Good Wits Doe Jumpe

A Smart Guy Too!

On August 30^th,  Brandel Chamblee, the former PGA player and current commentator on the Golf Channel and SI Golf + contributor, wrote this article, entitled “Tiger Might Break Jack's Major Record, But That Alone Won’t Make Him The Greatest Of All Time.”  In that post he argues, convincingly, that Jack was the greatest golfer of all time because of the quantity of the quality competition he faced.  Chamblee cites a wealth of statistics to demonstrate his conclusion, citing the quality of the completion he regularly faced from the likes of Arnold Palmer, Tom Watson, Gary Player, Lee Trevino, and other golf legends.  He concludes that, no matter the total of majors Tiger accumulates, Jack Nicklaus will still be measured as the greatest player of all time.  

Well, as the old saying goes, “Good wits doe jumpe”, or, in modern English, “Great minds think alike”.  

I authored this post on June 10^th of this year, in which I concluded that no matter care how many majors Tiger eventually wins, Jack Nicklaus is and will still be still the greatest player of all time.  In fact, I wrote that “Even if Woods does break Jack’s record, he will still not earn the title of The Greatest Golfer Ever from this observer.  The competition Woods has faced is simply pathetic compared to the golf legends Nicklaus faced week in and week out during his long and historic career.  Simply put, Nicklaus’s accomplishments are extraordinary, and Woods’ career record, incomplete as it may be, pales in comparison.”   And I cite statistics in support as well, which demonstrate that the competition Tiger has faced during the Golden Age of Tiger couldn’t shine the Footjoys of the legends against which Jack competed.  

The Bear Will Always Surpass The Tiger

As an aside, the Golden Bear was interviewed on my local sports talk radio live to plug a local charity event recently and it was fabulous. Nicklaus was on his game, answering all the questions with great insight and humor.  The radio guys pointed out that in 1963, Nicklaus won the long drive contest at the PGA Championship.  Astoundingly, the winning drive was measured at 341 yards, 17 inches, and remember, it was smote with a steel shaft and wooden club head. If Jack were in his prime today, they would have to outlaw him.  (In fact, Nicklaus, to uproarious laughter from the radio guys, pulled out the actual money clip he won for his prodigious blast in 1963, which he is still carrying with him today!) 

So, that's my story and I’m sticking to it, and I’m glad a smart guy like Brandel Chamblee agrees with me.

AMDG

© R.E. Kelly 2012-2021