This is such a hard topic to discuss, you have Woods, just an amazing talent and holds so many records and will probably beat Jack, but did Jack have stronger competition in the way of Palmer, Trevino, Watson and Player.Then there is Jones who retired at 28 winning more majors in his time span than Woods and held all four majors at the same time just the same as Woods. I am still contemplating.

In Jones and Nicklaus's Day at most 7-10 people were capable of winning  against these guys, clearly from the amount of different tournament and major winners in the current game, Tiger is winning against a stronger field of strength and depth time and time again.

 So i think Tiger

Nah Jack Nicklaus everytime

Tiger, as he is the only one I have ever watched.

The best I've ever seen Nicklaus do is birdie the 18th at the Old Course, rubbish.

Mr P

Do you not think that everyone is so scared in today's game when you had so many winners in both other era's

Not really, Nicklaus and Palmer had the same intimidation factor, just not such strong fields back in the day

I'm not sure about the depth and strenght of the modern field, they are all a bit gutless!!

would you rather play against Palmer (in his prime) or someone like Harrington??

And what about Jones he had Walter Hagen and in infamous BAGGER VANCE LOL

Palmer i think

I saw that film Martin LOL

You wouldn't stand a chance against Palmer!!

Mr P

Thats only because you dont want to play a 7 hour round LOL

You do seem a little bit impatient Mr P, think you would kill Paddy

or listen to him go errrrrrrr before every word lol

What a film i have it on dvd :D:D:D

Will Smith for President!!!! lol

i second  that motion fresh prince ov bell air

stick to the topic Mr P, you know how you get in trouble LOL

Sorry....TIGER!

Im going with catan juna

David i'm not sure if you are allowed an opinion  - you don't know what the Ryder Cup looks like!! LOL

Jones was meant to be the greatest ball striker and said "ball flight is the key to golf" what do you think Mr P

i probs better shut up before i have team P*****t on my back

LOL

Being the greatest striker doesnt mean he had the greatest flight and i think it was Hogan that was the greatest striker ever, he won the British Open on his only attempt after coming back from a bad car crash, will Tigers return be billed as the greatest since that if he wins, i wouldnt be surprised

best striker pele in my opinion but yet it dont count for much

I stand corrected your right it was Hogan who said that.

Mr P surely your up there with these guys?? LOL

Do you think that statement was true Mr P that ball flight is everything

If you look at the greatest players to have been, Hogan, Jones, Nicklaus, Palmer, Tiger, Trevino, Faldo,  they are or were all shotmakers, total control over their ball flight, i dont think its coincidence the won so much

You should be a politician Mr P all round about but avoid the answer lol

WOW Martin we have uncovered another of Mr P's talents LOL

Martin, I dont think it is everything, but it is a key ingridient.

That better?

Do you think media pressure, celebrity status etc puts more pressure onto players these days? I think Tiger probably has more of this type of pressure than previous champions.

Paul I hadn't thought of that Tiger certainly has a lot of pressure on him, he always seems so cool about it though doesn't he

I think Tiger has more because he is more than a golfer, hes seen as an athlete and has far more media interest outside of golf than the others, but hes well paid for it, its his job.

I suppose Tiger puts himself more in the media's eye because of all the sponsorship deals he does

Like all sports stars today, he has to appease his sponsors and management team. You are right Mr P, Tiger could not just turn up and play a golf comp, then go home again without a million interveiws, photo shoots, endorsements, etc. plus the new interest in his new addition (baby, not new driver LOL). He certainly has alot of expectation on his shoulders before he even swings a club on the practice ground!

I agree what everone is saying but like Brians post earlier i dont think anyone in the modern game has bottle unlike in the Jack era Trevino was never scared of anyone likewise Palmer and Watson nobody was scared of winning. Why did we have so many greats in one era. In 50 years who will we say in this era.

I see where you are coming from Mr P but every golfer is an athelete now a days

I would'nt call John Daly an athlete exactly!!

lol but he is an one and only. BIG BAD JOHN

Different Golfers, different era's, equipment and conditions.

In todays world, its Tiger but you have to think what some of the others would be like with todays set up.

I have been lucky to see first hand the ability of Seve, Christie O'Connor Snr, Jack & Tom. I have heard about Jones, Hogan, Varden etc, and each was good in their time.

Christie could make the ball "talk" and to witness Seve hitting bunker shots from deep Green-side traps with a 1iron and getting the same result as most Pro's do with their S\W.

Todays it's the guys who repeat the same swing each time that are at the top not the shot making genious's

So who are you going for out of curiousity David

My favourite golfer of all time is Seve he is just my Idol and what golf stood for  FLAMBOYANCE.

David do you think he would have been as good in a a different era against the field that the likes of Jack played against.

I don't really know who I think is the "Greatest Golfer of all time" but if you look at the guys mentioned they all had other players of equal stature along side them.

VARDON, TAYLOR & BRAID

JONES & HAGAN

HOGAN, COTTON & LOCKE.

PALMER, PLAYER & NICKLAUS

WATSON, MILLER & SEVE

Bobby Jones is technically the best golfer ever!