Capelle On Golf

I get a kick out of it when a well spoken pro starts firing from the hip on golf’s greatest rivalry, Tiger vs. Jack. Just the other day in a column by Del Milligan on greatness, Andy Bean laid down the criteria for Woods’ ascendancy to throne. For the record, Andy Bean was an almost great player with 11 tour victories. In the majors he finished second at the 1980 PGA, seven back of Nicklaus. Throughout the remainder of the ’80s Bean also recorded two more seconds and a third in the majors. Now for his opening salvo.

“Tiger’s going to have to win the 19 major championships before he would be recognized as the best player of all time,” said Andy Bean. “In probably three, maybe four years - it could be sooner - I truly believe the record books will be written with a new guy at the top.”

Breaking Nicklaus’ major victories record would be a strong entry on Woods’ side of the ledger. But let’s not forget Nicklaus’ 36 other top fours. Or his career Grand Slam that started at age 38. Or his 14 straight years with at least one first or second in a major (1970-83). Or his fabulous comeback win at Augusta. Or his —-well you get the point. So just when I’m thinking I’d like to throttle Bean (figuratively of course – he is a 6’,4” Tarzan) for oversimplifying the argument by saying that 19 is enough, he uncorks this gem:

“Tiger has earned my respect. But if he continues to develop and comes anywhere close to being the gentleman that Jack has been through the years, that’s when golf will really have a new champion,” Bean said. “If he can be the ambassador and the gentleman that Jack has been through the years, that impresses me as much as the victories themselves.”

Ah, sportsmanship, that not so talked about ingredient of greatness that meant so much to Nicklaus. I delighted in those moments when he would break out into a big smile with his putter held high and share his great deeds with the crowd. And, of course, there was his legendary graciousness in defeat, a response to losing that remains a model for all.

As for Woods, I still haven’t figured out why he looks down at the ground and makes such an ugly face at those times when he should be dancing with glee. When he holes one of his famous big putts he seems to be exorcising demons from his past – at precisely those moments when he should be flashing his big beautiful toothy smile to the throngs that hunger to participate on a more personal level in his greatness

Maybe Woods will learn to act like he’s enjoying his biggest and best moments, but until he does, Nicklaus’ edge in the sportsmanship category is a big and not insignificant one.