Originally Posted by QuadrupleEagle

Did a little checking on Wikipedia on Tiger and Jack's major records.

Tiger did very well from 1998 to 2007, from ages 23-32. His record:

Major victories: 12
Second place: 4
3-5th place: 6
6-10th place: 4
11th or worse: 14

Jack's record for the same age range (1962-1971):

Victories: 9
Second: 9
3-5th: 6
6-10th: 3
11th or worse: 13

Actually very similar. Jack finished in the top 2 twice more than Tiger. Tiger won 3 times more. Statistically equivalent really.

But the next 10 yrs, although Jack won 1 less major, it can be argued he was even better from age 33 to age 42:

Jack from 1972 to 1982, age 33-42:

wins: 8
second: 7
3-5th: 12
6-10th: 7
11th or worse: 6

That's right ... in 27/40 majors from age 33-42, Nicklaus finished in the top 5, and in only 6 out of those 40 tourneys finished outside the top 10. Tiger will have to do very well indeed the next 10 years to play as well as Jack at the same age.

But even more impressive than this ... look at Nicklaus from the 1970 Open Championship to the 1978 Open Championship ... a little over 8 years and 33 majors:

Wins: 8
Second: 7
Third: 5
Fourth: 4
5-10th: 7
11th: 1
13th: 1

That's right ... in 33 straight majors, only 2 finishes outside the top 10, and 24 top 4s. And he never finished worse than 13th. That is absolutely amazing.

So Tiger may be barking at Jack's heals for the record of total majors won, but it remains to be seen whether he can show the dominance Jack had in his 30s. There is still time yet before we can really make an accurate comparison of these 2 incredible golfers.