Thanks to some of the previous posters for pointing out: equipment, course conditons, Nicklaus's wins (18), 2nds (19) and top 10 finishes (40) in the majors. Here's another: with the prize money exponentially greater now than what is was in his day (not to mention changes in the culture as a whole), I'll guess that more of Nicklaus's contemporaries were guys who played to WIN, and not to play safe for 10th place (most PGA tourneys now that'll get you around $100,000).
Tiger may surpass him in major championships, but until he does (and that's not looking as much a cinch as it did at one time), this man is NUMBER ONE.
As for the two posters who rated this guy a 1-star: this is the downside of the cheap and easy 'democracy' that the internet provides. Nothing like not knowing your a** from a hole in the wall: you still get your painfully uninformed and moronic comments posted.

If Tiger Woods isn't the greatest of golfer ever, this guy is.

The best of all time other than Tiger of course.

We all say how many wins Tiger has had... and not to take any of those away, BUT, how many MORE wins would Jack have HAD if he didn't have spike marks to putt through. He was almost always in the afternoon groups, and had to play through an entire field's spike marks. If you have never experienced playing through metal spike marks, then go try it (although you won't be able to, because they are banned from almost all golf courses now...)

Of all sports, golf is probably the one I dislike most. That being said, it is clear, from the most cursory look at the record, that this guy is the historical best at his sport. Others approach him, and Woods may, ultimately surpass him, but as of the time of writing, this guy's the best.

Nobody (as in NObody) faced the quality of competition Jack did. In chronological order: Palmer, Player, Casper, Floyd, Trevino, Johnny Miller, Tom Watson.

The only guy he never beat head-to-head was Lee Buck Trevino. Betcha didn't know that.

he needed his 'yardage' measured to the nearest half foot, thats accuracy my friends, and frightening to say the least. if i'm within 10 yards of where i'm wanting to, i'm all smiles.

Gee this one is easy...Jack Nicklaus is the man in golf history. And to be straightforward I agree with Greg Norman who said that if Jack played with today's improved equipment he would absolutely scare these golfers with scores hardly anyone would believe. Look at the majors...he not only had 18 wins but 19 seconds and an almost unbelievable other top ten finishes. He just dominated the game against great competition like no one has ever done. And I admire Tiger Woods greatly and love watching him BUT Jack was a one-of-a-kind golfer who just excelled beyond the norm like no other.

Just simply the best... One of a few who come along from time to time and change their game.

Pompous, arrogant, hypcritical jerk. Not to mention larger than life and overrated, but that's what being a media darling can get you...

Boo this man

most majors, lifetime. He geared his career for the majors, wonder how many more tournaments he'd have won if he played a full schedule, many years didn't play more than 20 events. It would be nice to have seen Jack in his prime using the same equipment that the players are using today. Hard to fathom that.

By far the Greatest Golfer of all time. He would be competitive for the title with half of his career.

How on earth can anyone with half a brain, not consider Nicklaus thee greatest golfer ever? The guy won 18 majors in an era where there were a number of great golfers as well as coming in second (16 times I believe) in other majors. Don't insult me with Tiger Woods being the greatest. Nicklaus (at his best) against Tiger (at his best) using comparable equipment? Nicklaus wins 99 out of 100 times. The other time he lets Tiger win so Woods isn't skunked!

Tiger's the best ever.

The Golden Bear is the all-time greatest.

Not only does he have more Masters titles than almost every golfer on the list has overall Major championships. He also obviously has a commanding lead in total Major victories. Not to mention he has come in second more times in a major than anybody else. On top of that his career is something only rivaled by the Rolling Stones when in comes to longevity. Twenty years between his first and last Major title, even Tiger will have a hard time doing that.

The Golden Bear is hands down the best player in the history of golf. As charliethetuna said, he had the ability to win anywhere at any course. 18 majors can talk volumes about the extent of his greatness. His longevity is also amazing. All in all, the epitomy of the sport of golf.

Dominant. He won his first pro major in 1963, his last in 1986. That's a 23 year span. He didn't have too many slumps in between. Look at the courses he won on - Augusta, Pebble Beach, St. Andrews, Royal Lytham, Baltusrol, Firestone. Some are real long. Some are not. Some have fast greens, some do not. Some are wide open, some or not. Get the point. Jack could win anywhere. No modern player before him could do that. None until Tiger could do it after him. Tiger won his first pro major in 1997. We'll see if he's still winning them in 2020.

One of the greatest golfers of all-time, if not THE greatest.

The Golden Bear is the greatest golfer of all time. His record of 18 wins in the Majors is incredible and time will tell if Tiger Woods can approach his records. Keep in mind that it will take 16 more wins in Majors and another 60 or so total victories for Tiger to reach Jack's level.

he was to golf what ali was to boxing...they brought their sport to the public eye.

The greatest ever.