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‘Health Is Not Going to Allow Him’: Tiger Woods Will Never Break Jack Nicklaus’s 18 Majors Feat, Insists Ex-Caddie

Published 02/12/2024, 7:45 AM EST

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‘I beat them all, I beat them all, are four words uttered by one of the greatest golfers to ever exist. Yet what he cannot break or match to date is Jack Nicklaus’s illustrious record of winning 18 majors. Wondering who said those words? Well, none other than the legendary Tiger Woods. Undoubtedly, he has been the first to set many records on the PGA Tour, but when it comes to the majors, he is still second. Is that going to change anytime soon? Many people have many opinions, and so does Woods’s former compatriot.

It was the spring of 2019 when Woods clinched his last major victory at Augusta National. It has now been nearly five years, and the 15 major titles have not moved up by any means. Although many factors have added to the delay, it has made Golden Bear’s decorated record stay unbroken.

Tiger Woods’s caddie states Jack Nicklaus’s major record is there to stay forever

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Steve Willimas was by Woods’s side for 12 years. The duo went through a lot and was always consistent. Williams recently appeared on the podcast hosted by Kiwi radio host, The Dom Harvey Podcast. There, he shared tidbits about his caddie life, seeing Greg Norman cry, and his relationship with Woods. Along those lines, the 60-year-old caddie also ventured upon the major record made by Jack Nicklaus.

He said, “Tiger’s on 15 and Jack’s on 18.” Everyone’s aware of that, but what he said next might disappoint many in the golfing scene. As per Williams, the record is “never gonna be a clip [gets broken/matched] now.”  Why? So, the Kiwi native gave two major reasons behind his statement.

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Firstly, he shared that “there’s just too many good players now.” One of them being none other than Brooks Koepka. Back in 2021, the “cocky” golfer himself talked about upping Nicklaus’s and Woods’s records. Secondly, the 48-year-old golfer has been battling through many hardships ever since his near-fatal accident, which made Williams say, “Tigers health is not going to allow him to pla

y enough golf where he can compete and win major championships.”

The man with whom Woods has won 13 majors together thought that “it’s just a shame.” However, Nicklaus’s 18 major win record “is gonna stand forever.” Williams is not the only one who relayed that Woods may not break the major feat; Nicklaus also felt that because of Woods’s ailing health, his record would probably stand for a while.” However, another bagman of the 5-time Masters champion has opposed these views.

While one caddie disregards Woods’s winning ability, another backs him up

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Tiger Woods parted ways with Joe LaCava in 2023 when there were bleak chances of him making a return to golf. However, even after going their ways, LaCava has no ill will for his former employer and finds him more than capable of breaking the Golden Bear’s major record. On the Quite Please podcast, LaCava said, “You can never write off Tiger.” A few people have done it, but then they had to eat their words.

The veteran caddie believes that clinching three more major titles is a “tall task,” but Woods is healthier than he was six months ago, and you “never say never” for someone who plays like Woods. LaCava pressed that the 82-time PGA Tour winner “can still putt like there’s no tomorrow.”

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Underestimating Woods’s prowess, through which he claimed many accolades and got the nickname of GOAT, would be unwise. The task ahead might seem impossible, but is it really for Tiger Woods? Time will tell!

Watch This Story | ‘Never Flaunted It’: Despite Past Rivalry With Jack Nicklaus, PGA Tour Legend Makes an Honest Admission about the Golden Bears True Personality

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Written by:

Khambe Huda Imran

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Huda Khambe is a Golf Writer for EssentiallySports. Growing up watching Tiger Woods and Annika Sorenstam bag one major after the other, Huda Khambe set herself on a path to becoming a sports writer early on. With a year of prior experience in writing, Huda now brings the greens to life with her unique insights on her favorite storylines, such as Jack Nicklaus's record rivalry with Tiger Woods and its impact on both stars.
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Edited by:

Riya Singhal

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