Capelle On Golf

2008 US Open Coverage

Jack Nicklaus won his first PGA Tour title and first major as a rookie at the 1962 US Open at Oakmont, beating Arnold “The King” Palmer in a playoff before a huge gallery composed of Arnie’s Army. Tiger Woods won his first Open in his fourth season with a blowout 15-stroke win at Pebble Beach. Each win was uniquely impressive. Each victory was also indicative of the competitive climate both would operate in: Nicklaus was up against world class champions while Woods dominated players of a lesser stature.

After six years as professionals, both had won two Opens. Over the next six years Nicklaus won his third and added two seconds and a fourth to his resume. Woods has placed second twice in a similar period, and could pull even with Nicklaus at three Open apiece after their first 12 years should he win at Torrey Pines.

The media is so focused on Woods pursuit of 18 majors that they continue to ignore the individual titles that make up the total. At some point, however, Woods’ five year non-winning stretch in the Open will come into focus, especially if it becomes six straight after this year’s edition. It doesn’t help that he’s not fully recovered from his knee surgery two months ago.

Woods is still the favorite to eclipse Nicklaus total of 18 majors, but his chances of surpassing Nicklaus’ four US Opens no longer look so promising. He’s won only two Opens. It’s not likely that he’ll win this year, which will prolong his Open slump. And thanks to his knee, he now appears to be quite a bit past the halfway point of his prime.

Nicklaus–Woods
60 2——— -95 WD
61 4t——— 96 82t
62 W——- -97 19t
63 MC——–98 18t
64 23t——— 99 3t
65 31t———00 W
66 3——– –01 12t
67 W——- –02 W
68 2———–03 20t
69 25t——- 04 17t
70 49t———05 2
71 2——— –06 MC
72 W——– -07 2t
73 4t——— 08 ???

Summary After 11 Years as a Pros
——-JN–TW
Wins 3—-2
Top 4 6—5

Who they Beat
This table shows the players who finished second, and their career major titles when play began at that Open, and for their career. Bruce Crampton never won a major, but he finished second four times to Nicklaus.
Nicklaus
1962 Arnold Palmer (5-7)
1967 Arnold Palmer (7-7)
1972 Bruce Crampton (0-0)
1980 Isao Aoki (0-0)
Woods
2000 Ernie Els (2-3), Miguel Angel Jimenez
2002 Phil Mickelson (0-3)