Capelle On Golf

2008 Masters Coverage - Thru 4/15

Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods share many things in common, including an uncommon brilliance at an early age. Woods showed his in the U.S. Amateur, winning three in a row. Nicklaus won two of three in last three years as an amateur. But what was truly remarkable was his record in the pro majors while he was an amateur, including two fine finishes at the Masters.

Both players didn’t wait long to win the Masters as pros – Woods in his first full season, and Nicklaus in his second. After 11 years both players had captured four green jackets. Meanwhile, Nicklaus held a 3-2 margin in non-winning top threes. Both won consecutive Masters. Nicklaus in his fourth and fifth years as a pro, Woods in his fifth and six years. Then both went through long (for them) periods where they contended often, but won only once. And, oddly enough, both finished out of the Top 20 in their eighth year as pros.

In his twelfth season Nicklaus’ poor putting relegated him to a tie for third, two back of Tommy Aaron. Will Tiger pull ahead of Jack 5-4 in our year-by-year comparison? That’s just one of the many stories that will keep fans glued to their seats as Woods pursues the first leg of the Grand Slam.

This table shows a year-by-year comparison of Nicklaus’ and Woods’ record in the Masters starting with their last two years as amateurs through their eleventh seasons.

Jack vs. Tiger at the Masters
Nicklaus Woods
60 13t——- 95 MC
61 7t——— 96 41t
62 15t——- 97 W
63 W——– 98 8t
64 2t——— 99 18t
65 W———00 5t
66 W——– 01 W
67 MC——- 02 W
68 5t——— 03 15t
69 24t——- 04 22t
70 8———- 05 W
71 2t——— 06 3t
72 W——– 07 2t
73 3t——— 08 ???

Who they Beat
This table shows the players who finished second,
and their career major titles when play began at that
Masters, and for their career. Lema, Brewer, and
Weiskopf won their majors the following season while
Duval won his later in 2001.

Nicklaus
1963 Tony Lema (0-1)
1965 Arnold Palmer (7-7), Gary Player (3-9)
1966 Gay Brewer (0-1), Tommy Jacobs
1972 Tom Weiskopf (0-1), Bruce Crampton, Bobby Mitchell

Woods
1997 Tom Kite (1-1)
2001 David Duval (0-1)
2002 Retief Goosen (1-2)
2005 Chris DiMarco