Why Jack Nicklaus is finally confident of fending off Tiger Woods

It was one of golf’s great storylines as Tiger Woods racked up major after major in pursuit of Jack Nicklaus’ phenomenal record. But one party, at least, believes it’s the end of the road.

Jack Nicklaus stands alone as the most prolific major champion in golf’s history and the 85-year-old is now confident his record haul is safe from the clutches of Tiger Woods.

Nicklaus ended his career with 18 victories across the four showpiece events in the men’s game, but many expected Woods to eclipse that benchmark when he hit the scene like a freight train in the late 1990s.

Woods reached 14 majors by the time he was 32 before injuries, a loss of form, and personal-life scandals halted his progress. 

After several knee and back surgeries, many doubted whether he would ever add to his tally, but the race was seemingly back on when Woods ended his near 11-year wait for a 15th major at the 2019 Masters.

However, his horror car crash in February 2021 has all but put paid to any realistic hopes the now 49-year-old will overhaul Nicklaus.

Just walking 72 holes has proved troublesome since Woods, who was lucky to escape with both of his legs still intact, returned to the tour, while further surgeries have been required on his left ankle and back.

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“If he remained healthy I think he would’ve gotten it, but he didn’t remain healthy,” Nicklaus told the Golf Channel during the PGA Tour’s Cognizant Classic, before adding, jokingly: “I feel bad for him [but] he’s had a relatively good career.”

And as for his major record: “Oh, I think it will probably stand for a while.”

Behind Woods, there are no active players even close to reaching double digits, let alone hunting down Nicklaus, so his confidence is well placed.

Since his return, Woods’s best major finish is 47th at the 2022 Masters, while he has withdrawn twice, missed the cut on four occasions and been absent entirely four times. 

He was last seen competitively at the 2024 Open at Royal Troon, where he failed to make the weekend in Ayrshire.

He was due to tee it up for the first time in 2025 at the Genesis Invitational, an event he hosts through his TGR Foundation, but decided against it following the passing of his mother.

Woods is in the field to play in the 2025 Seminole Pro-Member, though, meaning he could be in line to make his first PGA start of the year at The Players Championship on March 13 as anticipation for the Masters in April ramps up.

Should he feature at the iconic Pete Dye layout and at Augusta National, all eyes will be on the 15-time major champion, who still remains the sport’s box-office draw, despite the decline of his game.