Player
9. Watson
10. Mickelson

Personally, I think 50% emphasis is about right for judging a career though some seem to think it's only majors that count.

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Wow just saw this, great post
I agree it works better with the relatively recent guys more so than the old guys like Hagen, Vardon, Morris, ect... But still very cool

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Yet Nicklaus competed against 16 other golfers during his career that won multiple majors while Woods has competed against 6 other golfers with multiple majors.

I'm not arguing against Woods but am saying that those that discount Nicklaus are raving lunatics. He was a machine when the stakes were highest. 51 top 5 finishes in majors with 18 wins and 17 second place finishes. No one else even approaches that level.

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This. Golf was played before 1997, you guys who discount Jack and his competition should actually learn what you are talking about. Jack played against and won against greater players than Tiger has faced. It's a simple fact.

Not really a Jack or Tiger fan (loved Watson as a kid and later Norman), but here's some other interesting info:

Jack through age 37:

-6 missed cuts in majors
-15 2nd place finishes in Majors
-52 Top 10 finishes in Majors
-1 withdrawal

Tiger thus far:

-3 missed cuts in majors
-6 2nd place finishes in Majors
-37 Top 10 finishes in Majors
-4 DNP

Up to age 37, Jack has done a bit better finishing strong in Majors than Tiger, but has also been cut twice as much. The fact that Tiger has only been cut three times in Majors is other-worldly.

I agree with several of the previous posters about Vardon, Hagen, Jones, and Morris. If these guys had the health (Vardon), number of tournaments, motivation to play for 10+ years, and no transportation limitations - we wouldn't just be debating Tiger v Jack. I will throw Hogan in there as well (3 years due to WWII and car wreck).

The 500th best golfer in the world could beat Tiger on any given day. I'd be really surprised if you could say the same thing about the competition with Jack in the 60's.

1. Nicklaus
2. Woods
3. Hogan
4. Gilmore
5. Snead
6. Jones
7. Watson
8. McGavin
9. Mickelson
10. Lafferty

Only reason fields are deeper now is because clubs can bandaid bad swings and poor ball striking. Worse players can win.

Doesn't change the fact that you go into a tourney and name 30 people u have to beat to win. People like Webb Simpson don't make that list but he has won.

At the risk of sounding obsessed...
What have guys like Phil, Tom Watson, and Gary Player done that they make your list but Harry Vardon doesn't?
Not hating on those guys just curious