Tiger vs. The Golden Bear; A Look at the Two Greatest Golfers of Our Time

On Wednesday in Dublin, Ohio, the two biggest modern day influences on the game of golf will compete in an eight-player skins game. Tiger Woods and Jack Nicklaus have won a combined 32 major titles in their career.

Sixty-nine year old Nicklaus, the Memorial Host, will play in the same foursome as thirty-three year old Woods. All eyes will be focused on this group as although separated by thirty-six years in life, the two have little separation in their success on the golf course. These two amazing professional athletes have more in common than one could imagine.

Both golfers finished as NCAA Champions in their collegiate careers. Woods won Medalist honors in 1996 while playing for Stanford University. Thirty-five years earlier in 1961, Nicklaus raised the college trophy as the #1 golfer in the NCAA while playing for The Ohio State University.

Tiger won two US Amateur titles while in college(1995 and 1996) as did The Golden Bear(1959 and 1961).

Incredibly the two golfers both won the Silver medal at The US Open while in college. Woods shot 281 in 1996 at age 20. Thirty-six years earlier, Nicklaus lost the US Open by 2 strokes to Arnold Palmer shooting 282. Jack was also 20!

But the one thing these individuals would not like to have in common is the loss of their fathers when they were both 30.

Woods father, Earl, died of prostate cancer on May 3, 2006. Tiger took a nine week break from the PGA. He recorded eleven wins in ’06, despite the necessary time off, including two majors. After winning the British Open at Royal Liverpool and finishing -18, Woods showed his emotion to the world breaking down and crying while remembering his mentor and best friend.

In 1970, Jack won the British Open. Nicklaus threw his putter into the air after sinking the winning putt, as he was thrilled to have won the Open at the home of golf, St. Andrews. His father, Charlie, died shortly after his victory.

Muirfield Village Golf Club will be the focus of golf fans everywhere on a day that has nothing to do with who wins the match and everything to do with the moment. When these two giants in the game of golf tee off from the 10^th hole on Wednesday, all eyes will be fixed on their every move.

Hopefully Earl and Charlie will be grinning from ear to ear looking down at the two greatest players of our time.

A Look at the Pro Careers of Eldrick Tont Woods and Jack William Nicklaus:

Golfer          Pro Wins   PGA Wins  Major Wins   Earnings

Tiger                  90                66                14           $84,226,689.

Golden Bear  113                73                18              $8,755,407.

Contributing sources: en.wikipedia.org/wiki

Photo: Ted S. Warren/AP