Jack Nicklaus' records seem monumental. But when you stack up Tiger Woods' accomplishments year-by-year, Tiger is way ahead. Here is a look at the five greatest "young" golfers of all time -- Nicklaus, Woods, Gene Sarazen, Bobby Jones and Seve Ballesteros -- and how they rank at ages 19 through 29, using the ranking system I discussed in my first post.
Age 19
Tiger Woods, 45
Bobby Jones, 29.5
Jack Nicklaus, 25
Seve Ballesteros, 21.25
Gene Sarazen, 18.75
At age 19, Woods had two U.S. Amateurs, Ballesteros had finished tied for second in the British Open, Nicklaus had one U.S. Amateur, Sarazen had a top-10 finish in the PGA and Jones had a second-place showing in the U.S. Amateur and two top-10 finishes in the U.S. Open.
Age 20
Gene Sarazen, 120
Tiger Woods, 67.5
Bobby Jones, 46.50
Jack Nicklaus, 43
Seve Ballesteros, 21.25
At age 20, Sarazen wins the U.S. Open and PGA. Woods claims his third straight U.S. Amateur.
Age 21
Gene Sarazen, 160.00
Tiger Woods, 139.50
Bobby Jones, 92.25
Jack Nicklaus, 85.50
Seve Ballesteros, 21.25
Sarazen wins his second straight PGA. Woods runs away with the Masters in his first professional major. Jones wins his first U.S. Open and Nicklaus claims his second U.S. Amateur.
Age 22
Gene Sarazen, 160.56
Tiger Woods, 149.33
Jack Nicklaus, 140.25
Bobby Jones, 126.00
Seve Ballesteros, 63.00
Jones finishes second in the U.S. Open and wins his first U.S. Amateur. Nicklaus wins his first U.S. Open. Ballesteros wins his first British Open.
Age 23
Jack Nicklaus, 249.00
Tiger Woods, 207.33
Gene Sarazen, 168.81
Bobby Jones, 158.25
Seve Ballesteros, 123.00
Jones finishes second in the U.S. Open -- losing in a playoff -- and wins his second U.S. Amateur. Nicklaus wins his first Masters and first PGA. Woods wins his first PGA. Ballesteros wins his first Masters.
Age 24
Tiger Woods, 407.83
Jack Nicklaus, 287.00
Bobby Jones, 260.75
Gene Sarazen, 178.94
Seve Ballesteros, 123.00
Jones wins the U.S. Open and British Open and takes second in the U.S. Amateur. Nicklaus finishes second in the Masters, British Open and PGA. Woods wins the U.S. Open and British Open in runaways and the PGA in a playoff to cap off greatest season ever.
Age 25
Tiger Woods, 435.83
Jack Nicklaus, 346.00
Bobby Jones, 322.75
Gene Sarazen, 197.44
Seve Ballesteros, 134.75
Jones wins his second British Open and third U.S. Amateur. Nicklaus wins his second Masters and ties for second in PGA. Woods wins the Masters to make it four straight professional major victories.
Age 26
Tiger Woods, 524.58
Jack Nicklaus, 420.75
Bobby Jones, 342.50
Gene Sarazen, 224.50
Seve Ballesteros, 205.50
Sarazen takes second in British Open. Jones wins fourth U.S. Amateur and loses U.S. Open in a playoff. Nicklaus wins his third Masters and first British Open. Woods wins his third Masters, second U.S. Open and finishes second in the PGA. Ballesteros wins his second Masters.
Age 27
Tiger Woods, 531.08
Jack Nicklaus, 470.50
Bobby Jones, 362.50
Seve Ballesteros, 246.25
Gene Sarazen, 242.50
Jones wins his third U.S. Open. Nicklaus wins his second U.S. Open and takes second in the British. Ballesteros wins his second British Open.
Age 28
Tiger Woods, 531.83
Jack Nicklaus, 493.50
Bobby Jones, 477.25
Seve Ballesteros, 261.50
Gene Sarazen, 251.50
Sarazen finishes second in the PGA. Jones scores his grand slam and retires, winning his fourth U.S. Open, third British Open, fifth U.S. Amateur and only British Amateur. Nicklaus finishes second in the U.S. Open and British Open. Woods has his worst year in the majors with just one top-10 finish in the British Open.
Age 29
Tiger Woods, 609.08 (with one event to go)
Jack Nicklaus, 495.75
Bobby Jones, 477.25
Gene Sarazen, 277.88
Seve Ballesteros, 273.00
Nicklaus has his worst year as a pro in the majors, with just one top-10 finish in the British Open. Woods rebounds to win his fourth Masters, take second in the U.S. Open and claims his second British Open.
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