“Tiger made golf cool.” A declaration no golf fan expects to hear lightly, especially from someone who idolized Jack Nicklaus, broke bread with Arnold Palmer, and spent years shoulder-to-shoulder with Tiger Woods during the sport’s most seismic era.
The man who said it? He’s not just another talking head. He’s a Green Jacket owner. A major winner at 41. A peer to Jack and Tiger, and a bridge between two generations of greatness. And when Mark O’Meara takes a side in golf’s most sacred debate, you listen.
Golf, once seen as a niche sport for a certain type of athlete, exploded in popularity during Tiger Woods’ reign, reaching millions of fans who might never have thought twice about stepping onto the fairways. For O’Meara, a 16-time PGA Tour winner and 1998 Masters champion, the impact of Woods stretches far beyond just the numbers. And while O’Meara grew up idolizing Jack Nicklaus, it’s clear that Tiger Woods holds a special place in his heart as the greatest player he’s ever seen.
O’Meara, who famously won both the Masters and The Open in 1998, didn’t shy away from acknowledging the greatness of Nicklaus. It’s a layered take, not some hot-button soundbite. O’Meara wasn’t diminishing Nicklaus—far from it. He gave full credit to the Golden Bear’s era, the strength of competition, and the enduring legacy. But his argument leaned on context, not just stats. And he did not address this for the first time on the GOLF’s Subpar podcast. As he shared with hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz, that line came during an earlier appearance on another show—David Feherty’s to be exact—when he was asked to pick between Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods yet again.
“I remember I did Feherty’s show, and David asked me, he goes, ‘Okay, you know, the 30-second spot, like this or that, quick answers, right? He goes, Jack or Tiger?’ And I said, ‘Look, that’s a really hard one. I’m sorry. I mean, I grew up idolizing Jack Nicklaus. Jack Nicklaus has got the most majors. He’s, you know, blah, blah, blah.’ And then I looked at the camera, I said, ‘You know, Jack, please don’t be mad at me. Tiger Woods is the greatest player I’ve ever seen, and I truly believe that.’”
And for a man who played against some of the best golfers the world has ever known, including Nicklaus himself, that’s not a statement made lightly.
Nicklaus vs Woods and statistics vs era
While O’Meara concedes that Nicklaus, with his record 18 major victories, holds the edge when it comes to sheer numbers, he makes an impassioned case for Woods’ incomparable impact. “If you go strictly by performance and numbers, Jack Nicklaus is the greatest player,” O’Meara admitted. “But when I look at what Tiger did, and the era that he did it in…I think Tiger Woods is the greatest player. I really do.” Even though Nicklaus leads ahead of Woods in Majors wins (Nicklaus 18, Woods 15), and runner-up finishes in majors (Nicklaus 19, Woods 7), the former has a long road to pave. Mark O’Meara didn’t say those words for the first time on GOLF’s Subpar podcast. As he shared with hosts Colt Knost and Drew Stoltz, that line came during an earlier appearance on another show—David Feherty’s, to be exact—when he was asked to pick between Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods in a rapid-fire segment. And yet, the way he recounted it, nearly apologizing to the camera as he sided with Woods over the man he idolized growing up, made the moment land all over again
It’s not just about the victories, but about the way Tiger transcended the sport. O’Meara touches on the factors that made Woods a different breed of golfer. “I would say that I look at Tiger’s career… and I would tell you that, you know, with all the on and off-course issues, the injuries, and this and that, and the equipment… everybody likes to bring up the equipment. But if everybody had to play with persimmon clubs and the old golf ball? I think Tiger Woods would have won more tournaments than he won. That’s how much better he was than everybody else.”
And it’s not just golf fans and players who benefited from Tiger’s presence. Beyond the swing speed and trophies, O’Meara pointed to something more cultural: Tiger’s mainstream impact. “Tiger made golf cool. Who would’ve ever dreamed that a golfer would become one of the most famous people in the world? He got parents thinking, ‘Maybe I don’t need to get my kid into basketball or football. Maybe I’ll introduce them to golf.’” Woods’s effect on the sport’s visibility is undeniable, turning golf into a global phenomenon and giving it a mainstream audience.
Reflecting on his career, O’Meara marvels at the transformation golf underwent during Woods’s rise. “I mean, when I started playing golf at 12 and a half in 1969, like, you didn’t play golf. Golf was not cool. Golf is definitely cool now.” And as a player who saw it all unfold, O’Meara knows exactly how far Woods helped push the game into the spotlight.
In an era dominated by technological advancements, sporting media, and high-profile endorsement deals, it’s easy to forget how much of that started with one man—Tiger Woods—who didn’t just play the game; he changed it forever. Mark O’Meara, from his career highs to his admiration for Tiger, is a living testament to how far Woods’ influence has reached, both on the fairways and far beyond. And while Jack Nicklaus’ place in golf history remains unchallenged, for O’Meara, there’s no question: Woods remains the G.O.A.T.
O’Meara’s dream golfing scenario
In a separate interview earlier with Links Magazine, O’Meara was asked to name his dream foursome. His answer? “Mr. Palmer, Tiger Woods, and Jack Nicklaus.” He added, “I grew up idolizing Jack. As I got on Tour, I got to know Mr. Palmer, and he became my idol. And then obviously Tiger, being who he is and what he’s done, being alongside him for those 10 years that I was in his life…”
That reverence for all three icons speaks volumes. O’Meara isn’t replacing one with another. He’s honoring a lineage. But his vote, when pressed to pick one, lands with Tiger.
There’s no denying that the Nicklaus-Woods debate will continue to divide fans, writers, and players for years to come. But when someone like Mark O’Meara weighs in—not to stir controversy, but to offer heartfelt clarity—it reminds us that even the great legends have heroes.
The post ‘Jack Don’t Be Mad at Me’: Masters Winner Calls Tiger Woods ‘The Greatest Player’ Gives Softened Blow to Idol Jack Nicklaus appeared first on EssentiallySports.